SELECT > TP Mosquito Selects Stymie Bloordale 5-2


TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS DEFUSE THE BOMBERS TO WIN ITS SECOND PLAYOFF ELIMINATION GAME AND STAY IN THE HUNT AT THE EBA MOSQUITO SELECT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

After sealing the victory by pitching two scoreless innings, TP reliever Charlie (19) leaps into the arms of catcher Max (20) to celebrate the TP Mosquito Selects 5-2 EBA Select playoff win over the Bloordale Bombers at Christie Pits Diamond 2.

After sealing the victory by pitching two scoreless innings, TP reliever Charlie (19) leaps into the arms of catcher Max (20) to celebrate the TP Mosquito Selects 5-2 EBA Select playoff win over the Bloordale Bombers at Christie Pits Diamond 2.

Below a gentle blanket of warm summer skies, our Toronto Playgrounds Mosquito Selects defeated the Bloordale Bombers 5-2 in 5 ½ innings this afternoon at Christie Pits Diamond 2 to win its second playoff elimination game in a row at the 2015 Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Mosquito Select Championship Tournament.

Each team participating in this season’s EBA Mosquito Select Championship Tournament is working under the double knockout formula, whereby a team is eliminated from the tourney once they have lost two playoff elimination games.

With the do or die victory over the Bombers, the TP Mosquito Selects improved their record to 2-1 and staved off elimination from the tourney. Toronto Playgrounds had opened up the playoff tournament with a narrow 4-3 loss to the Royal York Cardinals on Friday evening. With their season in the balance, the TP Mosquito Selects rebounded with a convincing 9-3 victory over the Martingrove White Sox earlier this morning to avoid elimination.

The proceeding was a taut and electrifying affair from first pitch to final out with both teams facing the guillotine blade of elimination with another loss.

Bloordale threatened in the top of the first by putting their first two batters on base with a walk and hit batsman. However, the TP defense rose to challenge when second baseman Charlie (19) and first baseman Jamie (52) combined on a nifty double play.

With two outs and a pair of Bombers at third and second, TP starter Lucas (1) struck out Matthew (13) to extinguish the Bloordale insurrection.

With two outs and a runner on base, Javert (5) delivers a clutch RBI double to bring Jamie (52) home with TP's opening run in the first inning. Javert went 2 for 2 [double, triple] at the dish with 2 RBI's.

With two outs and a runner on base, Javert (5) delivers a clutch RBI double to bring Jamie (52) home with TP’s opening run in the first inning. Javert went 2 for 2 [double, triple] at the dish with 2 RBI’s.

In the bottom half of the first, Toronto Playgrounds took an early 1-0 lead. After a two out single and stolen base by Jamie, Javert (5) stroked a clutch RBI double to bring Jamie home with the opening run of the game.

Bloordale southpaw starter Nathan (7) would strike out one in the first to douse the TP attack.

TP starter Lucas would mow down a pair of Bombers in the top of the second to keep them off the scoresheet.

Lucas was also helped out with a stellar 2-6 defensive play during the inning. After drawing a lead off walk, Gregory (6) made a brazen bid to steal second. However, TP catcher Max (20) gunned Gregory down with a laser throw to shortstop Theo (17) to record the first out of the frame.

Toronto Playgrounds would add a pair in the bottom of the second to widen its lead to 3-0. After a one out single by Jashan (3), Jude (3) reached base after a Bloordale error to put two ducks on the pond. Solly (27) followed with a sacrifice hit that brought Jashan home to roost.

With two outs, Nicolas (10) delivered a grace under pressure RBI single that allowed Jude to come home.

The Bombers offense surged to life in the top of the third when they scored a pair to trim the deficit to one. With one out and the bases loaded, Dominic (5) drew a RBI walk that plated Aidan (10). A subsequent TP error would allow Robbie (9) to blaze homeward from third with another run.

TP southpaw reliever Jamie (52) would strike out two to quell the Bloordale uprising.

However, TP answered back with a run in the bottom of the third to stretch its advantage to 4-2. After a one out single by Jamie, Javert cranked a RBI triple to bring him home.

With two outs, Nicolas (10) takes advantage of a wild pitch  in the fifth inning by blazing home from third and beating the tag of Bombers pitcher Dominic (5) to score an insurance run. Dominic went 2 for 2 at the plate with a run scored and a RBI.

With two outs, Nicolas (10) takes advantage of a wild pitch in the fifth inning by blazing home from third and beating the tag of Bombers pitcher Dominic (5) to score an insurance run. Dominic went 2 for 2 at the plate with a run scored and a RBI.

Bombers reliever Dominic (5) would strike out three in third to subdue the TP offensive thrust.

With authority, TP reliever Jamie would strike out one in the top of the fourth to retire Bloordale in 1-2-3 fashion.

In the bottom of the fourth, Bloordale reliever Dominic would fan two to keep TP off the scoreboard.

With a little help from his friends, TP reliever Charlie (19) would turn away the Bombers in the top of the fifth and keep them off the scoring abacus.

The inning was highlighted by a superb catch in shallow centre by centre fielder Javert for the first out of the frame.

TP would tack on an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth to increase its advantage to 5-2. After a one out single by Nicolas (10), Theo would stroke a two out double to put two base runners aboard. A subsequent Bloordale wild pitch would open the door for Nicolas to blaze home with a run in a chitty chitty bang bang play at the plate.

Refusing to surrender, Bloordale donned their rally caps in the top of the sixth and gamely loaded the bases in a feverish rally bid. After recording a pair of outs on a 6-3 ground out and a pop up to first, TP reliever Charlie would strike out the final Bloordale batter to leave the bases stranded and seal the deal on a hard fought playoff game victory.

The TP Mosquito Selects journey at the tourney will continue with another playoff game at Christie Pits tomorrow (Sunday, August 23) afternoon at 1:00 p.m. After earning a bye, Toronto Playgrounds will face the winner of the Royal York Cardinals (2-1) and York River Dogs (2-0) playoff elimination game scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at Christie Pits Diamond 2.