IN AN ENTERTAINING SIX INNING SEASON OPENER AT CHRISTIE PITS, A FEISTY TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS SQUAD HUNG TOUGH AGAINST THE POTENT CARDINALS OFFENSIVE MACHINE
TRIPLE THREAT: Ishan (2) went 2 for 3 at the plate, with two triples, to power the Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Select team’s offense against the Royal York Cardinals at Christie Pits Diamond 3. Ishan scored two runs and collected two RBIs.
Beneath beautiful blue skies this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3, the Royal York Cardinals topped the Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Select Team 16-9 in six innings of EBA West Select Loop action.
After the Cardinals had staked themselves to a 7-0 lead in the top of the first, the feisty Rookie Selects answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning to trim the deficit to four. After James (14) and Oskar (6) had led off with consecutive singles, Ishan (2) stroked a majestic two RBI triple to bring both of them home. With two outs, Declan (16) delivered a clutch two out RBI single to bring Ishan home.
Declan (16) went 3 for 3 at the dish with 3 RBI’s.
The potent Royal York offense added another four runs in the top of the second to widen their lead to 11-3. The highlight of the inning was a superb defensive play by Rookie Select shortstop Luca (11), who cooly corralled a hot shot and calmly made an unassisted putout at second on a fielder’s choice.
Toronto Playgrounds doggedly kept the Cardinals off the scoreboard in the third inning with some stellar defensive plays. The piece de resistance was a spectacular catch by Rookie Select left fielder James (14) to record the first out of the inning.
The Rookie Selects battled back with two runs in the bottom of the third to shrink the deficit to six. With a runner on second, Luca (11) delivered a two out RBI double to bring in Oskar. Declan stroked a RBI single to bring Luca home.
In the top of the fourth, TP fought tooth and nail to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard with a pair of super defensive gems. Spencer (4) snared a sizzler near the pitching machine and threw to first to record the first out. With two outs, TP shortstop Luca icily caught a screaming line drive to record the final out of the inning.
Luca (11) went 2 for 3 (single & double) at the plate with 2 RBI’s.
Royal York added another run in the top of the fifth to increase its margin to 12-5.
The Cardinals offense ignited again in the top half of the sixth with four more runs added onto the ledger sheet.
Despite trailing 16-5, the pesky Rookie Selects refused to go down without a fight in the bottom of the sixth as TP gamely rallied for four runs.
After Ishan had led off the inning with a crowd roaring triple, Luca hit a RBI single to bring him home. When Jacob (5) followed with a single, Declan stroked a RBI single to bring Luca home. Then Dex (4) delivered a RBI single to allow Jacob to come homeward bound with inning’s third run. With two outs, Spencer (4) muscled a clutch RBI single to bring Dex home with the final run of the game.
The Rookie Ball Selects (0-1) hit the road for their next game. Toronto Playgrounds travels to Pelmo Park on Tuesday, May 21 to play Weston at 6:30 p.m.