AFTER SCORING FOUR IN THE THIRD INNING TO TAKE THE LEAD, THE MAJORS FEND OFF A LATE CHARGE BY THE MINORS AT CHRISTIE PITS TO WIN THEIR FIRST EBA SELECT GAME OF THE SEASON
GRACE UNDER PRESSURE > With two runners on base, Noah (3) connects for a clutch two out two RBI single in the bottom of the third inning to give the TP Major Mosquito Selects a 5-2 lead over the TP Minor Mosquito Selects. Despite a valiant rally bid by the Minors in the latter frames, it was a lead that the Majors would not relinquish.
Beneath a canopy of cool spring skies, the Toronto Playgrounds Major Mosquito Selects prevailed 6-4 over the Toronto Playgrounds Minor Mosquito Selects in 6 ½ innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Select action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
The all TP affair was an entertaining and well played contest where strong pitching and good defence by both teams dominated the proceedings. Any runs that were scored during the game came at a premium.
After giving up a leadoff single to Liam (17), TP Major Mosquito starter Cassius (5) chalked up a pair of groundouts and a strikeout to keep the Minor Mosquitoes off the scoring ledger in the top half of the first.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, TP Minor Mosquito starter Archie (9) struck out two and induced a groundout in the bottom of the first to keep the Majors off the scoresheet.
In the top of the second, the Minor Mosquitoes would tally a pair to take a 2-0 lead. Following a leadoff walk, Sam (2) would steal second. On the play to nab him, the Majors would commit a two base error that allowed Sam to motor home with the first run of the game.
After garnering a walk and a stolen base, Nikolas (72) would advance to third on a 4-3 groundout by Desmond (3). A subsequent faux pas by the Major Mosquitoes would allow Nikolas to shimmy homeward to do the hippy, hippy, shake.
Majors starter Cassius would strike out two in the second to quash the Minor Mosquitoes uprising.
The Majors would reply with one in the bottom of the second to trim the shortfall to one. With Noah (3) leading off the frame with a single, Josh (20) would be hit by pitch to put two runners at second and first. After Eric (6) was called out on an infield fly, the Major Mosquito baserunners ran at their own risk on the play. A faux pas by the Minors would allow Noah to come home safely.
TP Minor Mosquito Select reliever Rennick (4) would strike out two in the second to subdue the Majors rebellion.
After issuing a leadoff walk to KJ (5) in the top of the third, Majors starter Cassius would strike out three in 1-2-3 fashion to keep the Minors off the scoring abacus.
In the bottom of the third, the Major Mosquitoes would explode for four runs to take a 5-2 lead. After back to back walks by Nolan (13) and Christian (21) to lead off the inning, Elliot (34) would stroke a clutch two out two RBI double to give the Majors a 3-2 lead.
Following a walk by Cassius that put two ducks on the pond, Noah (3) delivered a grace under pressure two RBI single to bring Elliott and Cassius home to do the disco duck.
TP Minor Mosquito reliever Marshall (20) would strike out three in the third to extinguish the Majors insurrection.
With 1-2-3 flair, TP Major reliever Eitan (19) would retire the Minors on a lineout and a pair of groundouts in the top of the fourth.
The Majors defence shone during the inning. Second baseman Eric would snag a hot liner off the bat of Liam to ring up the first out. On the second out, Majors first baseman Sam (2) would make a nice scoop on a hard grounder to deny Emmett (19) a hit.
The Majors would threaten in the bottom of the fourth when they put two swans on the lake via singles by Sam and Charlie (9). However, TP Minor Mosquito reliever Jordan (1) would strike out three to leave them stranded.
With a little help from his friends, Major Mosquito reliever Elliot (34) would retire the Minors with 1-2-3 style in the top of the fifth.
On the first out, Elliot coaxed Archie to hit an eight mile high pop up that eventually was caught by Majors first baseman Noah.
Following a one out single by Sam, Nikolas slashed a fly ball into left field. With the ball descending like a dying quail, Majors right fielder Nolan made a shoestring catch to ring up the second out. Noticing that Sam had wandered astray from first base without tagging up, Nolan made a rocket throw to first baseman Noah to chalk up a 9-2 double play.
TP Minor Mosquito reliever Nikolas (72) would tally a groundout and two strikeouts in a tidy 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth to keep the Majors off the scoreboard.
On the first out, Minors third baseman Marshall would make a nice dig on a sharply hit ball off the of Christian, and make a laser throw across the diamond to first baseman Sam to complete the 5-3 putout.
Refusing to surrender, the Minor Mosquitoes rallied for a pair in the top of the sixth to trim the margin to 5-4. With Rennick on second following a one out single and an error by the Majors, Jordan stroked a single. On the play, the Major Mosquitoes committed a faux pas that allowed Jordan to waddle to second and Rennick to shimmy homeward.
With one aboard, KJ would deliver a RBI single to plate Jordan.
Major Mosquito reliever Elliot would strike out two in the sixth to vanquish the Minors insurgency.
The TP Major Mosquitoes would reply with an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to extend their lead to 6-4. Following a leadoff single by Elliot, Cassius would drive him home with a RBI double.
Minors reliever Nikolas would strike out one in the sixth to douse the Majors rebellion.
The Minor Mosquitoes would turn in a pretty 7-4 double play during the inning. With no outs and a runner at second, Noah launched a fly ball to left field. However, Minors left fielder Eitan made a nice over the head catch to ring up the first out. Noticing that Cassius had wandered off second base, Eitan made a quick throw to his second baseman to chalk up the second out.
Major Mosquito reliever Elliot would subdue the Minors in the top of the seventh to seal the deal on the victory.
The TP Major Mosquito Selects (1-3) hit the road for their next EBA Select game on Sunday, June 11 when they travel to Martingrove Gardens Park to play against the Martingrove # 2 at 3:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, the TP Minor Mosquito Selects (0-3) will take a brief break away from the EBA Select circuit this weekend when they are scheduled to participate in the BMBI Tournament in Brampton.