DOWN 10-8, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS RALLY IN THE FINAL INNING TO UPEND THE WHITE SOX AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a ceiling of pristine summer skies, our Toronto Playgrounds Minor Peewee Selects edged the Martingrove White Sox 11-10 in four thrilling innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Select action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 2 to win their third game of the season.Trailing 10-8 in the bottom of the fourth, TP leadoff batter James (6) was hit by pitch to put one aboard. Lucas (47) followed with a powerful RBI triple to left field that brought James home and trim the deficit to one.
Jude (3) followed with a walk to put that put two ducks on the pond. Javert (19) would step into the batter’s box and deliver a grace under pressure 2 RBI double which allowed Lucas to come in with the tying run and Jude with TP’s winning run over the White Sox.
The tight seesaw proceeding was a highly entertaining and well played contest between two talented and well coached teams. In the end, TP seized its moment of opportunity to prevail over a gritty White Sox squad.
Martingrove would send ten batters to the dish in the top of the first to stake themselves to an early 4-0 lead. The White Sox attack would be powered by a RBI single from Dylan (1), a bases loaded RBI walk from Aidan (8), a running scoring sacrifice hit by Max (14), and a bases loaded RBI walk by Matthew Z. (10).TP starter Lucas (47) would strike out one in the first to subdue the Martingrove insurgency.
In the bottom of the first, TP would answer back with four to tie the game 4-4. After drawing a one out walk, Lucas advanced to second on a stolen base. Jude followed with a RBI single that allowed Lucas to come home with TP’s first run of the game.
After garnering a two out walk, Jamie (52) would steal second. With two aboard, Max (20) stroked a RBI single that plated Jude. On the play, the White Sox defense committed an error that allowed Max to advance to second and Jamie to scoot home and trim the deficit to one.
Jackson (8) followed with a clutch RBI single that allowed Max to come zooming home with the tying run.
Martngrove starter Matthew Z. (10) would strike out one in the first to quell the TP rebellion.
However, the pesky White Sox sent another ten batters to the plate in the top of the second and replied with four to retake the lead 8-4. The Martingrove assault was sparked by a run scoring sacrifice hit by Dylan, a RBI single by Quinn (21), and a 2 RBI single from Aidan.
In a workmanlike effort, TP starter Lucas struck out one in the second to douse the White Sox mutiny.
Refusing to back down, TP answered back with four in the bottom of the second to deadlock the proceedings 8-8. After Jashan (13) and James (6) led of the frame with a pair of walks to put two swans on the lake, Lucas followed with a RBI single to plate Jashan.
After Jude drew a walk to load the bases, Javert would hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Jude at second and allowed James to motor homeward and slice the shortfall to two.
Jamie would follow with a sacrifice hit that allowed Javert to advance to third and Lucas to come home to crow. An ensuing Martingrove wild pitch would open the door for Javert to blaze home with the tying run.
In the top of the third, the White Sox would reply with a pair of runs to retake the lead 10-8. After leading off the inning with a walk, Cam (22) would advance to third on a pair of stolen bases. A ensuing faux pas by TP would allow Cam to bolt homeward with the go ahead run.
After garnering a walk, Matteo (17) would reach second on a stolen base. Subsequently, Steven (77) would deliver a one out RBI single to bring Matteo home.
TP reliever James (6) would strike out two in the third to extinguish the White Sox insurrection.
In 1-2-3 fashion, Martingrove reliever Max (14) would strike out three in the bottom of the third to keep TP off the scoresheet.
With a little help from his friends, TP reliever Josh (37) would retire the potent White Sox batting order in 1-2-3 ground out fashion in the top of the fourth to keep them off the scoreboard.
On the first out, Josh would coax Martingrove’s leadoff batter Matthew Z. to ground out to first baseman Lucas. Josh would team up with Lucas on a pretty 3-1 ground out to retire Matthew G. (11) for the second out. And second baseman Rory (12) would vacuum up a grounder off the bat of Cam and hook up with Lucas on a nice 4-3 play to ring up the third out.
And it was at this juncture in the game that TP came face to face with its moment with destiny in the bottom of the fourth.
The TP Minor Peewee Selects [3-5] will resume play on the EBA Select circuit next Wednesday, July 6 at Christie Pits Diamond 2 when they host the Annette A’s at 6:30 p.m.