IN A SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS FINAL, THE TP MOSQUITO SELECTS PREVAIL OVER THE PESKY RIVER DOGS TO TAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE AT CHRISTIE PITS
TP Mosquito Select players take to the field to celebrate their 2015 EBA Mosquito Select Championship victory at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
Beneath a picture postcard ceiling of glorious mid August summer skies, our Toronto Playgrounds Mosquito Selects edged the York River Dogs 15-14 in an electrifying and nail biting seven inning playoff final at Christie Pits Diamond 2 to win the 2015 Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Mosquito Select Championship.
This incredible championship proceeding, that was contested by two very talented and well coached teams, was a thrilling rollercoaster ride from the first pitch to the final out. In the end, both teams had played their hearts outs and left everything on the field of play.
York starter Matthew G. (22) would strike out one in the top of the first to keep TP off the basepaths and the scoring ledger.
With a little help from his friends, TP starter Charlie (19) would retire the River Dogs in order in the bottom of the first to keep them in the pound.
Toronto Playgrounds would jump out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second. After Cameron (26) led off the inning with a single, Jashan (13) stroked a one out single to put two runners on base. With two outs, Max (20) launched a clutch 2 RBI triple that allowed Cameron and Jashan to come homeward bound.
River Dogs starter Matthew G. would strike out one in the second to quell the TP uprising.
In the bottom of the second, York answered back with a run to trim the deficit to one. After Ben (25), Matthew G., and Matthew R. (17) drew consecutive walks to lead off the inning and load the bases, Josh (27) drew a one out RBI walk that plated Ben.
TP reliever Theo (17) would strike out two in the bottom half the second to leave the bases loaded.
York starter Matthew G. would retire TP in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the third to keep them off the scoresheet.
With a little assistance from his defense, TP reliever Theo set down the River Dogs in order in the bottom of the third to keep them in the dog house.
With two outs, Theo was helped out mightily by a defensive gem from second baseman Charlie. After Marcellus (19) had stroked a sizzling hot tamale shot that was destined for the outfield, Charlie leapt into the air like Superman to make a spectacular aerial catch in the shoestrings of his glove to record the third out of the inning.
TP would tack on a run in the top of the fourth to stretch their lead to 3-1. After singling to lead off the inning, Theo would swipe two bases to reach third. With one out, Javert (5) delivered a sacrifice hit that allowed Theo to come home to roost.
However, York would rally with two in the bottom of the fourth to tie the proceeding 3-3. After Dimitri (26) and Ben garnered a pair of walks to lead off the frame, Matthew G. would deliver a sacrifice hit to bring Dimitri home.
With two outs, Lee (23) stroked a RBI single to bring home Ben with the tying run.
TP reliever Theo would strike out one in the fourth to suppress the York insurgency.
The fourth inning also featured another superhuman defensive play by TP second baseman Charlie. After Matthew R. stoked a searing line drive shot that was destined for the outfield, Charlie flashed his leather once again and made another breathtaking catch in his mitt to rob him of a sure hit and chalk up the second out of the frame.
In the top of the fifth, the TP offensive machine kicked into high gear as they sent sixteen batters to the plate and scored eleven runs to take a substantial 14-3 lead. After a lead off double by Jamie (52), Jashan followed with a single that put two ducks on the pond. Max would stroke a one out RBI single that would allow Jamie to come home with the go ahead run.
After Solly (27) drew a one out walk to load the bases, Jude (3) powered a 2 RBI double to bring home Jashan and Max. Subsequently, York would uncork a tandem of wild pitches that allowed both Solly and Jude to come home to roost.
Next, TP would load the bases again after respective walks by Cooper (42) and Nicolas (10) and Theo being hit by pitch. Charlie and Javert would follow with back to back RBI walks to bring Cooper and Nicolas home. York would uncork another wild pitch that opened the door for Theo to advance home.
After Cameron drew a walk to reload the bases, Jamie stroked a RBI single to plate Charlie.
With two outs and the bases still juiced to the gills, Lucas (1) delivered a clutch 2 RBI single to bring Javert and Cameron home.
Down by eleven, York refused to surrender and go quietly into the night as they sent twelve batters to the dish and tenaciously rallied with six runs in the bottom of the fifth to trim the deficit to five. The River Dogs rally was keyed by a 2 RBI double by Marcellus; a RBI single by Matthew G.;and bases loaded clearing 3 RBI triple by Matthew R.
York reliever Kaif (15) would stymie TP in the top of the sixth by keeping them off the scoreboard.
Trailing 14-9, York kept the pedal to metal in the bottom of the sixth as they sent nine batters to the plate and scored five to tie the game. Punctuating the River Dogs miracle comeback: a RBI single by Dimitri (26); a 2 RBI single by Ben; and a grace under pressure 2 RBI triple by Matthew R.
With two outs and York’s potential go ahead run standing sixty-five feet away at third, TP reliever Jamie (52) struck out Lee to keep the game tied and bring the inning to a close.
With the game in the balance, TP rallied with a run in the top of the seventh to take a 15-14 lead. After drawing a one out walk to lead off the inning, Charlie (19) stole a pair of bases to advance to third. Javert (5) followed with a grace under pressure RBI single to bring Charlie home with the go ahead run.
As Toronto Playgrounds clung to a precarious one run lead, York’s Josh drew a lead off walk in the bottom of the seventh to put the tying run aboard,.
After issuing the walk, TP closer Jamie dug deep into his reserve tank and chalked up two outs by striking out Adrian (18) and inducing Kaif to ground out to first (which also allowed Josh to move up to second).
With the championship game on the line, Jamie would coax a dropped third strike call out of York’s Jason (16), which allowed catcher Max to pick up the ball and make the throw to first baseman Lucas for the final out of the game.
At this juncture, all of the TP Mosquito Select players rushed towards Jamie to celebrate a hard fought championship victory.
WAY TO GO TP!!!
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Additional pictures from TP’s journey at the 2015 EBA Mosquito Select Championship tourney will be posted over the next few days. We kindly ask you for your patience as we sift through them all. Please check back for updates. Many thanks.]