SELECT > Pickering Edge TP Rookie Ball Selects 13-12 in Lloyd McConnie Tournament Championship Game

THE RED SOX PREVAIL IN A THRILLING EXTRA INNING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL OVER TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS AT ETOBICOKE VALLEY PARK

TOP PHOTO: The TP Rookie Ball Select players and coaches hoist their second place finalist trophies after their Lloyd McConnie Select Memorial Rookie Ball Tournament Championship Game at Etobicoke Valley Park. BOTTOM PHOTO: As good sports, the TP Rookie Ball Selects share a moment with the tournament banner alongside the Pickering Red Sox, the 2016 Lloyd McConnie Tournament Champions.

TOP PHOTO: The TP Rookie Ball Select players and coaches hoist their second place finalist trophies after their Lloyd McConnie Memorial Select Rookie Ball Tournament Championship Game at Etobicoke Valley Park. BOTTOM PHOTO: As good sports, the TP Rookie Ball Selects take a moment to share the tournament banner alongside the Pickering Red Sox, the 2016 Lloyd McConnie Tournament Champions. [Photographs courtesy of Ian Brodie-Brown]

Game Summary composed with files from Jason Koskela, Vincent Lynch and Ian Brodie-Brown. Photographs courtesy of Ian Brodie-Brown and Cynthia Chan.

Under a blanket of warm and hazy summer skies, the Pickering Red Sox edged our Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects 13-12 in an exciting eight inning championship final game late this afternoon at the Lloyd McConnie Memorial Select Rookie Ball Tournament.

The proceeding at Etobicoke Valley Park Diamond 2 was a riveting extra inning affair that was contested by two talented and well coached teams. When the dust had finally settled on the basepaths, both TP and Pickering had given it their all during the game and left everything on the field of play.

In a postgame interview, TP Rookie Ball Co-Head Coach Jason Koskela was proud of what his team had accomplished at the tourney this weekend: “TP fell just a bit short. The team showed fantastic character and can hold their heads high.”

The TP Rookie Ball Selects hold the banner of the Lloyd McConnie Tournament. [Photo courtesy of Cynthia Chan]

In their opening round robin game yesterday morning, TP defeated the Martingrove White Sox 14-4 in six innings of play at Etobicoke Valley Park Diamond 3. Ahead 6-4, the TP lineup batted around in the sixth frame to score eight insurance runs to salt the game away.

Later on Saturday afternoon, TP defeated the Brampton Royals 14-9 in a rain shortened 5 ½ innings at Etobicoke Valley Park Diamond 3 to win their second round robin game.

TP defeated the Newmarket Hawks 25-8 in four innings early this morning at Etobicoke Valley Park Diamond 2 to win their third round robin game at the tourney.

With a perfect 3-0 record after the conclusion of the round robin portion of the tourney, TP won its qualifying divisional bracket (Bruce Armstrong Division) to advance into a semi-final playoff showdown versus the Sudbury Shamrocks (winner of the Brian Cormier Division).

TP defeated the Sudbury Shamrocks 26-2 in a six inning semi-final game early this afternoon at Etobicoke Valley Park Diamond 2 to advance to the Lloyd McConnie Memorial Select Rookie Ball Tournament Championship Game against Pickering (winner of the David Lauzon Division).

Despite falling short in their championship game against the Red Sox, TP still finished the tournament with a not too shabby 4-1 overall record.

The TP Baseball Committee wishes to thank Rookie Ball Select Co-Head Coaches John Gordon and Jason Koskela, and Assistant Coaches David Badham and Rich Terfry for their fortitude and patience in steering these talented Rookie Ball Selects to the championship game at the Lloyd McConnie Tournament.

The Committee also wishes to commend all the Rookie Ball Select players, coaches and parents for representing the core values of the Toronto Playgrounds Baseball program with honour, dignity and professionalism both on and off the diamond at this weekend’s tournament and throughout the season.

WAY TO GO, TP!