IN A EPIC BATTLE, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS EDGE THE ROYAL YORK (1) CARDINALS 7-6 IN A THRILLING EXTRA INNING AFFAIR TO WIN ITS OPENING PLAYOFF GAME AT THE 2014 EBA MOSQUITO SELECT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT
The Toronto Playgrounds Mosquito Select players and coaches take to field at Christie Pits Diamond 3 celebrate a thrilling 7-6 five inning victory over the Royal York (1) Cardinals in their opening game at the 2014 EBA Mosquito Select Championship Playoff Tournament.
Beneath glorious blue summer skies for miles around, our Toronto Playgrounds Mosquito Selects edged the Royal York (1) Cardinals in a nail biting five inning thriller this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3 to win its opening playoff game at the Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Mosquito Select Championship Tournament.
The proceeding was an epic and entertaining battle between two talented and well coached teams. It was only fitting that it took an extra inning to determine the final outcome.
Jake (30) is poised to deliver the gaming winning RBI in the fifth.
With the game tied 6-6 in the top of the fifth, Alden (7) exercised patience at the dish and drew a leadoff walk. After Alden stole second, Jake (30) delivered a grace under pressure RBI double that brought Alden home with TP’s winning run.
TP closer Louis (16) sealed the deal in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the fifth by inducing the Cardinals to hit into three consecutive groundouts.
Runs came at a premium for the first three innings as both teams displayed marvellous pitching and solid defense.
TP starter Adam (14) pitched a stellar 3 1/3 innings against the potent Royal York lineup as he struck out seven Cardinals to stymie their momentum. Meanwhile, Royal York southpaw starter Thomas (54) answered back by mowing down six in the first three innings to keep the TP offense in check.
Toronto Playgrounds took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. On a dropped third strike to Adam, Quinn (13) blazed home from third with the first run of the game.
In the bottom of the first, TP starter Adam mowed down a pair of Cardinals to keep them off the scoreboard.
Royal York pitcher Thomas fanned two in the top of the second to keep TP off the scoring ledger.
TP starter Adam (14) pitched a stellar 3 1/3 innings while striking out seven Cardinals.
TP’s Adam struck out two to keep the Cards in their cage in the bottom of the second.
Thomas struck out three in the top of the third to keep TP off the scoresheet.
Royal York’s offense strirred to life in the bottom of the third as they scored a pair to take a 2-1 lead. With two outs and a runner on base, Troy (33) delivered a clutch RBI single that allowed Spencer (4) to motor home from third with the tying run. Matthew (12) would follow with a RBI double to bring Troy home with the go ahead run.
The Mosquito Selects would answer back with five runs in the top of the fourth to retake the lead 6-2. TP’s big hit during the inning came from Adi (1), who stroked a clutch two RBI single to power the comeback.
However, the gritty Cardinals refused to surrender in the bottom of the fourth as they staged a thrilling four run rally to tie the game 6-6 and force an extra inning. Powering the comeback were grace under pressure back to back to back RBI doubles by Nic (10), Spencer and Mark (77).
And it was at this juncture, in the top half of the fifth, where Alden and Jake awaited their turn at bat and came face to face with their moment with destiny.
With the victory, TP (1-0) will play the York Riverdogs in their next EBA Select playoff elimination game at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning (Saturday, August 16) at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
Each of the eight teams participating in this season’s EBA Mosquito Select Championship Tournament are working under a double knockout playoff formula, whereby a team has to lose two games in order to be eliminated. Should a team reach the final round undefeated, they will have to lose twice to be eliminated.