SELECT > TP Mosquito Selects Top Martingrove 9-3

TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS REBOUNDS WITH A DECISIVE PLAYOFF WIN OVER THE WHITE SOX TO STAY ALIVE AT THE EBA MOSQUITO SELECT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT

TP starter Solly (27) threw 4.1 stellar innings against Martingrove where he allowed only three runs and struck out five White Sox to lead TP to a 9-3 EBA Select playoff victory at Christie Pits Diamond 2

Beneath a serene layer of warm summer skies, our Toronto Playgrounds Mosquito Selects defeated the Martingrove White Sox 9-3 in 5 ½ innings of playoff action this morning at Christie Pits Diamond 2 to win its first game at the 2015 Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Mosquito Select Championship Tournament.

With the decisive win over the White Sox, the TP Mosquito Selects squared their playoff record at 1-1 and staved off elimination from the tourney.

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.

TP starter Solly (27) would strike out one in the top of the first to keep the White Sox off the scoresheet.

TP catcher Lucas (1) applies the tag on a sliding Anton (16) to complete a stellar 7-1-2 putout at home plate in the top half of the first inning.

The TP defense shone brightly in the first inning with a stellar defensive gem to stymie the Martingrove offense. With one out and a White Sox base runner on first, Stephen (14) launched a double to left field that allowed Anton (16) to make a bid for home. However, TP left fielder Jashan (13) retrieved the ball and made a zippity do da throw to cut off man Solly. With Anton barreling homeward, Solly turned and made a bullet throw to catcher Lucas (1), who adroitly applied the tag on a sliding Anton at the plate to complete the 7-1-2 putout for the second out of the frame.

In the bottom of the first, Toronto Playgrounds jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. After Charlie (19), Jamie (52) and Javert (5) garnered consecutive walks with one out to load the bases, Jashan stroked a RBI single that plated Charlie.

With a little help from his friends, Martingrove southpaw starter Aidan (8) would eventually supress the TP insurgency.

Solly would strike out two in the top of the second to keep the White Sox off the basepaths and the scoreboard.

TP threatened in the bottom of the second by loading the bases with a pair of singles and a walk. However, Martingrove extinguished the threat with a double play and a strikeout to escape the inning unscathed.

Jashan (13) delivers a RBI single in the first inning to give TP a 1-0 lead. In three at bats, Jashan went 2 for 2 [two singles, walk] with two runs scored and 2 RBI’s. Jashan also pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to close out the win over Martingrove.

Anton followed with a RBI single that allowed James to come home with the go ahead run.

Shaken, but not stirred, TP starter Solly would strike out two quell the Martingrove uprising.

However, the TP offense answered back with five in the bottom of the third to retake the lead 6-2. After Theo (17) led off the frame with single, Charlie drew a walk to put two ducks on the pond. Jamie followed with a RBI single that allowed Theo to motor home with the tying run.

With one out and two TP runners on the basepaths, Jashan (13) stroked a RBI single that brought Charlie home with the go ahead run.

Subsequently, a wild pitch by the White Sox would open the door for Jamie to blaze home with another run and Jashan to move up to third. Next, Lucas would hustle down the first base line like a locomotive on a dropped third strike and beat the throw from the Martingrove catcher allowing Jashan to come home from third.

After Cameron (26) drew a walk to put two TP runners on base, Jude (3) delivered a sacrifice hit that allowed Lucas to come home to roost from third.

The White Sox would reply with a run in the top of the fourth to trim the deficit to three. With one out and two aboard, Rocco (11) hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Matteo (17) to come home from third.

Jude (3) delivers a RBI single in the fifth inning. In three at bats, Jude went 2 for 2 [two singles, sacrifice hit] with 2 RBI’s.

Martingrove would put two baserunners onboard in the top of the fifth. However, the TP defense rose to the challenge to erase the White Sox threat with two disciplined plays. With one out, Tristan (24) would be caught stealing third on a 5-3-2-5 putout involving third baseman Cameron (26), first baseman Jamie and catcher Lucas.

With two outs, Aidan would be caught in a quasi modo 2-4-8-5 rundown between third and home involving Lucas, second baseman Charlie, centre fielder Javert and Cameron.

In the bottom of the fifth, TP would tack on three insurance runs to increase their advantage to 9-3. With one out, Jashan, Lucas and Cameron would draw consecutive walks to load the bases. Jude would follow with a RBI single to plate Jashan.

With two outs, Solly stroked a RBI single to bring Lucas homeward. A subsequent wild pitch would allow Cameron to dart home.

Refusing to surrender, the White Sox donned their rally caps in the top of the sixth and gamely loaded the bases in a feverish comeback bid. However, TP closer Jashan (13) would induce Martingrove to hit into three groundouts to seal the deal on a hard fought win.

The TP Mosquito Selects will play their next EBA Select playoff elimination game later this afternoon at Christie Pits Diamond 2 when they face the Bloordale Bombers at 2:00 p.m.

GO! TP! GO!