TRAILING 3-1, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS STORMED BACK WITH A VENGEANCE TO SCORE SIX RUNS IN THE THIRD INNING TO WIN THEIR EBA SELECT REGULAR SEASON OPENER AT CHRISTIE PITS
Clockwise from top left: TP starting pitcher Max (17) threw a gritty 1 2/3 scoreless innings while striking out four Cardinals; Down 3-1 and with two TP runners on base, Jack (27) powers a 2 RBI double to tie the game in the third; Sasha (28) stands at third after stroking a RBI triple to put TP in front 4-3; Troy (37) follows with a RBI double to bring home Sasha with the game’s eventual winning run; Major Peewee reliever Tyler (42) threw two strong innings of relief by mowing down six to stymie the Cardinals offense (2 IP, 4 ER, 3 H, 3 W, 6 K).
Playing beneath extremely cold and frigid skies this evening, our Toronto Playgrounds Major Peewee Selects powered their way to a convincing 11-4 victory over the Royal York (1) Cardinals at Christie Pits Diamond 2 to win their EBA Select season opener.
TP used a formula of strong pitching, solid defense, and making the most of the offensive opportunities presented to them to earn a hard fought victory over the tenacious Cardinals.
In a nitty gritty effort in the top of the first, Major Peewee starting pitcher Max (17) struck out two to keep Royal York off the scoreboard.
Backed by some strong defensive plays from his teammates, Cardinals southpaw starter Daniel (37) kept TP off the scoring ledger in the bottom of the first with a one strikeout effort.
After TP starter Max had mowed down two Cardinals in the top of the second, Royal York loaded the bases with two outs. At this juncture, Major Peewee reliever Tyler (42) entered the fray and proceeded to induce Wyatt (15) to hit into a fielder’s choice to quell the Red Birds uprising. Shortstop Zack (32) made a nice play to vacuum up the ground ball like a Kirby and stepped on second to complete the force for the third out.
Toronto Playgrounds scored a run in the bottom of the second to take a 1-0 lead. With the bases loaded, Adam (18) delivered a RBI single to bring Arlo (7) home with the game’s first run. However, Royal York starter Daniel gamely dug deep into his inner reserves to strike out three TP batters to extinguish the threat.
With two outs in the top of the third, the Cardinals answered back with three to take a 3-1 lead. After two Royal York batters had reached base on a pair of walks, Daniel stroked a RBI single to bring in the tying run. Timothy (13) followed with a clutch 2 RBI single that scored a pair and put the Cardinals in front.
However, TP rallied with ferocity and determination in the bottom half of the third as they sent nine batters to the dish and scored six runs to retake the lead 7-3.
After a walk and a Cardinals error permitted the Major Peewees to put two runners on base to open the inning, Jack H (27) seized the moment and powered a grace under pressure 2 RBI double that allowed Zack and Cam (77) to motor homeward bound and tie the game 3-3.
Sasha (28) followed by stroking a RBI triple that brought Jack H home with the go ahead run. Troy (37) kept the TP conga line moving by delivering a RBI double to score Sasha. With a 5-3 lead and two outs, Tyler hit a RBI single that brought home Troy. After a stolen base allowed Tyler to reach third, a Royal York miscue allowed him to blaze home and extend the TP lead to 7-3.
However, the pesky Cardinals refused to surrender without a fight in the top of the fourth as they made a dogged rally attempt against TP. With two outs, Royal York proceeded to load the bases. At this point, Cards lead off batter Isaac (00) drew a bases loaded walk that allowed Ben (77) to score and trim the deficit to three.
With the game on the line, TP reliever Troy (37) induced Eric (84) of the Cards to hit a deep fly ball to left field (where left fielder Cam made a super catch) to end the threat.
TP added four more insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth to salt the game away.
The Major Peewee Selects (1-0) will host the Martingrove 1 White Sox in their next scheduled EBA Select regular season game on Wednesday, May 14 at Christie Pits Diamond 2 at 7:00 p.m.