DESPITE A 6-0 LOSS TO THE IVY LEAFS, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS CAPS OFF A SEASON TO REMEMBER BY REACHING THE SEMI-FINAL STAGE OF THE PROVINCIAL FINALS IN DORCHESTER
Tournament Game Post composed with files from Andrew Larsen, Andrew Galloway and Marco Bianchi
Beneath a genteel blanket of warm summer skies, the Ivy Leafs defeated our Toronto Playgrounds Mosquito Selects 6-0 in seven innings of Select Ontario Baseball Association (SOBA) Provincial Championship Tournament semi-final action this morning at Dorchester Diamond 1.
Despite falling short of reaching the championship final, TP still took a great measure of pride in reaching the semi-final stage of the provincial finals. In fact, TP was one of twelve elite teams from across Ontario who participated in this weekend’s provincial playoff tournament in Dorchester, Ontario.
On Friday night, TP opened the playoff tourney with a tough 9-6 loss to the Mississauga Majors.
However, TP rebounded with three convincing victories on Saturday to punch their ticket into the semi-final round. On Saturday morning, TP defeated the St. Thomas Cardinals 10-1 to win their first game at the tourney. In an early afternoon game, Toronto Playgrounds blanked the Dorchester Diamondbacks 10-0 to win their second game. Then TP capped off the day with an 11-1 defeat of the Clarington Colts.
On Sunday morning, TP’s opponent in the semi-final game were the Ivy Leafs, a team that had defeated TP 12-10 in the Muskoka Tournament back in July. Despite hitting the ball hard throughout their semi-final game, a tough Leafs team played air tight defense to stymie the TP offense throughout the proceeding.
TP finished the 2016 EBA Mosquito Select campaign undefeated by compiling a sterling 12-0-1 regular season record. In the postseason, the TP Mosquito Selects went a perfect 5-0 during their playoff journey at the EBA Mosquito Select tourney to win the 2016 championship and earn a ticket to the Ontario provincial finals.
Of special note, Toronto Playgrounds threepeated as the EBA Mosquito Select Champions, winning the title in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The TP Mosquito Selects also had a lot of fun and great success competing at the Woodstock Minor Baseball Association Mosquito Select Tournament in June, and the Vaughan & Muskoka tournaments in July.
The TP Baseball Committee wishes to congratulate and thank Mosquito Select Head Coach Marco Bianchi; Assistant Coaches Mark Higgins, Andrew Larsen and Adin Wener for their fortitude and patience in steering these talented Mosquito Selects through the highs and lows of a fun and successful 2016 season.
The Committee also wishes to commend all the Mosquito Select players, coaches and parents for representing the core values of the Toronto Playgrounds Baseball program with honour, dignity and professionalism on and off the diamond at the tournament and throughout the long season.
WAY TO GO, TP!