TAKING NO PRISONERS, THE MARKHAM MARINERS HARPOON TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS 17-5 IN THEIR THIRD ROUND ROBIN GAME TO KNOCK TP OUT OF THE LLOYD McCONNIE MEMORIAL ROOKIE BALL SELECT TOURNAMENT
Game Post composed with file from Vincent Lynch
Beneath a blanket of hazy and humid skies at Etobicoke Valley Park, the Markham Mariners defeated our Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects 17-5 in a five inning round robin game this morning at the Lloyd McConnie Memorial Rookie Ball Select Tournament.
Here are the highlights:
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With Markham in a must win situation to move on to the tournament’s playoff rounds, the Mariners came out swinging in the top of the first as they scored seven runs on nine hits before TP could register three outs.
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However, TP was not going to be deterred by a 7-0 deficit as they also came out swinging in the bottom of the first. After Jordan W. (1) got it going with a double and Zev (19) singled, Jordan L (10) delivered a 2 RBI single. After Sammy P. (11) and Emmett (8) got respective singles, Michael (12)drove them in. At the end of the first, the score was 7-4 for Markham.
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In the top of the second, Markham added another three runs on four hits to widen their lead to 10-4.
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The Mariners defense was rock solid in the bottom of the second as they kept TP off the scoreboard. Only Desmond (3) registered a hit during the inning with a single.
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Goung for the jugular, the Markham offensive machine kept it rolling in the top of the third as they pounded out five hits and scored four to widen their advantage to 14-4.
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Despite singles from Liam (10) and Jordan W. that put two base runners aboard in the bottom of the third, the TP offense was unable to cash them in.
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In the top of the fourth, the TP Wall of Sound defense was outstanding. Shortstop Jordan W. (1) made a highlight reel double play by scooping up a sharply hit ball, applying a tag on a runner going from second to third and then throwing the ball to second to complete a force out.
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Because of the mercy rule in force for the tourney, TP needed to score a run in the bottom of the fourth to extend the game. And TP did exactly that as Michael crossed the plate on a clutch RBI single by Desmond to trim the margin to 14-5.
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In the top of the fifth, the M’s scored three insurance runs on four hits to stretch their lead to 17-5. It could have been worse for TP except for a bang-bang defensive play by Jordan W., who threw a strike to catcher Thomas (23) at home plate, who caught the ball, stood his ground and applied the tag on a sliding Markham player attempting to steal home.
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In the bottom of the fifth, TP went three up and three down and Markham was declared the winner.
With the round robin loss to the Mariners, the TP Rookie Ball Selects (1-2) were eliminated from further contention at the Lloyd McConnie tourney.
In their opening round robin game yesterday (Saturday) morning, the Brampton Royals prevailed 5-3 over TP. However, Toronto Playgrounds rebounded with a 17-13 victory over the Halton Hills Eagles later that afternoon.
The tournament format had four groups of four teams and only one team from each group would move onto the playoff round. The Markham Mariners won the group that TP participated in and moved on to play in a semi-final game at 12:30 p.m.