SELECT > Rookie Ball Selects Have a Successful Foray at the Lloyd McConnie Tournament

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DESPITE FALLING SHORT IN THEIR BID FOR THE PLAYOFF ROUND, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS FINISHES WITH A SAY HEY 1-1-1 ROUND ROBIN TOURNEY RECORD AT ETOBICOKE VALLEY PARK

TP Rookie Ball Select Head Coach Jason Koskela prepares to give his players their defensive positioning assignments.

TP Rookie Ball Select Head Coach Jason Koskela prepares to give his players their defensive positioning assignments.

Post composed with file from Jason Koskela.

Life is just heaven in the sun
From small things, mama
Big things one day come
– Bruce Springsteen [From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)]

Beneath parting cloudy skies, the Wexford-Agincourt Twins defeated our Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects 9-6 this morning in their third round robin game at the Lloyd McConnie Memorial Tournament at Etobicoke Valley Park.

After a rain delay, TP played a tough game against the Twins. Despite putting in a solid effort, the Rookie Ball Selects just came up short.

With the loss to Wexford-Agincourt, Toronto Playgrounds finished the round robin portion of the tournament with a 1-1-1 record. Even with the respectable record, TP finished second in its division and fell just a tad shy of advancing to the tourney’s playoff round.

The Rookie Ball Selects defeated the Richmond Hill Phoenix 17-10 in their first round robin game early on Saturday morning to earn their first win at the tournament.

In their second game on Saturday afternoon, TP engaged Georgetown in an epic back and forth tussle that ended in a 10-10 draw.

Theo (17) preserved the tie in the top of the seventh inning. With one out and Georgetown runners on second and third, Theo leapt high in the air to snag a hot tamale line drive and then tossed the ball to Dexter (10) at second to complete a stellar double play. TP made a push for the win in the bottom of the seventh but couldn’t quite get there.

In a postgame media scrum, TP Head Coach Jason Koskela was ebullient about his team and the tournament experience:

“This was an enormously successful tournament for us. The hitting and fielding were equally excellent. The team showed grit and poise in some very tense games. I have no doubt that this is the best we have played all year. Teammates, coaches and parents all dealt with adversity together – rain, heat, wind, a shortage of ketchup at the BBQ, out of order toilets – none of that fazed us. We worked together, supported each other and carried on like professionals. On behalf of the coaches I want thank all players and parents for a fantastic weekend.” 
“Now have a day to catch our breath and get some rest before we head out to play Bloordale on Tuesday.”
The Rookie Ball Selects (4-4) resume action on the EBA Select circuit when they travel to Neilson Park on Tuesday, July 15 to battle the Bloordale Bombers at 6:30 p.m.