ON A MISSION, THE HALOS PREVAIL FOR THE SEMI-FINAL WIN OVER THE BLUEBIRDS AT CHRISTIE PITS TO ADVANCE TO A CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SHOWDOWN AGAINST THE ROYALS
Beneath a sombre layer of warm and sunny skies, the Angels defeated the Jays 10-3 in 4 ½ innings of Mosquito Division Semi-final action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 2 to advance to the Toronto Playgrounds House League Baseball Championship Game against the Royals.
The proceeding was an entertaining contest between two gifted and well versed teams. In the end, the top seeded Angels were firing on all cylinders in all facets of the game as they steamrolled to a convincing victory over the Jays.
The Jays would threaten in the top of the first by loading the bases. However, Angels starter Maggie (4) would strike out two to keep the Jays off the scoresheet and in the nest.
Maggie was also helped out on a nice 3-5 putout during the inning. In a bid to swipe a base, Vincent (7) made a dash for third. However, first baseman Jack (10) made a rocket throw to third baseman Jona (15), who quickly applied the sweep tag on a sliding Vincent to chalk up the out.
In the bottom of the first, the Angels bolted out from behind the pearly gates to feast upon a Mandarin buffet serving of seven walks to stake themselves to an early 4-0 lead. After Jack, Jona and Taio (1) garnered walks to load the bases, Aiden (13), Cooper (2), Alex (9) and Julien (8) would draw a series of RBI walks to bring Jack, Jona, Taio and Aiden home to roost.Jays starter Theo (2) would strike out two in the first inning.
Angels reliever Cooper (2) would strike out two in the top of the second to keep the Jays off the scoring ledger and in the bird feeder.
The Halos offensive machine kept churning in the bottom of the second as they scored three to widen their lead to 7-0. After Sadie (6), Jona and Maggie drew walks to load the bases, Taio stepped into the batter’s box and delivered a one out 3 RBI triple to clear the bases.
Jays reliever Matthew (11) would strike out three in the second to quell the Angels insurgency.
The Jays offense stirred to life in the top of the third as they registered two to trim the deficit to five. With two outs and the bases loaded, Theo and Luz (5) would draw back to back RBI walks to bring home Jeremy (4) and Ernesto (15).
With the bases still loaded, Angels reliever Julien (8) would find the groove and pitch himself out of the jam by striking out two Jays to leave the bases stranded.
Jays reliever Lucas (1) would strike out two in the bottom of the third to get himself out bases loaded jam and keep the Halos off the scoring ledger and in the pews.
Angels reliever Cooper would strike out a pair in the top of the fourth to keep the Jays off the scoreboard.
With one out, Cooper would be helped out by Halos centre fielder Jona, who battled the darkness to make a nice sliding catch on a dying quail fly ball to rob Joshua (3) of a hit.
The Angels would tack on three insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth to increase their advantage to 10-2. With the bases loaded, Julien stroked a clutch two out 2 RBI double to bring Taio and Alex home to crow. Subsequently, a Jays wild pitch would allow Matthew (11) to come home from third with another run.
Jays pitcher Theo would strike out three in the fourth to extinguish the Angels insurrection.
Refusing to have the curtain come down on their season, the Jays donned their rally caps in the top of the fifth and scored a run to trim the margin to 10-3. After drawing a lead off walk, Matthew would steal his way around to third and come home on an Angels error.
Angels pitcher Maggie would strike out two in the fifth to seal the deal on the Halos semi-final win.
And kudos to Angels catcher Taio, who made a nice catch on an eight mile high pop up in front of home plate to chalk up the second out in the fifth frame.