IN A CRACKERJACK AFFAIR, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS PREVAIL OVER THE GREEN BOMBERS TO EARN ITS EIGHTH EBA ROOKIE BALL SELECT LOOP VICTORY
THE BUCK STOPS HERE: Upon taking receipt of the relay throw, TP catcher Theo (3) tags out Luke (8) of the Bloordale Green to thwart his bid to score in the top of the first inning and complete a captivating 7-5-2 putout play at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
Beneath a genteel blanket of warm summer skies, the Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects defeated the Bloordale Green 14-10 in 6 ½ innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Rookie Ball Select Loop action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
The proceeding was a highly entertaining and well played contest between two talented teams. In the end, a gritty TP squad made the most of their opportunities both offensively and defensively to prevail over the pesky Green Bombers, snapping a three game losing skid to earn their eighth victory of the season.
Ben (8) delivers a two RBI double during TP’s five run uprising in the bottom of the first inning. In three at bats, Ben went 3 for 3 [double, two singles] at the dish to spark the TP attack with a run scored and four RBI’s.
During the first frame, the TP defence turned in a sweet defensive gem to stymie the Green Bombers momentum. After a pair of singles by Luke (8) and Max that put Bloordale runners at second and first, Connor (1) delivered a double to left. As Luke made the turn at third base to head home, TP left fielder Fernando (1) retrieved the ball and made a lightning relay throw to third baseman Jamie (20). With Luke charging homeward, Jamie made a rocket throw to catcher Theo (3), who adroitly tagged out a sliding Luke to chalk up a pretty 7-5-2 putout.
In lickety-split fashion, TP answered back with five in the bottom of the first to take a 5-1 lead. After Willy (6) and Beckett (2) led off the inning with respective singles that put two mallards on the lake, Jamie stroked a one out RBI single to bring Willy home with the tying run.
With two outs and two runners on base, Ben (8) delivered a clutch two RBI double that allowed Beckett and Jamie to motor home with the go ahead runs.
Nathan (29) followed with hard hit single. On the play, Bloordale would commit an error that allowed Nathan to advance to second and bring Ben home with a run.
After catching the throw from catcher Max (2) [background], Bloordale Green third baseman Sebastian (77) slaps a tag on TP baserunner Fernando to ring up a 2-5 putout in the bottom of the third inning.
After the respective defences of TP and Bloordale shut each other down in the second inning, the Green Bombers charged back with a pair in the top of the third to trim the margin to 5-3. With two outs and two ducks on the pond, Connor stroked a RBI single to bring Luke home. Sebastian followed with a RBI single that allowed Max to come home and do the watusi.
The Green Bombers would turn in a nice defensive play in the bottom of the third to keep TP off the scoring ledger. As Fernando made a brazen bid to come home with two outs (after Jamie’s groundout to first), Bloordale catcher Max took receipt of the throw and chased Fernando back up the third baseline. As Fernando neared third base, Max made a laser toss to third baseman Sebastian, who slapped an emphatic tag on Fernando to ring up the 2-5 putout.
Bloordale would score a pair in the top of the fourth to deadlock the game 5-5. After Griffin led off the frame with a single, Jordan (24) launched a double that put two swans on the lake. Connor followed with a two RBI single to bring Griffin and Jordan home with the tying runs.
With no outs, the Green Bombers threatened to take the lead during the inning. However, the TP defence rose to the occasion to stymie the Bloordale offence with a series sweet defensive plays to keep the proceeding tied.
After coming up empty for two frames, the TP offence stirred back to life in the bottom half of the fourth as they scored three to take an 8-5 lead. With two outs and a runner on first, Theo delivered a double. On the play, Bloordale would commit a faux pas that allowed Theo to advance to third and bring Nathan home with the go ahead run.
With a base runner on third, Qayam (11) launched a grace under pressure RBI double to bring Theo home to crow. Noah (10) followed with a RBI single to plate Qayam.
The Green Bombers replied with a run in the top of the fifth to close the gap to 8-6. After Max and Connor opened the inning with respective singles that put two geese on the pond, Sam (7) hit into a fielder’s choice (with one out) to bring Max home.
Fernando’s (1) two RBI double during TP’s six run surge in the fifth frame delivered home TP’s eventual winning run over the Green Bombers.
TP would unleash an eight hit barrage in the bottom of the fifth and score six runs to widen their advantage to 14-6. After back to back singles by Nico (7) and Willy to lead off the inning, Beckett followed with a RBI single that brought Nico home to do the samba.
With two seals on the lake, Fernando powered a two RBI double to bring Willy and Beckett home to do the shimmy, shimmy, shake. Jamie followed with a RBI single that brought Fernando home.
Following a single by Rohan (19) that put two penguins on the pond, Ben delivered a two RBI single to bring Jamie and Rohan home with the bacon.
Refusing to surrender, Bloordale clawed back with a run in the top of the sixth to cut the shortfall to seven. With two outs and two runners on base, Andrew (17) stroked a RBI single to plate Adam (14).
After TP went down quietly in the bottom portion of the sixth, the Green Bombers donned their rally caps in the top of seventh as they scored three to shave the margin to 14-10. Following consecutive singles by Luke, Max and Connor to load the bases, Sebastian stroked a RBI single to bring Luke home. Sam followed by hitting into a fielder’s choice that allowed Max to score.
Subsequently, with two outs and two runners on base, Jordan delivered a RBI single that allowed Sam to come home to roost.
But that was as close as Bloordale would get as the TP defence shut them down with some nice defensive plays to bring the curtain down on the game.
The TP Rookie Ball Selects (8-3) hit the road next Wednesday (July 17) when they travel to Richview (French School) Park to battle the Martingrove Black at 6:30 p.m.
Pictures from the TP Rookie Ball Select and Bloordale Green EBA Rookie Ball Select Loop Regular Season Game at Christie Pits Diamond 3 on July 10, 2018.