IN A SEMI-FINAL SHOWDOWN AT RICHVALE ATHLETIC PARK, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS PREVAIL 11-2 OVER THE NORTH YORK BLUES TO EARN A BERTH IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND VERSUS THE ANNETTE BLACK
Game Post composed with files courtesy of Dora Parks and Paul Ungerman. Tournament Photos courtesy of Andreya Bajec
Beneath a succulent ceiling of warm and soothing skies, the Toronto Playgrounds Major Mosquito Selects defeated the North York Blues 11-2 in 4 ½ innings of semi-final action this afternoon at Richvale Athletic Park to earn a berth in the 2019 Richmond Hill Phoenix Mosquito Select Tournament Championship Game.
After North York jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first, TP answered back with a pair in the bottom half of the inning to take a 2-1 advantage. TP scored its runs on a RBI double by Charlie (8) and a sacrifice fly from Milo (27).
TP tallied three runs in the bottom portion of the second to stretch their lead to 5-1.
Wheeling and dealing a Mandarin buffet serving of eight first pitch strikes that made the North York batting order sing the Blues, TP starter William (33) limited them to one run over the course of two solid innings.
After the Blues scored a run in the top of the third to trim the shortfall to three, Toronto Playgrounds answered back with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-2 lead. Dylan (10) delivered a RBI single.
TP reliever Dylan entered the fray in the third frame and pitched two strong innings against North York. Dylan surrendered only one run while striking out three Blues batters.
Going for the jugular, TP tallied five insurance runs in the bottom half of the fourth to pull ahead 11-2.
With ice in his veins, TP closer Cooper (3) sealed the deal in the top of the fifth by striking out two North York batters to bring the curtain down on the semi-final victory.
On the offensive ledger, the TP attack was powered by eleven hits and eight stolen bases during the proceeding. TP was keyed by respective two RBI performances from Dylan and Sean (13).
The TP Major Mosquito Selects will battle the Annette Black in the Richmond Hill Mosquito Select Tournament Championship Game on Tuesday, June 11 at Christie Pits Diamond 3 at 7:00 p.m.
Toronto Playgrounds journey at the tourney began on a glorious Friday afternoon with a 10-0 round robin victory over the Richmond Hill Phoenix Gold.
Pitching a complete game over the course of four sparkling frames, TP starter Milo utilized a stellar fifty-eight pitch repertoire to stymie the Phoenix Gold batting order and earn the victory.
In a dominating performance, Milo allowed no runs while tossing a no-hitter against Richmond Hill. Milo walked only one batter while striking out eleven. As a result, the game was suspended after four frames of play because of the tourney’s mercy rule.
TP jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after Cooper garnered a walk and subsequently came home with the peameal bacon.
In the third frame, TP added four more to their tally when Julian (20), Sean and Momo (18) delivered respective RBI’s.
Momo, William, Charlie (8), Sean, Dylan, Julian, and Aron (14) each contributed one hit to the TP attack.
In a total team effort, the TP Major Mosquito defence was rock solid in the field and didn’t commit a single error. Charlie led TP with the most chances in the field with eight.
After a deluge of rain brought about the cancellation of all games on Saturday, tournament action resumed in full force on Sunday.
In a tooth and nail battle contested early this morning, TP prevailed 3-0 over the Erindale Lions in a 6 ½ inning nail biter to win their second round robin tournament game.
With the proceeding scoreless through two and a half taut innings, TP took the bull by the horns in the bottom of the third as they drew first blood by taking a 3-0 lead.
After Momo drew a one out walk and swiped a pair of bases to reach third, Charlie garnered a walk that put two mallards on the pond. Cooper followed with a RBI single that advanced Charlie to third and brought Momo home with the first run.
With two outs and two aboard, Dylan delivered a clutch two RBI single that allowed Charlie and Cooper to come homeward bound with the peameal bacon.
After the pesky Lions roared back with a pair in the top portion of the sixth frame to slice the deficit to one, a gritty TP squad answered back with an insurance run in the bottom of the inning. Following a leadoff double by Aron (14), Momo delivered a clutch two out RBI single to bring Aron home to roost.
TP starter Milo pitched a superb five innings where he allowed no runs, three hits, issued no walks, while striking out twelve Erindale batters, to pick up the victory.
TP relievers Cooper and Dylan came in from the bullpen to tame the Lions respectively in the sixth and seventh innings. Dylan mowed down three in the final frame to seal the deal.
With the wind in their sails, TP shutout the Leaside Leafs 9-0 in a 5 ½ inning proceeding earlier this afternoon to win their third consecutive round robin tourney game.
TP starter Charlie pitched five scoreless innings against Leaside to pick up the win. In a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious effort on the hill, Charlie mowed down the Leafs batting order with twelve strikeouts.
Meanwhile, on the offensive side of the ledger, Toronto Playgrounds received a total team effort from everyone in the lineup versus the Leafs. Milo and Sean powered the TP attack with two key RBI’s respectively.
In the top of the sixth, TP closer William struck out three Leaside batters to bring the curtain down on the game.
With the victory, TP advanced to a semi-final game clash against North York.
Additional updates to follow when available.
GO! TP! GO!