THE MAJESTIC ROYALS NEUTRALIZE THE GO GO LIZZIES TO TAKE THE PRIZE AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a ceiling of overcast skies, the Royals defeated the Lizzies 8-3 in 5 ½ innings this morning at Christie Pits Diamond 2 to win the 2014 Toronto Playgrounds Peewee Division Championship.
Using a combination of strong pitching, solid defense and an opportunistic offense, the Royals prevailed over the Lizzies in a well played championship final by both teams.
The Lizzies jumped out to an early 1-0 in the top of the first. After reaching base on a dropped third strike with one out, Leo (15) stole a pair of bases and came home on a Royals error to score the opening run of the game.
Royals starter Jian (15) struck out two Lizzies in the first to keep it a one run game.
In the bottom of the first, the Royals answered the Lizzies initial salvo with three runs of their own to take a 3-1 lead. After reaching base on a dropped third strike to open the frame, Rory (6) advanced to third on a stolen base and a wild pitch. Rory would subsequently come home on a Lizzies wild pitch to tie the proceedings.
After a series of walks to Niall (9), Jian and John Lee (14) loaded the bases, Maxwell (13) hit into a one out fielder’s choice (which retired Jian at second) that allowed Niall to motor homeward with the Royals go ahead run. Julian (10) followed with a RBI single that plated John Lee.
Shaken, but not stirred, Lizzies starter Daniel (13) would fan two to quell the Royals insurgency.
Royals reliever Rory (6) would strike out a pair in the top of the second to keep the Lizzies off the scoresheet.
On the defensive ledger, Royals centre fielder Kat (12) made a nice fly ball catch to record the first out of the inning.
The Royals added a pair in the bottom of the second to stretch their advantage to 5-1. After a lead off single by Kat, Molly (4) stroked a RBI single that allowed the uber speedy Kat to blaze homeward. Subsequently, Molly would swipe two bases to reach third and come home to roost on a wild pitch.
Lizzies starter Daniel would strike out a pair of Royals to subdue the rebellion.
After surrendering a lead off walk, Royals reliever Rory mowed down three in the top of the third with a Toro 20 HP 597cc – LX427 to keep the Lizzies off the scoring ledger.
Lizzies reliever Julia (11) struck out two Royals in the bottom of the third to keep then off the scoreboard.
With two outs and the bases juiced to the gills with Royals, Lizzies first baseman Seb (4) made a nice solo putout on a hard hit ground ball to record the third out of the inning.
With their championship hopes flickering, the Lizzies offense surged to life in the top of the fourth as they scored two to trim the deficit to two. With the bases loaded, Julia drew a RBI walk that allowed Harsha (10) to saunter homeward from third. Next, Jacob (2) hit into a bases loaded double play that allowed Seb to motor home another Lizzies run.
In the bottom of the fourth, Lizzies reliever Julia and his defensive pals kept the Royals offense at bay and off the scoreboard. Lizzies second baseman Isaac (5) scooped up a hard hit grounder like a Kirby vacuum cleaner and made a quicksilver messenger throw to first baseman to complete the 4-3 putout and tally the first out of the frame.
Battling the wind and light rain, Lizzies third baseman Leo (5) made a nice catch on an eight mile high pop up for the second out.
The Lizzies took advantage of a pair of dropped third strikes in the top of the fifth to put two runners on the base paths in a bid to even the proceedings. However, Royals reliever Angus (11) would fan two to quell the rebellion.
In a two out gambit to score in the fifth, Ryan (13) of the Lizzies attempted to steal home on a wild pitch. However, Royals catcher Rory retrieved the ball and quickly tagged the sliding Ryan out to bring the inning to a close.
Making hay out of three walks in the bottom of the fifth, the Royals tacked on three insurance runs to widen their lead to 8-3. After a pair of walks to Cormac (8) and Finley (3), Hayden (7) delivered a clutch one out two RBI single that allowed Cormac and Finley to come homeward bound. Subsequently, after advancing to third on a error, Hayden would come home on a dropped third strike.
With a little help from his friends, Royals reliever Angus would strike out one in the top of the sixth to seal the deal on the championship win.