TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS PREVAIL OVER THE RIVERDOGS IN THEIR HOME OPENER AT CHRISTIE PITS TO EARN THEIR FOURTH EBA ROOKIE BALL SELECT LOOP VICTORY
William (6) slashes a wicked line drive down the third baseline resulting in a 2 RBI inside the park home run shot during TP’s six run uprising in the second inning. In three at bats, William sparked the TP attack by going 2 for 3 [home run, single] at the dish with two runs scored and two RBI’s.
Fernando (1) powered the TP attack by going 4 for 4 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBI’s.
Beneath a cool veil of overcast skies, the Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects defeated the York Riverdogs 21-5 in 5 ½ innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Rookie Ball Select Loop action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
The proceeding was an entertaining contest between two talented teams. In the end, TP utilized a twenty-nine hit fusillade to prevail over the Riverdogs for their fourth consecutive victory and remain undefeated.
In the top half of the first, York staked themselves to an early 2-0 lead. Following a pair of walks by Noah (9) and Quinn (7) to open the inning, Marko (42) delivered a RBI single to bring Noah home with the opening run of the game. Subsequently, with one out and two runners on base, Gabriel (19) notched a sacrifice hit that allowed Quinn to come home to roost.
Theo (3) went 4 for 4 [three singles, double] against York with three runs scored and two RBI’s.
Subsequently, with two outs and a runner on base, Ben (8) delivered a clutch RBI double to bring Fernando home and deadlock the game. Michael (9) followed with a RBI single that allowed Ben to motor homeward with the go ahead run.
After York was held off the scoring ledger in the top of the second, TP unleased an eight hit hurricane in the bottom portion of the inning to extend their advantage to 9-2. After a one out single by Qayam (11), William (6) slashed a searing hot tamale line drive down the third baseline that resulted in a two RBI inside the park home run shot.
TP leadoff batter Beckett (2) went 3 for 4 [two singles, triple] versus the Riverdogs with three runs scored and two RBI’s.
With one mallard on the lake, Holden (25) stroked a single. An ensuing faux pas by the York defence allowed Holden to shuffle over to second and brought Jamie home with a run. In a case of déjà vu, Beckett (2) followed with a single that resulted in another Riverdogs error that allowed Beckett to reach second and Holden to come home and do the shimmy, shimmy, shake.
After a single by Theo put two otters on the lake, Fernando stroked a RBI single to plate Beckett.
The TP defence shone in the top of the third as they stymied the York offence by leaving them in the dog pound in three up and three down fashion. Second baseman Ethan (12) battled the glare of the bright overhead lights to make a nice catch on an eight mile high pop up off the bat of Esteban (3) to ring up the first out of the frame. Subsequently, with two outs, TP shortstop Nathan vacuumed up a hot shot off the bat of Noah and made a laser throw to first to chalk up the pretty 6-3 putout.
As TP catcher Qayam (11) reaches for the throw, York’s Logan (30) slides home safely during the Riverdogs three run rally in the fifth inning.
In the game within the game, the respective defences of York and TP shut down each team’s offences in the bottom of the third and the top portion of the fourth.
However, the TP attack surged to life in the bottom of the fourth as they unfurled a six hit barrage to score five and widen their advantage to 14-2. Following a pair of singles by William and Nathan to open the frame and put two ducks on the pond, Jamie delivered a RBI single to plate William. With two aboard, Holden hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Jamie at second and brought Nathan home with a run.
With one out and a runner on base, Beckett (2) powered a RBI triple to the deep dish pizza portion of the outfield to bring Holden home. Theo followed with a RBI single that allowed Beckett to come home and do the watusi.
Following a York error that allowed Theo to mosey over to second base, Fernando stroked a RBI single to bring Theo homeward.
Players from TP and York congratulate each other on a great game.
Refusing to go down without a fight, the pesky Riverdogs battled back with a three run rally in the top of the fifth to trim the margin to 14-5. After a pair of singles by Ethan (2) and Logan (30) put two runners on base, Cristian (9) connected for a one out RBI single to bring Ethan home. Dillon (25) followed with a RBI hit to plate Logan.
Subsequently, with two outs and two aboard, Esteban delivered a clutch RBI double to bring Cristian home to crow.
Kudos to TP left fielder Michael for making a nice Gold Glove catch off the bat of Dillon in the fifth inning to chalk up the second out.
Not to be outdone, TP uncorked a nine hit assault in the bottom half of the fifth to tally seven runs and widen their lead to 21-5. Following respective singles by Rohan (19) and Noah (10) to open the frame, Qayam stroked a RBI single to bring Rohan home. With one out and two aboard, Nathan delivered a RBI single to plate Noah. After Jamie hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Nathan at second and moved Qayam to third, Holden stroked a two out RBI single to score Qayam and give TP a 17-5 upper hand.
With two seals on the lake, Beckett delivered a RBI single to bring Jamie home. Theo followed suit with a RBI double that plated Holden. Fernando stroked a RBI hit that allowed Beckett to come homeward. Ethan brought the TP conga line procession to a close with a RBI single that brought Theo home to do the disco duck.
In the top of the sixth, the TP defence would bring the curtain down on the proceeding with three sweet putouts via groundballs to seal the deal on their victory over York.
The TP Rookie Ball Selects (4-0) continue their EBA Rookie Ball Select Loop homestand at Christie Pits Diamond 3 next Tuesday (May 29) evening when they play host to the Martingrove Silver at 6:30 p.m.