THE ARTFUL DODGERS PREVAIL OVER THE BUCCANEERS AT CHRISTIE PITS TO TAKE THE CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE
Beneath the warm and serene gaze of the Harvest Moon, the Dodgers defeated the Pirates 10-8 in six riveting innings at Christie Pits Diamond 2 to win the 2016 Toronto Playgrounds House League Baseball Peewee Division Championship Game.
The proceeding was an entertaining, and at times, intense affair where one could sever the collywobbles prevalent on the field of play with an array of Henckels branded knives.
In the top of the first, the Artful Dodgers jumped out the alleyway and pickpocketed the Bucs to take an early 4-0 lead. Following a leadoff walk and stolen base by Lucas (2), Joseph (10) singled to put two aboard. Seizing his moment of opportunity, Lucas would steal home to score the opening run of the game.
With no outs and a runner on third, Aaron (5) stroked a RBI single to bring in Joseph.
After a single by Leo (1), Elliott (13) drew a walk to load the bases. Exercising a keen eye at the dish, Josh (3) drew a RBI walk that allowed Aaron to come home to crow.
Taking one for the team, Pierro (14) would bring home Leo after he was hit by pitch with the bases still juiced to gills.
Dodgers starter Lucas (2) would strike out one in the bottom of the first to keep the Pirates off the scoring ledger and moored to the dock.
With two outs, Lucas received a nice defensive play from his friends to bring the curtain down on the inning. After Loyan (6) slashed the ball to right field, Dodgers right fielder Wahid (9) quickly retrieved the ball and made a cannon throw to first baseman Nick (15) to erase Loyan on a 9-3 putout.
Pirates reliever Piper (3) would strike out two in the top of the second to keep the Dodgers off the scoresheet and in the loo reading a copy of Oliver Twist.
The Buccaneers stirred to life with a vengeance in the bottom of the second as they tied the game 4-4. Following a leadoff single and pair of stolen bases by Piper, Dajuan (10) delivered a run scoring sacrifice fly with one out that allowed Piper to come home with the Pirates first run of the game. On the play, Dodgers centre fielder Leo made a pretty sliding basket catch to tally the second out of the inning.
After a two out single, Dean (9) swiped a pair of bases to advance to third. Seizing his chance, Dean stole home to slice the deficit to two.
Following a single by Liam (5), Nigel (14) would draw a walk to put two ducks on the pond. Dylan (7) followed with a slow roller 2 RBI single that allowed Liam and Nigel to motor home and deadlock the proceedings.
The Dodgers answered back with a pair in the top of the third to retake the lead 6-4. After a one out walk, Ezra (12) would advance to third on a stolen base and wild pitch. With the Bucs uncorking a wild pitch, Ezra would bolt homeward to score the go ahead run.
With two outs, the Dodgers loaded the bases with a walk by Jeremy (4), a single by Lucas and a walk by Joseph (10). Aaron followed with a RBI single to bring home Jeremy.
Pirates reliever Nigel (14) would strike out three in the third frame to quell the Dodgers insurgency.
However, the Bucs stormed back with two in the bottom of the third to tie the game 6-6. With one out, Ethan (4) singled and Ellio (13) walked to put two aboard. Daniel (12) would deliver a two out RBI single to plate Ethan. Francis (12) followed with a RBI single to bring Ellio home with the tying run.
Dodgers reliever Josh (3) would strike out two in the bottom half of the third to douse the Pirates mutiny.
The Dodgers seized control of the mizzenmast in the top of the fourth as they took a 10-6 lead. Following a walk to Elliott and single by Josh that put two mallards on the lake, Pierro stroked a 2 RBI single to bring them homeward and give the Dodgers the lead.
With no outs and a runner aboard, Nick stepped into the batter’s box and delivered a majestic two run home run blast that easily cleared the chained linked fence in left field, with the ball landing with a resounding thud upon the grassy outfield area in Dominico Field [a.k.a. Diamond 1]. The shot heard around Christie Pits brought all the Dodgers players out of their dugout to congratulate Nick on his grace under pressure home run feat.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Pirates would tally one to trim the margin to 10-7. After leading off the frame with a walk and stolen base, Piper would steal third. On the play, the Dodgers would commit an error on the throw to nab him and Piper hustled home to score a run.
Dodgers reliever Josh would strike out two in the fourth to extinguish the Bucs rebellion.
Pirates reliever Piper would strike out two in the top of the fifth to keep the Dodgers off the scoring abacus and in the brig doing doctoral research on the Pickwick Papers.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, the Buccaneers plated another run in the bottom of the fifth to cut the shortfall to 10-8. Following a one out single by Nigel and a walk by Dylan that put two mallards on the lake, Jackson (8) delivered a RBI single that brought Nigel home.
Dodgers reliever Aaron (5) would strike out two in the bottom half of the fifth to quash the Pirates insurrection.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, Pirates reliever Nigel would strike out two in the top of the sixth to keep the Dodgers off the scoreboard and in the holding cell digesting a hardcover edition of Tale of Two Cities.
In 1-2-3 fashion, Dodgers reliever Aaron closed out the game in the bottom of the sixth by striking out two and inducing a groundout to seal the deal on their championship game victory.
The TP House League Baseball Committee would like to congratulate Dodgers Head Coach Jeff Kolyn and Assistant Coach Andy Marcus for their time, patience and fortitude in guiding these talented Dodgers players through the highs and lows of a fun and successful championship season.