DOWN 9-7, THE HALOS RALLY IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH TO USURP THE M’s IN A WILD ‘SEPTEMBER MADNESS’ QUARTER-FINAL ELIMINATION PLAYOFF GAME AT CHRISTIE PITS
HEAVEN IS A PLACE ON EARTH > Clockwise from top left: With one out and the game tied 9-9, Kiran (5) draws a bases loaded walk that allows Aiden (13) to come home with the Angels winning run over the Mariners in the bottom of the fifth inning at Christie Pits Diamond 2. As Kiran touches first base, he is mobbed by his joyous Angels teammates as they celebrate their Mosquito Division Quarter-final victory.
Beneath a ceiling of cool and serene late summer skies, the Angels prevailed 10-9 in a wild five inning Mosquito Division Quarter-final elimination game this evening at Christie Pits Diamonds 3 AND 2 to advance the semi-final round of the ‘September Madness’ tournament.
This proceeding was a riveting back and forth seesaw affair from start to finish between two talented and well coached teams. Befitting the loving ‘September Madness’ moniker for the end of season house league tourney, this playoff game had everything in it except the kitchen sink (well…maybe that too?). Despite the final result, there were no losers in this contest as the players on both the Angels and Mariners gave it their all and left everything on the field of play.
As darkness began to envelop Diamond 3, the Mariners snapped a 7-7 deadlock in the top of the fifth to take a 9-7 lead. Coleman (13) and Quino (6) came home to roost to give the M’s the upper hand.
However, after Maggie (4) of the Angels had singled to lead off the bottom of the fifth, darkness had descended on the diamond (which has no overhead lighting) to pose a safety risk to the players. It was at this juncture where the quarter-final game was delayed and moved to Diamond 2, which has incandescent lighting illuminating its playing surface.
From the vantage point of Diamond 2, it was a surreal moment as coaches, players, umpires, parents, family and fans of the Angels-Mariners game packed up their belongings and made the trek to the lighted diamond. A glorious wave of mankind and baseball lovers appeared from out the darkness to settle in and wait out the conclusion of the Peewee Division elimination game between the Rockies and Pirates at Diamond 2.
When play finally resumed after the conclusion of the Peewee Division game, Maggie stole second. Taio (1) followed with a RBI double that allowed Maggie to motor home and trim the deficit to one.
Exercising discipline at the dish, Aiden (13) and Cooper (2) drew back to back walks to load the bases.
Displaying grit and determination, Mariners pitcher Jude (3) would strike out the next Angels batter to preserve the M’s ever so slender 9-8 lead.
With one out, Matthew (11) worked the count in his favour to garner a RBI walk to bring Taio home with the tying run.
At this juncture, with the bases still juiced to the gills, Kiran (5) stepped into the batter’s box and earned a RBI walk that allowed Aiden to come homeward bound with the Halos winning run.
As he touched first base, the Angels dugout cleared as his teammates rushed towards first base to pile on Kiran in rapturous celebration.