THE WHITE SOX SNAP A 4-4 DEADLOCK IN THE FINAL INNING TO PREVAIL OVER TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a canopy of serene skies, the Martingrove White Sox defeated the Toronto Playgrounds Major Mosquito Selects 8-6 in six innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Select action this afternoon at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
The Victoria Day proceeding was an entertaining and well played affair that was contested between two talented and well coached teams. In a seesaw battle, the gritty White Sox took advantage of their opportunities in the final frame to break a 4-4 logjam and prevail for a hard fought victory over a pesky TP squad.
In the top of the first, Martingrove staked themselves to an early 2-0 lead. After a leadoff single by Bill (20), Daniel (11) followed with a one out RBI double to bring him home with the first run of the game. With two outs, Adrian (3) stroked a clutch RBI single to plate Daniel.
TP southpaw starter Eitan (19) would induce a pop out and strike out two in the first to quell the White Sox insurgency.
Martingrove starter Daniel (11) would retire TP in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the first by wrapping two groundouts around a strikeout.
Returning the favour, TP starter Eitan would strike out two in the top of the second to keep the White Sox in the hamper.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, Martingrove starter Daniel would coax TP into three consecutive 1-3 groundouts in the bottom of the second.
The White Sox would tally two in the top of the third to stretch their advantage to 4-0. Following a one out triple by Daniel, Leonardo (24) would power a RBI triple to bring him home to roost. Adrian (3) would follow with a fielder’s choice that allowed Leonardo to come homeward bound.
TP reliever Eric (6) would strike out two in the third to subdue the Martingrove rebellion.
In the bottom half of the third, White Sox starter Daniel would strike out two to keep TP off the scoreboard.
With 1-2-3 finesse, TP reliever Cassius (5) would strike out three in the top of the fourth to keep the Sox in the dryer.
In dramatic fashion, TP would rally for four runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the proceeding 4-4. After Eric reached base on a dropped third strike to open the frame, Sam (2) stroked a single to put two ducks on the pond. Charlie (9) would follow with a grace under pressure one out 2 RBI double that would bring Eric and Sam home and trim the deficit to two.
After Charlie stole third, Nolan (13) would hustle down the line on a dropped third strike and reach first base safely. However, the Martingrove defence would commit a faux pas on the play and that allowed Charlie to barge home with TP’s third run.
Subsequently, after Jalen (14) was hit by pitch and Cassius drew a walk to load the bases, Eric hit into a slow as molasses fielder’s choice that allowed Nolan to come safely home with the fourth run before the final putout of the inning.
With a little help from his friends, TP reliever Cassius would retire the White Sox in 1-2-3 order in the top of the fifth.
Martingrove reliever Leonardo (24) would fan a pair in the bottom of the fifth to keep TP at bay and off the scoresheet.
Exercising patience at the dish, the White Sox would feast upon a Mandarin buffet serving of five walks, a single and a hit batsman to score four in the top of the sixth to take an 8-4 lead. Following a leadoff walk by Leonardo, a single by Adrian and a walk by Paul that loaded the bases, a TP wild pitch would permit Adrian and Paul to move up base and allow Leonardo to barrel home with the go ahead run.
After Luca (8) garnered a one out walk to reload the bases, Gabrial (23) and Michael (55) would draw consecutive RBI walks to bring Adrian and Paul home and extend the margin to 7-4. Later, with two outs and the bases still juiced to the gills, Santino (7) would take one for the team via a hit by pitch that allowed Luca to come home to crow.
Refusing to surrender, TP gamely rallied for a pair in the bottom of the sixth to trim the shortfall to 8-6. With two aboard, Eric muscled a one out 2 RBI double that allowed Eitan and Cassius to come home to chill.
After TP put the potential tying run aboard, Martingrove reliever Leonardo would induce a pair of groundouts to seal the deal on the White Sox victory.
The TP Major Mosquito Selects (0-2) continue their EBA Select season next Sunday, May 28 when they travel to Ravina Gardens to play against the Annette A’s (Black) at 3:00 p.m.