WITH THEIR BATS SURGING TO LIFE, A GRITTY TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS TEAM REFUSED TO WAVE THE WHITE FLAG AND CONTINUED TO BATTLE A TOUGH CARDINALS SQUAD RIGHT TO FINAL OUT AT JEFF HEALEY PARK
Clockwise from top left: Zev (19) went 3 for 4 at the plate for TP with 3 RBI’s; Dexter (10) went 4 for 4 at the dish against the Cardinals while collecting 3 RBI’s; Cooper (27) went 3 for 3 for the Rookie Ball Selects while garnering a RBI; Charlie (7) went 3 for 4 for TP at the plate while earning 2 RBI’s. Charlie also powered a searing triple against Royal York.
Game Post composed with file from Jason Koskela.
Beneath a layer of warm and serene skies, the Royal York Cardinals defeated our Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects 26-15 in six innings this evening in Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Select action at Jeff Healey Park.
Despite major contributions from everyone, the fifteen run TP offensive explosion was not enough to overcome a tough Cardinals team on the scoreboard,
However, the gritty Rookie Ball Selects displayed a solid team effort against Royal York. Trailing 26-8, TP refused to surrender as they doggedly rallied for seven runs in the final inning.
In a postgame media scrum, TP Rookie Ball Select Head Coach Jason Koskela expressed confidence that the game was a turning point for the team and that better days were on the horizon.
“Although we lost on the scoresheet, this game was huge for us. Our bats came to life up and down the order. It was thrilling to see. This was a pivotal game for us – we moved up to the next level. I’m excited to see what our players can do next week against Annette.”
Here are the highlights:
- Dexter (10) went a sparkling 4 for 4 with 3 RBI’s.
- Zev (19) went a sizzling 3 for 4 with 3 RBI’s.
- Charlie (7) went a smokin’ 3 for 4 (including a triple) and collected 2 RBI’s.
- Cooper (27) went a hot tamale 3 for 3 with a RBI.
- Jordan (1) [the team’s youngest player making his Rookie Ball Select debut] went a mojo jojo 3 for 3 with a RBI. Jordan also displayed creative base running by escaping a pickle between third and home (safe back at third); and, on another occasion, distracting the Cardinals defense with a rundown between first and second while Jesse (9) darted home from third.
- Cassius (5), Lewis (13), Daniel (8), Solomon (23), Vincent (3) and Jesse all had hits and and a RBI each.
- Ronin (4) stood out defensively at pitcher position. One highlight was where Ronin made a lightning quick snare in the webbing of his glove on a searing line drive up the middle.
The Rookie Ball selects (1-3) continue their EBA Select road junket when they travel to Ravina Park on Tuesday, June 10 to play the Annette A’s at 6:30 p.m.