THE HALOS FEND OFF A TENACIOUS RALLY BY THE DEVILISH RAYS IN THE FINAL INNING TO HANG ON FOR THE HEAVEN ON EARTH VICTORY AT BICKFORD PARK
GRAND THEFT > Clockwise from the top: Taking advantage of a Rays error, Cooper (2) blazes home and slides under the tag attempt of Rays catcher Ethan (15) to score the Angels winning run in the second inning; In three at bats, Angels leadoff batter Maggie (4) went 2 for 2 with two runs scored, three stolen bases and a RBI to spark the Halos offense; Jack (10) garnered three walks in three at bats and utilized his speed to steal four bases and score three runs against the Rays.
Under a ceiling of warm and sunny midsummer skies, the Angels defeated the Rays 10-7 in three fun filled innings of Mosquito Division action this evening at the Bickford Park diamond.
Despite the challenges posed by both teams having a short bench, the game was an entertaining affair contested by two talented and well coached teams.
The Angels jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the first. After Maggie (4) led off the inning with a single, Jack (10) followed with a walk to put two Halos on the base paths. With bravado, the Angels executed a double steal which resulted in a Rays error that allowed Maggie to score the opening run of the game and Jack to move up to third. A subsequent Rays faux pas would allow Jack to come home to roost.
After Alex (9), Myles (3) and Cooper (2) drew walks to load the bases, Kiran (5) drew an one out RBI walk to plate Alex.
With two outs and the bases still juiced, Maggie delivered a RBI single to bring Myles home.
![In four at bats, Devin (6) went 2 for 2 [two singles, two walks] to spark the Rays offense with three runs scored and 3 RBI's versus the Angels.](https://torontoplaygrounds.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/DSC09032-001.jpg)
In four at bats, Devin (6) went 2 for 2 [two singles, two walks] to spark the Rays offense with three runs scored and 3 RBI’s versus the Angels.
The Rays answered the Angels initial salvo by scoring two in the bottom of the first to trim the deficit to two. After walks by Devin, Margaret (11) and Dante (13) loaded the bases, Ethan (15) drew an one out RBI walk that allowed Devin to shuffle home with the Rays first run of the proceeding.
With two outs and the bases still juiced to the gills, Devin drew a two out RBI walk to plate Margaret.
Angels starter Cooper (2) struck out two in the first to quell the Rays insurrection.
Cooper was also helped out immeasurably by a stellar Gold Glove defensive play by his Angels teammates during the frame. With two outs, the base loaded, and the Rays threatening to tie the game, Halos shortstop Sadie (6) made a sparkling grace under pressure play to rob P.J. (2) of a sure RBI hit when she vacuumed up a scorching grounder and had the wherewithal to make a laser throw to third baseman Kiran to complete the 6-5 force out at third and record the third out of the inning.
In the top of the second, the Angels added four more to the tally and stretched their lead to 8-2. After Jack, Alex and Aiden (13) led off the inning with consecutive walks to load the bases, Cooper drew an one out RBI walk that allowed Jack to shimmy homeward.
Exercising a keen eye at the dish, Kiran and Sadie garnered back to back RBI walks with the bases loaded that brought Alex and Aiden home to roost. An Rays error would open the door for Cooper to blaze home with the Halos fourth run of the second.
In a spirited foray on the mound, Rays reliever Dante (13) would strike out one in the second inning.
Angels reliever Maggie (4) would strike out two in the bottom of the second to keep the Rays off the scoreboard.
The Angels would tack on two insurance runs in the top of the second to widen their advantage to 10-2. After Maggie and Jack led off the inning with a pair of walks that put two Halos on base, the Angels executed a double steal that resulted in a Rays error that allowed Maggie to score and Jack to advance to third.
After Alex walked to put two ducks on the pond, Myles delivered a one out RBI sacrifice hit that brought Jack homeward.
![Rays reliever Ethan (15) pitched a strong third inning by limiting the potent Halos offense to two runs while striking out two [1 IP, 2 R, 0 H, 3 W, 2 K's].](https://torontoplaygrounds.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/DSC09172-001.jpg)
Rays reliever Ethan (15) pitched a strong third inning by limiting the potent Halos offense to two runs while striking out two [1 IP, 2 R, 0 H, 3 W, 2 K’s].
Refusing to surrender, the pesky Rays donned their rally caps in the bottom of the third and staged a tenacious comeback bid to overtake the Angels.
After singling to open the frame, Devin would advance to third on a Halos error and a stolen base. With two outs, Dante delivered a RBI single to bring Devin home.
With discipline at the plate, Ethan and Lucas (8) would follow with a pair of back to back walks to load the bases. Devin stepped into the batter’s box and stroked a clutch 2 RBI single to allow Dante and Ethan to come homeward bound and trim the margin to 10-5. A subsequent Angels error would allow Lucas to bolt home from third and slice the deficit to four.
P.J. would follow and stroke a RBI single that allowed Devin to motor home and trim the gap to 10-7.
Shaken, but not stirred, Angels reliever Maggie would strike out three to extinguish the Rays rally bid and seal the deal on a hard fought victory.