SELECT > TP Rookie Ball Selects Edge Martingrove Silver 12-11


IN A TWO ALARM BARNBURNER, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS PREVAIL OVER THE SILVER WHITE SOX TO EARN THEIR FIFTH EBA ROOKIE BALL SELECT LOOP VICTORY OF THE SEASON

Holden (25) delivers a two RBI single during TP’s three run surge in the second inning. In two at bats, Holden went 2 for 2 [single, double] to power the TP attack with two runs scored and three RBI’s against the Martingrove Silver.

Beneath a pristine ceiling of warm and hazy skies, the Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects edged the Martingrove Silver 12-11 in 5 ½ innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3.

The proceeding was a highly entertaining nailbiter between two talented and well coached team. In the end, a gritty TP squad snuffed out ferocious late comeback bid by the pesky Silver White Sox to hang on for its fifth victory of the 2018 season.

Jamie (20) caps off TP’s six run uprising in the fourth inning with a RBI single. Jamie’s hit brought home TP’s eventual winning run over the Silver White Sox.

After the Toronto Playgrounds defence held Martingrove off the scoring ledger in the top half of the first, TP tallied a pair in the bottom portion of the inning to take an early 2-0 lead. After a two out double by Rohan (19), Qayam (11) delivered a single that put two ducks on the pond. Nathan (29) followed with a clutch RBI single that advanced Qayam to third and brought Rohan home with the opening run of the game.

With two aboard, Michael (9) stroked a RBI single to plate Qayam.

As the Silver White Sox offence went down in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the second, TP added three more runs in the bottom half of the frame to widen its lead to 5-0. After Theo (3) reached base on a fielder’s choice, Beckett (2) singled to put two otters on the lake. Holden (25) followed with a grace under pressure two out two RBI single to bring Theo and Beckett home to crow.

With a runner on first, Fernando (1) stepped into the batter’s box to deliver a RBI triple to bring Holden home.

The dormant Martingrove batting order came to life in the top of the third frame as they scored a pair to trim the gap to 5-2. Following a leadoff double by Rai (19), Hjartarson (15) stroked a single that put two aboard. On the play, a TP error allowed Hjartarson to move to second base and brought Rai home with the Silver’s first run.

With one out, Bryan (11) delivered a RBI double to bring Hjartarson home to roost.

Fernando (1) hustles into third base after his RBI triple in the fourth inning. In two at bats, Fernando sparked the TP attack by launching two triples while scoring one run and bringing home two RBI’s.

In the bottom of the third, TP answered back with a run to increase its advantage to 6-2. Following a leadoff single by Willy (6) and a double by Ethan (12) that put two swans on the pond, Noah (10) delivered a sacrifice hit that allowed Willy to come homeward.

The Silver White Sox would reply with two in the top half of the fourth to close the shortfall to 6-4. Taking advantage of a TP defensive faux pas with two outs, Cowan (5) and Harrison (5) motored home with a pair of runs.

The curtain came down on the inning with a sparking Gold Glove defensive gem by TP third baseman Jamie (20). With two outs, Rai seared a screaming hot tamale line drive down the third baseline that was destined for extra bases. However, Jamie pivoted and caught the fiery liner in the webbing of his trusty glove to ring up the third out. 

On a mission, TP sent nine batters to the dish in the bottom portion of the fourth and exploded for six runs to widen its lead to 12-4. With one out, Ben (8), Henry (14) and Toby (30) stroked respective singles to load the bases. Theo followed with a fielder’s choice that erased Toby at second, advanced Henry to third, and brought Ben homeward. On the play, a Martingrove error would allow Theo to move to third base and bring Henry home with a run.

With a runner on base, Beckett delivered a RBI single to plate Theo. Holden followed with a RBI double that allowed Beckett to come home and do the shimmy, shimmy, shake.

Keeping the TP offensive conga line movin’ and groovin’, Fernando powered a RBI triple to bring Holden home. Jamie would apply the icing on the cake with a RBI single that allowed Fernando to come home and do the watusi.

Martingrove leadoff batter Bryan (11) delivers a RBI double during the seven run Silver White Sox rally in the fifth inning. In four at bats, Bryan went 3 for 4 [single, two doubles] to ignite the Martingrove offence with one run scored and two RBI’s.

Refusing to surrender, the Silver White Sox sent twelve batters to the plate in the top of the fifth and rallied with seven runs to close the margin to 12-11. Following respective singles by Hjartarson and Russo (35) to begin the inning, Bryan delivered a RBI double to bring Hjartarson home.

With no outs and two runners on base, Russo (4) followed with a two RBI double that cleared the bases and brought Russo (35) and Bryan home.

After Russo (4) had advanced to third, Epner (7) stroked a RBI single to bring him home and pull Martingrove within four of tying the proceeding.

Following a single by Rubio (13) that put two ducks on the pond, D’ Lorio (20) delivered a RBI single to bring Epner home with another run.

Subsequently, with one out and Silver runners at third and first, Harrison hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Cowan at second and allowed Rubio to score. 

After Rai stroked a two out single, the TP defence committed an error that allowed Rai to shuffle to second and brought Harrison home and make it a one run game.

In the bottom of the fifth, the TP offence threatened by loading the bases. However, TP was unable to add any insurance runs as they left the bases loaded.

Clinging to a slender tenderloin one run lead, the TP defence rose to the challenge in the top half of the sixth to turn back the top of the Martingrove batting order. TP shortstop Willy would vacuum up a hot shot off the bat of Silver leadoff batter Bryan and make a rocket throw to first baseman Rohan to ring up the 6-3 putout and tally the first out if the inning.

After Russo (4) singled to put the potential tying run on base, Epner mashed a scorching liner down the third baseline. However, TP third baseman Jamie snagged the red hot shot in his mitt to chalk up the second out. Noticing that Russo had wandered afar from first, Jamie made a lightning throw to Rohan at first base to complete the sweet 5-3 double play to bring the game to a close.

The TP Rookie Ball Selects (5-0) hit the road for their next EBA Rookie Ball Select Loop game when they pay a visit to Jeff Healy Park next Tuesday (June 5) to battle the Royal York Red at 6:30 p.m.

Pictures from the TP Rookie Ball Select and Martingrove Silver EBA Rookie Ball Select Loop Regular Season Game at Christie Pits Diamond 3 on May 29, 2018.