SELECT > TP Rookie Ball Selects Top Annette 7-5


TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS FEND OFF A LATE RALLY BID BY THE PESKY ATHLETICS TO WIN THEIR EIGHTH EBA SELECT GAME OF THE SEASON

With two outs and the game tied 1-1, Annette catcher Kal (3) tags out Jordan (1) of the TP Rookie Ball Selects to thwart his bid to score the go ahead run in the bottom of the first inning at Christie Pits Diamond 3.

With two outs and the game tied 1-1, Annette catcher Kal (3) tags out Jordan (1) of the TP Rookie Ball Selects to thwart his bid to score the go ahead run in the bottom of the first inning at Christie Pits Diamond 3.

Under a blanket of cloudy and blustery skies, our Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects prevailed 7-5 over the Annette A’s in 6 ½ innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Select action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3 to win their eighth and final regular season game.

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Jordan (1) connects for RBI double in the first inning. In three at bats, Jordan went 2 for 3 [two doubles] to spark the TP attack with a run scored and 2 RBI’s.

The proceeding was a tight and entertaining affair between two talented and well coached teams. After building a lead, TP had to fend off a pesky rally bid by the A’s in the latter frames to prevail for a slender victory.

In the top of the first, Annette jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. After Gregory (6) led off the inning with a single, Nick (19) stroked a two out double that put two runners on base. Kal (3) followed with a RBI single to bring Gregory home with the opening run of the game.

The TP defense shone in the first inning with a pair of nice plays to stymie the Athletics momentum. TP right fielder Eitan (7) made a nifty catch to rob Joseph (3) of a hit and ring up the first out.

As Gregory crossed the plate on Kal’s hit, Nick made a bid to come homeward. However, right fielder Eitan made a throw to first baseman Sam (2), who made a rocket throw to catcher Thomas (10). Then Thomas tagged out Nick to chalk up the third out.

Milo (45) delivers a single in the second inning. In two at bats, Milo went 2 for 2 with a run scored and the game winning RBI.

Milo (45) delivers a single in the second inning. In two at bats, Milo went 2 for 2 with a run scored. Milo also drove in TP’s game winning RBI in the fifth inning.

TP answered with a run in the bottom of the first to deadlock the game 1-1. After Sam (2) delivered a double, Jordan (1) followed with a clutch two out RBI double to bring Sam home with the tying run.

The Annette defense also shone during the inning as they made a big play to turn away TP’s go ahead run. As Emmett slashed a hit to the outfield, Jordan made a bid to come homeward. However, the A’s defense made a great throw to catcher Kal, who tagged a sliding Jordan out at the plate and bring the curtain down on the inning.

Utilizing some solid defensive play, TP would retire Annette in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the second to keep them off the scoring ledger. On the first out, first baseman Sam would scoop up a slow grounder off the bat of Benjamin (7) and make a toss to second baseman Desmond (3) to retire Benjamin at first on a 3-4 putout. Sam would vacuum up a grounder off the bat of Nathan (14) for the second out.

Duncan (14) went 3 for 3 at the dish with a run scored.

Duncan (14) delivers a single in the second inning. Duncan went 3 for 3 at the dish with a run scored.

The A’s would return the favour in the bottom of the second with some solid defense of their own to keep TP off the scoresheet.

The TP defense answered back with a pair of nice defensive efforts in the top of the third to keep Annette off the scoring abacus. On the first out, third baseman Jordan corralled a hot shot off the bat of Jack (1) and made a rocket throw across the diamond to first baseman Sam for the 5-3 putout.

Then second baseman Markus (29) scooped up a hard grounder off the bat of Goran (4) and made a throw to Sam for the 4-3 putout and the second out of the frame.

In the bottom of the third, the TP offense surged to life as they tallied four runs to stake themselves to a 5-1 lead. Following respective singles by Milo (45), Markus and Dylan (9) to lead off the inning and load the bases, Eitan delivered a RBI single to bring Milo home with the go ahead run.

With the bases still loaded, Sam followed with fielder’s choice that allowed Markus to come homeward.

Eitan (7) went 2 for 3 at the plate with a RBI.

Eitan (7) stroked two singles with a 2 for 3 effort at the plate to go along with a RBI.

With two aboard, Jordan delivered a one out RBI double that brought Dylan home. On the play, Sam made a bid to come homeward. However, the Athletics defense rose to the occasion as they made a solid throw to catcher Arthur (11), who tagged out Sam and thwart his scoring attempt.

Subsequently, with a runner on second, Emmett would stroke a RBI single to plate Jordan.

With one out, Annette would threaten in the top of the fourth as they cobbled together three consecutive singles to load the bases. However, their next two batters would strike out and they came away empty handed.

The TP Rookie Ball Selects would tack on another run in the bottom of the fourth to widen their advantage to 6-1. Following respective singles by Duncan (14) and Dante (19) that put two mallards on the lake, Milo would deliver a RBI single to plate Duncan. Some strong defensive play by the A’s would subdue the TP insurgency.

In the top of the fifth, Annette would tally one to trim the deficit to four. With one out and two aboard, Jack delivered a RBI single to bring Nathan (14) home.

A's catcher Arthur (11) tags out Sam (2) to thwart his bid to score in the third inning.

In a bang bang play, A’s catcher Arthur (11) tags out Sam (2) to thwart his bid to score in the third inning.

With methodical precision, the TP defense would temper the Annette rally bid in the fifth. On the first out, shortstop Dante would scoop up a grounder off the bat of Aaron (2) and make a nice throw to first baseman Rennick (4) for the 6-3 putout.

Subsequently, Dante would hook up with second baseman Desmond on a pair of 4-3 putouts to bring the top half of the inning to a close.

The Annette D would turn TP away in the bottom of the fifth with a series of solid defensive plays to keep them off the scoreboard.

With resolve, the pesky Athletics offense ignited with a fury in the top of the sixth as they rallied with three to make it a one run game. Following a lead off single by Joseph (3), Arthur (11) delivered a RBI double to bring home Joseph.

Nick would follow with a RBI triple to plate Arthur. With two outs, Nathan would stroke a RBI single that allowed Nick to come homeward and trim the shortfall to 6-5.

With the tying run aboard, TP shortstop Desmond would catch a mile high pop up to ring up the third out.

TP would reply with an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to widen their lead to 7-5. After Desmond and Duncan singled to put two aboard, Rennick stroked a two out RBI single to deliver Desmond home.

In the top of the seventh, Annette went quietly in 1-2-3 fashion on a pair of strikeouts and a 5-3 putout involving third baseman Jordan and first baseman Sam.

With the end of the EBA regular season, the TP Rookie Ball Selects [8-1-2] will commence their quest for playoff glory on Saturday (August 20) morning at the 2016 EBA Rookie Ball Select Championship Tournament in Etobicoke.