SELECT > TP Rookie Ball Selects Top Halton Hills 17-13 at Lloyd McConnie Tournament

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IN A BARNBURNER, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS GROUND THE EAGLES TO EARN THEIR FIRST ROUND ROBIN VICTORY AT THE LLOYD McCONNIE MEMORIAL ROOKIE BALL SELECT TOURNAMENT

Jordan L. (10) went 4 for 4 [three singles, triple] at the dish to power the TP offense with three runs scored and 4 RBI's against the Halton Hills Eagles.

Jordan L. (10) went 4 for 4 [three singles, triple] at the dish to power the TP offense with three runs scored and 4 RBI’s against the Halton Hills Eagles.

Game Post composed with file from Vincent Lynch

Under a blanket of warm and humid skies, our Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects defeated the Halton Hills Eagles 17-13 in a thrilling 6 ½ inning round robin game this afternoon at Etobicoke Valley Park to earn their first win at the Lloyd McConnie Memorial Rookie Ball Select Tournament.

Here are the highlights:

  • In the top of the first, Halton Hills scored a run on three hits to take an  early 1-0 lead. It looked like the Eagles were going to have a big inning. However, TP pitcher Desmond (3) caught a line drive fly ball and then turned around and gunned down the Eagles runner at first, who had left the bag without tagging up.
  • The TP offense got out the gates quickly in the bottom of the first as they scored three to take a 3-1 lead. With Jordan W. (1) on first, Zev (19) hit a double to put TP runners on second and third. Jordan L. (10) then proceeded to smash out a single and collect 2 RBI’s. Emmet (8) followed up with a single and then Michael (12) got an RBI single.
  • Halton Hills cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the second by scoring a run on three hits.
  • In the bottom of second, TP was unable to score and stranded Thomas (23) on base after he stroked a single.
  • Halton Hills sent the top of their batting line up to the plate in the top of the third to retake the lead 4-3. The Eagles first batter got a single, followed by a triple to plate one. Halton Hills then scored their second run after three consecutive singles.
  • Zev started things off with a stand up double in the bottom of the third. Jordan L followed him to the dish and smoked one to the outfield to get a triple and collect his third RBI of the game. Sammy (11), Emmett and Michael followed that with respective RBI singles. When the dust had settled, TP had scored four runs to retake the lead 7-4.
  • In the top of the fourth, the Eagles answered back by plating five runs on seven hits to go up 9-7.
  • TP answered back by scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game 9-9. After singles by Rennick (4) and Liam (10) put two ducks on the pond, Jordan W. (1) smashed a triple down the third base line to collect 2 RBI’s.
  • With the pressure mounting and the crowd holding their collective breath as the top of the fifth started in this wild seesaw affair, Halton Hills started out with a couple hard hit singles and moved their base runners around with some fielder’s choices. In the end, the Eagles managed to score two runs to take an 11-9 lead.
  • In the bottom of the fifth, TP rallied with one to trim the margin to 11-10. After respective singles by Jordan L. and Sammy put two runners aboard, Lucas (6) followed up with hard hit single to chalk up a RBI.
  • The TP Wall of Sound defence was awesome in the top of the sixth as they collectively shutdown the potent Eagles offense by allowing no runs and only surrendering one single during the inning.
  • In the bottom of the sixth, TP went for the jugular as they exploded with a bat-around inning that generated seven runs to take a 17-11 lead. After Rennick singled and Malcolm (18) spanked a double, Thomas and then Liam got a pair of RBI’s on respective fielder’s choices to give TP a 12-11 lead. Then the TP offense went on a two out take no prisoners scoring junket with Jordan W., Zev, Jordan L., Sammy, Emmett, Michael and Desmond (3) cranking the offensive fireworks.
  • Refusing to surrender, Halton Hills donned their rally caps in the top of the seventh and attempted a comeback. The Eagles gamely scored two runs on three hits to trim the deficit to four. In the end, it was not enough to extend the game as TP won 17-13 after 6 ½ innings of exciting baseball.

With their victory over Halton Hills, the TP Rookie Ball Selects square their Lloyd McConnie Tournament round robin record at 1-1. In their opening round robin game early this (Saturday) morning, the Brampton Royals had prevailed 5-3 over TP in 6 ½ innings of play.

Toronto Playgrounds will play their final round robin game tomorrow (Sunday, July 12) morning when they face the Markham Mariners at Etobicoke Valley Park 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.