TRAILING 10-5, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS STORMS BACK WITH FIVE RUNS IN THE FINAL INNING TO EARN A DRAW WITH THE CARDINALS AT CHRISTIE PITS
SPEED DEMON > Clockwise from top left: After drawing a leadoff walk and stealing second in the bottom of the first inning, Jake (30) bolts for third base and successfully steals it with a perfect slide. With Royal York uncorking a wild pitch, Jake blazed home and slides safely into the plate with TP’s first run of the game.
Beneath a layer of warm and summery skies, our Toronto Playgrounds Mosquito Selects played to a 10-10 draw against the Royal York Cardinals in four innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Select action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
Trailing 10-5, TP stormed back with a vengeance in the bottom of the fourth to score five runs and earn a tie with the Cardinals. After Ben (4) and Jashan (3) drew back to back walks to lead off the inning, Leandro (10) was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jake (30) and Louis (16) followed with respective RBI walks that allowed Ben and Jashan to come home to roost.
Next, Adam (14) hit into a bases loaded fielder’s choice that allowed Leandro to score and trim the deficit to two. The fielder’s choice also erased Jake on the basepaths and resulted in the first out of the frame.
Taking advantage of a Royal York error, Adam (14) slides safely home with TP’s tying run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
After a one out single by Alden (7) reloaded the bases, Aaron (18) was hit by a pitch that allowed Louis to saunter home and cut the margin to 10-9. Subsequently, an errant Cardinals throw to third base with two outs to catch Adam sailed down the third baseline and allowed Adam to motor home with the tying run.
Shaken, but not stirred, Royal York recorded the final out on a dropped third strike to bring the curtain down on the proceedings.
In a generous act of good sportsmanship, TP Mosquito Select Head Coach Bill Evans loaned the undermanned Royal York team (which only had seven on hand) two players prior to the start of the game so that each squad would have an equitable amount of bodies to work with.
The Cardinals jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the top of the first. The big blast of the inning was a two RBI single by Chazz (11).
Replying in kind, the Mosquito Selects scored five in the bottom of the first to even the score at 5-5. After a leadoff walk, Jake would proceed to steal two bases to reach third. Pouncing like a sabre tooth tiger on a Cardinals wild pitch, Jake blazed home like a gazelle and slid in safely in a cloud of dust to score TP’s first run of the game.
Exercising great discipline at the dish, Adam, Aaron and Adi would garner walks to load the bases. Consecutive RBI walks by Dylan (11), Ben and Jashan would bring Adam, Aaron and Adi homeward. Dylan would speed home with the tying run on a wild pitch by Royal York.
In the top of the second, Royal York would score a pair to take a 7-5 lead. After reaching base on a dropped third strike, Ethan (19 of TP) would advance to third on a stolen base and wild pitch. Ethan would zoom home with the go ahead run on a wild pitch.
With one out, Troy (33) would single and reach third on a wild pitch and passed ball. Troy would advance home on a TP wild pitch.
Cardinals reliever Dawson (6) would mow down a pair of TP batters in the bottom of the second to keep them off the scoreboard.
Royal York would add three more runs in the top of the third to widen their advantage to 10-5. Matthew R. (12) led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a pair of derring do stolen bases. Matthew R. would hustle home on a wild pitch.
With two outs, Ethan singled and Alex (2 of TP) walked to put two on base. Both would come hoe to roost after a series of stolen bases and wild pitches.
Royal York pitchers Dawson and Marc O’ (2) would combine to fan three TP batters in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the third to keep them off the scoring ledger.
With some Gold Glove help from his friends, TP reliever Adi (1) would retire Royal York in order in the top of the fourth to keep the Cardinals off the scoresheet.
TP shortstop Aaron hooked up with first baseman Louis to turn a nifty 6-3 putout for the first out of the frame. First baseman Louis battled the glare of the setting sun to snag a mile high pop up for the second out. Finally, right fielder Ben made a nice catch on a dying quail to record the third out.
And it was at this moment in the game where TP came face to face with its destiny in the bottom of the fourth.