DEADLOCKED 6-6, THE RANGERS PREVAIL OVER THE BIG RED MACHINE IN THE SEVENTH INNING TO TAKE HOME THE PRIZE AT DOMINICO FIELD
The Rangers hold the Toronto Playgrounds House League Baseball Championship Trophy after their 10-7 extra inning victory over the Reds at Dominico Field at Christie Pits.
Beneath a cool and genteel blanket of late summer skies, the Rangers prevailed 10-7 in a riveting extra inning seven frame affair at Dominico Field at Christie Pits to win the 2016 Toronto Playgrounds House League Baseball Bantam Division Championship.
With the game knotted 7-7, Jacob K. (15) slides home with the Rangers go ahead run in the top of the seventh inning.
With the proceeding tied 6-6 after six innings of play, this wonderful championship showdown between two talented and well coached teams required an extra inning to decide its winner.
After leading off the top of the seventh with a walk, Jacob K. (15) proceeded to steal a pair of bases to advance to third. Cormac (3) followed with a RBI single to bring Jacob K. home with the Rangers go ahead run.
Following a stolen base and wild pitch which allowed Cormac to move to third, Adam (1) earned a walk to put two aboard. A wild pitch would open the door for Cormac to bolt homeward and give the Rangers an 8-6 lead. Subsequently, a passed ball would allow Adam to come home with another run.
After Julian (1) walked and reached third on a series of wild pitches, Jay (11) was hit by pitch to put two ducks on the pond. Another wild pitch by the Reds would allow Julian to come home to roost.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, the Reds would rally for a run in the bottom of the seventh to trim the deficit to three. After drawing a lead off walk, Naz (3) would advance to third on a pair of steals. Iliana (13) would deliver Naz home with a one out RBI double.
With one out, Rangers closer Jacob K. (15) would strike out two to seal the deal on the championship victory.
With TP umpire Jerome Goddard looking on, Cormac (3) slides under the tag attempt of Reds reliever Rory (7) to score the Rangers championship winning run in the seventh frame.
In the top of the first, the Rangers threatened by putting a number of runners on base. However, with a little help from his defense, Reds southpaw starter Qingyuan (14) would stymie the Rangers and keep them off the scoring ledger. Qingyuan was helped out mightily with a solo double play effort from his shortstop during the frame.
The Reds would take an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Following a two out single by Solomon (6), Iliana would reach base on an error to put two aboard. With Reds at third and second, Zac (1) would hustle down the line and reach first on a dropped third strike. With the throw to nab Zac going astray, Solomon and Iliana would scoot home with the opening runs of the game.
After Zac stole second, Niall (12) would stroke a RBI single to plate Zac.
Rangers starter Cormac (3) would record a groundout, strikeout and a pop up in the first frame to quell the Reds insurgency.
The Rangers would answer back with a run in the top of the second to trim the shortfall to two. Following a lead off single, Julian would steal a pair of bases to reach third. A wild pitch would allow Julian to come home to crow.
Reds reliever Rory (7) would strike out one in the second to douse the Rangers rebellion.
Rangers reliever Adam (7) would chalk up a pair of groundouts and a strike out in the bottom of the second to keep the Big Red Machine off the scoresheet.
Ranger Head Coach Tracy Franklin hands over the TP Bantam Division Championship Trophy to her players.
In the top of the third, the Rangers would rally for two to deadlock the game 3-3. After a one out single, Jacob K. would advance to third on a pair of steals. Cormac would deliver Jacob K. home with a 9-3 sacrifice hit that allowed the Rangers to pull within one.
Following a two out walk by Adam, Julian would single to put two aboard. After Adam and Julian moved up a base on a double steal, a wild pitch by the Reds would allow Adam to come home with the tying run.
Rangers reliever Niall (12) would strike out one in the third to extinguish the Rangers rally.
With 1-2-3 finesse, Rangers reliever Adam (7) would mow down three Reds with a John Deere D170 25-HP V-Twin Hydrostatic 54-inch Lawn Tractor in the bottom of the third to keep them off the scoreboard.
Reds reliever Niall would retire the Rangers in the 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the fourth with a strike out to keep them off the scoring abacus and in the outhouse.
The Big Red Machine would rev to life in the bottom of fourth as they scored three to take a 6-3 lead. After a one out walk, Naz would steal a pair of bases and come home with the go ahead run on a wild pitch.
Following a walk by Gabe (8), Solomon would deliver him home with a RBI double. After advancing to third, Solomon would come home to roost on a wild pitch.
We are the Champions!
Shaken, but not stirred, Rangers reliever Julian (1) would find the groove and strike out three to extinguish the Reds insurrection in the bottom half of the fourth.
However, the pesky Rangers would reply with three in the top of the fifth to hogtie the proceeding 6-6. After Josh (12) and Avi (5) were hit by pitch to lead off the inning, Jacob K. followed with a walk to load the bases. Cormac would deliver a RBI single to plate Josh.
With two outs and the bases still juiced to the gills, Michael (4) stroked a RBI single to bring in Jacob P. (17) [inserted into the game as a pinch runner for Avi, who was injured after being hit by pitch]. A subsequent faux pas by the Reds would allow Jacob K. to come home and do the jitterbug.
Reds reliever Solomon (6) would strike out three in the fifth to quell the Rangers mutiny.
In the bottom of the fifth, Rangers reliever Julian would strike out two to keep the Reds off the scoresheet.
Reds reliever Solomon would strike out two in the top of the sixth to keep the Rangers off the scoreboard and in the forest.
Rangers pitcher Cormac would ring up three K’s in the bottom of the sixth to keep the Big Red Machine at bay and force an extra inning.
The TP House League Baseball Committee would like to congratulate Rangers Head Coach Tracy Franklin and Assistant Coach Michael Goldsmith for their time, patience and fortitude in guiding these talented Rangers players through the highs and lows of a fun and successful championship season.