SELECT > Toronto Playgrounds Tops Bloordale 18-7 to Win 2014 EBA Mosquito Select Championship

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS, THE TP MOSQUITO SELECTS PREVAIL OVER THE GRITTY BOMBERS TO TAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE AT CHRISTIE PITS

THE MIGHTY QUINN: With Bloordale catcher Jacob (29) and Umpire Rory Newton looking on, Quinn (13) hits a 2 RBI single in the sixth inning at Christie Pits Diamond 2. Quinn powered the TP offensive attack by going 4 for 4 at the plate [two doubles, two singles] with a run scored and 6 RBI’s against the Bombers.

A gritty Bloordale team had prevailed 8-6 over a previously undefeated TP squad in a thrilling 6 ½ innings in the first championship playoff game earlier in the afternoon to force a one game final for all the marbles. TP (3-1) and Bloordale (5-1) were 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 would have to lose twice to be eliminated.

Bloordale threatened early in the top of the first when they loaded the bases on a single by Armaan (2) and a pair of walks by Evan (10) and Julian (11).

Shaken, but not stirred, TP starter Alden (7) found his groove and icily struck out three Bombers to leave them stranded.

The Toronto Playgrounds offense exploded out of the gates in the bottom half of the first to take a 4-0 lead. After Jake (30) doubled and Adi (1) singled to lead off the inning and put two runners on base, Nigel (20) stroked a two RBI single that allowed Jake and Adi to blaze home with the first runs of the game.

After a sacrifice hit by Aaron (18) erased Nigel at second, Leandro (10) followed with a walk to put two TP runners on base. Next, Quinn (13) delivered a RBI double that scored Aaron. A Bloordale error on the play would allow Leandro to come home.

A single by Michael (23) and a walk by Nicky (4) allowed the Bloordale to put to two runners on base in the top of the second. However, Alden mowed down three Bombers to extinguish the threat.

After allowing two singles in the bottom of the second, Bloordale reliever Evan (10) quelled the threat on a pair pop up outs and a ground out to keep the TP off the scoresheet.

The Bombers scored in the top of the third to trim the deficit to three. Jacob (29) delivered a two out RBI single to bring Evan homeward with Bloordale’s first run of the game.

Subsequently, with two outs and two Bloordale runners on base, TP reliever Nigel (20) struck out a Bomber to erase the threat.

In the bottom of the third, TP answered back with three to widen their lead to 7-1. After Adi and Nigel singled to lead off the frame, Aaron reached base on a Bloordale error to load the bases. With one out, the “Mighty” Quinn powered a mojo jojo three RBI double that cleared the bases.

A tenacious Bloordale squad replied with a pair in the top of the fourth to trail 7-3. After Matthew (28) singled and stole two bases to lead off the inning, Daniel (7) stroked a RBI single to bring Matthew home. Subsequently, with two outs and the bases juiced, Gregory (6) drew a RBI walk that allowed Daniel to mosey on home.

With the Bombers threatening with two outs and the bases loaded, TP reliever Ben (4) entered the fray and induced the Bloordale batter to hit into a fielder’s choice that closed out the inning.

Going for the jugular, TP added four in the bottom of the fourth to increase their advantage to 11-3. Harris (12), Adam (14) and Louis (16) hit respective singles to lead off the inning and load the bases. Ben followed with a RBI single to bring Harris home. Next, Jake delivered a two RBI sacrifice hit that allowed Adam and Louis to come homeward bound. Adi would follow with a RBI double that plated Ben.

Refusing to quit, Bloordale answered with a pair in the top of the fifth. With two Bombers on base, Matthew hit a two RBI double that scored Evan and Jacob.

With Bloordale threatening once again with one out and the sacks loaded to the gills, TP reliever Louis (16) extinguished the Bomber threat on a strikeout and a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

TP tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth to increase their lead to 12-5. With one out and the bases loaded, Adam stroked a RBI single that delivered Leandro home.

With the bases loaded, Bloordale erased the TP threat on a pair of nice defensive plays and a strikeout from Bombers reliever Nicky (4).

Bloordale replied with two in the top of the sixth to trail by five. With one out and a Bomber on base, Gregory delivered a RBI single to bring home Nicky. A subsequent passed ball and wild pitch would allow Gregory to blaze home with a run. TP reliever Louis would douse the Bloordale uprising with two strikeouts.

Toronto Playgrounds would add on six insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to salt the game away. After Ben reached first on an error to begin the inning, Jake walked and Adi singled to load the bases. Nigel followed with a RBI walk to score Ben. Aaron would deliver a RBI sacrifice hit to plate Jake.

After a one out walk to Leandro reloaded the bases, Quinn would deliver a two RBI single that brought Adi and Nigel homeward and put TP up 16-7. Piper followed with RBI sacrifice hit that allowed Leandro to score. Harris followed with a RBI single that brought Quinn home.

And it was at this juncture where the game was called on account of the SOBA mercy rules that govern the playoff tournament.

The Mosquito Selects have had a fun and very exciting baseball campaign. They finished the 2014 EBA Select regular season with a 6-5-1 record. The team also had the opportunity to play in two tournaments during the course of the season, putting in a good effort at the Mississauga Majors Tournament and playing in the final of the Tom Ashizawa “Little Big 8” Tournament.

And finally, with their thrilling 2014 EBA Mosquito Select Championship victory, the TP Mosquito Selects will be the Toronto Baseball Association (TBA) West Toronto Mosquito Select representative at the SOBA Provincial Finals.

The TP Baseball Committee wishes to congratulate Mosquito Select Head Coach Bill Evans; Assistant Coaches Ali Alzaidi; John Hill; Darin Luscher, Mike Pett and John Rowe for their fortitude and patience in steering these talented Mosquito Selects through the highs and lows of a very successful and excellent 2014 season. The entire TP Baseball Family wishes the team continued success at the provincial finals.

The Committee also wishes to congratulate all the Mosquito Select players, coaches and parents for representing the core values of the Toronto Playgrounds Baseball program with honour, dignity and professionalism on and off the diamond at the tournament and throughout the long season.

WAY TO GO, TP! WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!