TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS WIN THEIR SEASON OPENER BY UNLEASHING A NINE RUN BARRAGE IN THE FINAL TWO INNINGS TO PREVAIL OVER THE A’s AT RAVINA GARDENS
Game Post composed with files from Vincent Lynch and Jason Koskela
Beneath a genteel ceiling of tranquil Spring skies, our Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects opened their 2016 season by defeating the Annette A’s 11-8 in five innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Select action this evening at Ravina Gardens.
Here are the highlights:
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In the top of the first, TP started off strong with Liam (17) legging out a single to start the game. Dylan (9) did the same to put runners on first and second. Then Sam (2) stepped up to the plate to register the third single in a row and get the first RBI of the season. Marshall (20) followed that with another single and RBI to give TP a 2-0 lead.
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In the bottom of the first, Annette managed to string together a number of singles to tie the game at 2-2 before the TP defense stepped up with three consecutive force out ground balls by the pitcher Emmett (8) to the catcher Milo (45).
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For the next two innings, the defence of both teams was excellent and no runs were scored. TP managed to get singles by Rennick (4), Desmond (3), Milo and Liam (17) over the two innings but they were all stranded on the base paths.
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Entering the fourth inning, with both teams deadlocked at 2-2, TP’s power bats surged to life in electrifying fashion. Marshall got things going with a home run shot up the middle. After Jordy (1) stroked a crisply hit single, Emmett followed with a triple to bring home the second run of the inning and propel TP into a 4-2 lead. Then Thomas (10) delivered a hard shot into left field and legged it out to get the second home run of the inning and 2 RBI’s. Rennick got his second single of the game but was stranded on the bases.
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In the bottom of the fourth, the A’s managed to get one run back and trail 6-3.In the top half of the fifth, the TP Rookie Ball Selects kept the run parade going. Duncan (14) started the frame off with a single. Dante (19) followed suit with a single to put two ducks on the pond. Liam followed with a RBI single to give TP a 7-3 advantage. Dylan and Sam did the same. Marshall got his second hit of the game and was followed by Jordy with an RBI single to complete a five run TP offensive barrage that widened the lead to 11-3
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However, Annette refused to wave the white flag of surrender in the bottom of the fifth as they made it interesting by scoring five runs to trim the deficit to three. Eventually, the TP defense recorded the third out to bring the curtain down on an 11-8 victory.
In a postgame interview, TP Rookie Ball Select Head Coach Jason Koskela was ecstatic about his team’s regular season opening victory: “Great play by all our players and excellent spirit.”
The TP Rookie Ball Selects continue their road trip on the EBA Select circuit when they travel to Neilson Park on Tuesday, May 17 to play against the Bloordale Bombers at 6:30 p.m.