SELECT > TP Rookie Ball Selects Top Annette 14-9

WITH VIVA LAS VEGAS BRAVADO, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS POUNDED OUT TWENTY-THREE HITS AND PLAYED SOME SOLID DEFENSE AGAINST THE A’s TO EARN THEIR THIRD EBA SELECT LOOP VICTORY OF THE SEASON AT CHRISTIE PITS

TP POWER > Clockwise from top left: In four at bats, TP leadoff batter Zev (19) went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and 2 RBI’s; Jordan L. (10) went 2 for 2 [sacrifice, two singles] in three trips to the dish with a run scored and 2 RBI’s; Cassius (5) delivered TP’s game winning RBI in the fifth as he went 2 for 3 [triple, single] with two runs scored and a RBI; In three at bats, Christian (7) went 1 for 2 [sacrifice, double] with two runs scored and 2 RBI’s; Sammy P. (11) went a stellar 3 for 3 against Annette with a run scored and 2 RBI’s; Rennick (4) was a perfect 3 for 3 versus the A’s with a run scored and 2 RBI’s.

Beneath a canopy of blue skies, our Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects defeated the Annette A’s 14-9 in 6 ½ innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Select action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3.

In an entertaining and spirited affair by two talented and well coached teams, TP utilized a twenty-three hit attack and some solid defensive play with the leather to prevail for a total team victory over Annette.

Sam H-T (2) went 2 for 3 at the plate with a run scored and a RBI. In addition, Sam H-T. played his usual rock solid game defensively for TP at first base.

Annette jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. With a runner on base, Xander (8) stroked a RBI single that brought Carter (7) home to roost.

Some good defensive work during the inning by TP blunted the A’s offensive thrust. Second baseman Jordan W. (1) battled the glare of the setting sun to catch a mile high pop up off the bat of Gregory (1) for the first out.

TP shortstop Jordan L. (10) used his Gold Glove leather to scoop up a hot shot off the bat of Conor (19) and made a laser throw to second baseman Jordan W. (2) to complete a nifty 6-4 putout for the third out of the frame.

Toronto Playgrounds responded to the A’s opening salvo by scoring three in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead. After a lead off single by Zev (19), Jordan W. mashed a RBI triple that allowed Zev to shuffle home with the tying run. Jordan L. followed with a RBI sacrifice hit that brought Jordan W. home with the go ahead score.

After Cassius (5) pulverized a one out triple, Sammy P. (11) delivered a RBI single to plate Cassius.

In the top of the second, TP used some solid D to keep Annette off the scoreboard. The defensive highlight of the inning was a bang bang play 6-3 play for the second out. With finesse, shortstop Jordan L. vacuumed up a sharp grounder off the bat of Andrew (3) and a made a lightning quick toss across the diamond to first baseman Sam H-T (2) for the putout.

LIKE A ROCK: TP shortstop Jordan L. (10) makes a throw to first base during the second inning to initiate a 6-3 putout against the A’s. Jordan was TP’s defensive anchor throughout the game against Annette.

TP added a run in the bottom of the second to stretch its advantage to 4-1. After a one out single by Michael (12), Christian (7) delivered a RBI sacrifice hit to bring Michael home.

With grit and determination, Annette battled back with two runs in the top of the third to trim the deficit to one. A one out RBI single by Xander would plate Tom (2). Carter (7) would come home on a fielder’s choice delivered by Gregory (1).

Once again, the TP defense rose to the occasion during the frame to subdue the A’s rally charge. On an exquisite 10-6 putout play at second, TP Rover Christian made a speedy throw to shortstop Jordan L to tag out a sliding Xander for the second out. Next, third baseman Cassius caught a hot liner off the bat of Andrew (3) and made a quick throw to second baseman Jordan W. to erase a sliding Gregory for the third out.

Annette played some strong defense in the bottom of the third to keep TP off the scoring ledger.

However, Toronto Playgrounds would reply in kind with some solid Sunny D in the top of the fourth to keep the A’s off the scoring abacus.

Utilizing a six hit barrage, TP went for the jugular in the bottom of the fourth as they scored four to widen their lead to 8-3. After respective singles by Sammy P. and Sam H-T. to lead off the inning, Emmett (8) stroked a RBI single to bring Sammy P. home to the nest.

With two outs and two ducks on the pond, Christian powered a RBI double to bring Sam H-T. home. Rennick (4) followed with a 2 RBI single that allowed Emmett and Christian to come homeward bound.

In three visits to the dish, Michael (12) went 2 for 3 with a run scored.

Refusing to surrender, Annette gamely scored a run in the top of the fifth to slice the margin to four. With two outs and a pair of A’s on base, Xander cranked a RBI double to plate Tom.

The TP defense extinguished another Annette uprising during the frame. Of note, was a pretty 4-6 putout at second base turned by second baseman Sammy P., who scooped up a hard shot off the bat of Tom and made a throw to shortstop Jordan L. to erase Tristan (42) for the first out.

Uncorking another six hit attack, Toronto Playgrounds added four in the bottom of the fifth to increase their advantage to 12-4. TP received respective RBI hits from Jordan L., Cassius, Sammy P. and Sam H-T. during the inning.

With their backs to the wall, Annette continued to battle in the top of the sixth as they exploded for four runs to trail 12-8. The A’s surge was powered by RBI singles from Conor and Andrew. Tristan delivered a 2 RBI single for good measure.

Nevertheless, TP answered back with two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to widen their lead to 14-8. With two outs and the bases loaded, Zev delivered a 2 RBI single to bring Christian and Rennick home to roost.

Despite having two outs in the top of the seventh, Annette stubbornly refused to accept its fate as they put two runners on base. Russell (9) would deliver a RBI single to bring Gregory home and trim the deficit to five.

However, the TP Wall of Sound Defense would not allow the A’s to stage any dramatic comeback rally this day:

• Pitcher Emmett snared a sizzling shot off the bat of Carter and made a quick throw to first baseman Sam H-T. to complete the nice 1-3 putout for the first out of the inning.
• Shortstop Jordan L. corralled a smokin’ hit off the bat of Xander and made a locomotive throw across the continental divide to Sam H-T. at first to cross the i’s and dot the t’s on a pretty 6-3 putout for the second out of the frame.
• With two outs and A’s at second and first, shortstop Jordan L. snared a shot off the bat of Conor and made a laser throw to third baseman Sammy P. at third to turn the 6-5 putout and seal the deal on the victory.

The TP Rookie Ball Selects (3-2) continue their homestand at Christie Pits Diamond 3 next Tuesday, June 16 when they play host to the York Riverdogs at 6:30 p.m.