IN A NAIL BITER, THE ROYALS PREVAIL FOR THE VICTORY OVER TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS IN THEIR OPENING ROUND ROBIN GAME AT THE LLOYD McCONNIE MEMORIAL ROOKIE BALL SELECT TOURNAMENT
Game Post composed with file from Vincent Lynch
Beneath a ceiling of warm and sunny skies, the Brampton Royals prevailed 5-3 over our Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects this morning in 6 ½ innings at Etobicoke Valley Park in their opening round robin game at the Lloyd McConnie Memorial Rookie Ball Select Tournament.
Here are the highlights:
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In the top of the first inning, Jordan W. (1) smashed a hit over the Brampton left fielder and pulled up with a stand up double. However, the Royals defence was rock solid with the TP offense unable to bring Jordan home.
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The Royals came out strong in the bottom of the first with four consecutive singles to stake themselves to an early 2-0 lead.
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TP started off the top of the second with a nice single by Sammy (11) to put a base runner on the basepaths. Once again, the TP offensive machine was stymied by the Brampton defense.
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However, Toronto Playgrounds returned the favour by keeping the Royals off the scoreboard in the bottom of the second.
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The TP offense came to life in the top of the third as they scored a run to trim the deficit to one. After Liam (10) singled and Desmond (3) ground pounded a single to put two ducks on the pond, Thomas (23) was able to drive Liam in and cut the margin to 2-1.
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In the bottom of the third, the Royals answered the TP salvo by scoring two more runs to extend their lead to 4-1.
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The fourth inning was a scoreless frame for both teams. TP’s Sam (2) stroked a single in the top of the inning but was left stranded.
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In the top of the fifth, the Brampton defence flashed their leather with a trifecta of outstanding catches on three hard hit line drives off the TP bats to keep them off the basepaths and the scoresheet.
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Brampton managed to plate one insurance run in the bottom of the fifth to widen their lead to 5-1.
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In the top of the sixth, TP scored a pair to slice the deficit to two. After a pair of singles by Liam and Desmond put two TP runners on base, Rennick (4) delivered a RBI single to plate Liam. Thomas followed with a hard hit single that found the gap between first and second that allowed Desmond to motor homeward..
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The Royals were held off the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth.
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Down 5-3 in the top of the seventh, TP needed two to tie. After Sam (2) got on base with a single, Jordan L. (10) smashed a double to right field to put runners on second and third with one out. Sammy (12) came to bat and smashed a line drive. However, the Royals shortstop would make a superb giant leap into the air to snag the hot tamale line drive for the second out, and then hustle over to step on second base for the force out to register a rally killing double play to end the game.
The TP Rookie Ball Selects (0-1) continue their journey at the Lloyd McConnie tourney with two more round robin games on tap this weekend. TP will play another (Saturday) game later this afternoon against the Halton Hills Eagles at 2:00 p.m. On Sunday (July 12) morning, Toronto Playgrounds are scheduled to play their third and final round robin game versus the Markham Mariners at 10:00 a.m.
TP’s advancement to the tournament’s playoff round will be determined after the completion of the round robin portion of the tourney.
More updates to follow when they become available. Stay tuned.