IN A THRILLING GAME, THE MONARCHS CAME OUT ON TOP IN THE SIXTH INNING TO WIN THE PRIZE
MONARCHS > 2011 Toronto Playgrounds Midget Division Champions
In the final game of the 2011 TP Baseball Tournament played this afternoon at Dominico Field, the Monarchs edged the Homesteads 7-6 in six innings to capture the Toronto Playgrounds Midget Division Championship.
The Monarchs raise the TP Midget Division Championship Trophy.
The showdown between the Monarchs (1) and Homesteads (2) was a thrillingly close tooth and nail battle played by two well balanced squads.
The Monarchs jumped out to an early 3-1 lead after two innings as Will (6) pitched two stellar innings (2 IP; 1 ER; 3 H; 0 W; 5 K) to hold the potent Homesteads lineup in check.
However, the Homesteads stormed back with a vengeance in the top of the third as they scored four runs to take a 5-3 lead. Keying the attack was a two run double by Junior (12) which brought home Peter (3) and Andrew (14) who had led off the inning with a pair of walks. A one run single by Nicholas (7) brought home Junior and another one run single by James (5) brought Nicholas home with the final run in the inning.
The Monarchs fought back in the bottom of the third as they scored one run to cut the deficit to one. With one out, Julian (15) hit a clutch one run double to bring Baldon home (8) from third.
Trailing 5-4, Baiden (11) of the Monarchs pitched a scorless top half of the fourth as he struck out two Homesteads to keep it a one run game (1 IP; 0 ER; 0 H; 0 W; 2 K).
Tristan (9) a.k.a. "T-Money" of the Monarchs scored the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the sixth inning.
With one out, the Monarchs drew three consecutive walks in the bottom of the fourth to load the bases. An errant pickoff attempt to first base by the Homesteads pitcher sailed down the right field line which allowed Sage (2) and Russell (3) to come home with the tying and go ahead runs as the Monarchs went back in front 6-5.
The fifth inning was a pitcher’s affair as both teams were unable generate any offense. Monarchs pitcher Sage (2) tossed a super top of the fifth as he struck out three. Likewise, Andrew (14) of the Homesteads [1.2 IP; 0 ER; 0 H; 0 W; 5 K] mowed down the Monarchs 1-2-3 on three strikeouts in the bottom of the fifth.
Trailing by one and with one out in the top of the sixth, Junior (12) of the Homesteads doubled and eventually moved to third on a stolen base. On a wild pitch, Junior blazed home with the tying run to even the proceedings at 6-6.
With the Homesteads go ahead run standing at third, Sage (2) of the Monarchs [2 IP; 1 ER; 1 H; 2 W; 5 K] dug deep into his reserves and struck out the next two batters to close out the top half of the inning and keep the game tied.
In the bottom of the sixth, Tristan (9) of the Monarchs led off with a walk and Tristan (10) singled. After Tristan (9) had stolen third, “T-Money” came storming home with the winning run on a wild pitch.
Congratulations to Monarchs Head Coach Darryl Spencer for leading his team to the 2011 TP Midget Division Championship.
Please click on the links below to access more photo collages from the Midget Division Championship Game:
September 17, 2011 > Monarchs Championship Collage