THE GO GO LIZZIES SNAP A 3-3 DEADLOCK IN THE FINAL INNING TO PREVAIL FOR A THRILLING ROUND ROBIN PLAYOFF VICTORY OVER THE MAJESTIC ROYALS AT CHRISTIE PITS
With the game tied 3-3 and the bases loaded. Cameron (6) draws a RBI walk that allowed Dajuan (7) to come home from third with the Lizzies winning run over the Royals.
Under a picturesque canopy of warm and sunny skies, the Lizzies edged the Royals 4-3 in four riveting innings of Mosquito Division round robin playoff action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
Here is an account of the proceedings by Vincent Lynch:
The Royals were the visiting team and batted first. Some patient at bats led to three walks to load the bases. Kaenoa (3) then spanked out a single to bring Lewis (11) home for the first run of the game.
The Lizzies starting pitcher then settled into a groove and struck out the next two batters. With two strikes on the next hitter, the Royals attempted a bold steal of home. However, the Lizzies defence was rock solid and threw out the Royals runner at home to end the inning.
In the bottom of the first, the Royals sent out starter James (6). Luca P. (1) of the Lizzies led off with a walk and proceeded to steal second and third. On the theft of third, the Royals defence bobbled the throw to third and it took an unfortunate bounce out of bounds allowing Luca P. to proceed home and tie the game 1-1.
In the top of the second, the Royals went down swinging with Lizzies pitcher Shamus (9) registering three straight strikeouts.
The Royals then sent in southpaw Lewis (11) in the bottom of the second. Lewis pitched well but a couple walks and some aggressive base running by Lizzies resulted in Dajuan (7) and Cameron (6) coming home to give the Go Go Lizzies a 3-1 lead.
In top of the third, the Roayls got a lead off walk by Zev (7). Jackson (8) followed that up with a solid line drive single to move the runner around. Zev then managed to steal home before the Lizzies pitcher Jamie retired the side to pull the Royals to within one.
In the bottom of the third, the Royals sent James back to the mound and he managed to navigate through the inning without letting a run score.
Trailing 3-2, the top of the fourth was crunch time for the Royals, who needed a run to extend the game. The Royals managed to load the bases with a walk by James and both Callum (13) and Kaenoa getting hit by pitches. Then Lizzies closer Shamus (9) became a strike machine as he mowed down the next two Royals batters.
As Shamus made his way to get his third K, James made a bold move to steal home and just managed to slide under the tag to tie the game.
Unfazed, Shamus continued throwing strikes to register the third out.
With the score knotted at 3-3 going into the bottom of the fourth, Royals reliever Kaenoa (3) came to the mound. Leading off the inning, Dajuan of the Lizzies squared one up and drove a hard line drive hit to second which the Royals defence could only knock down. Felix (3) and Shamus walked to load the bases.
With no outs and the bases juiced to the gills, Cameron showed extreme patience at the plate and registered a RBI walk to bring home the Lizzies winning run.