TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS TAKE DOWN THE RIVERDOGS TO EARN ITS SECOND EBA SELECT VICTORY OF THE SEASON
Beneath a layer of warm and hazy summer skies, the Toronto Playgrounds Minor Rookie Ball Selects defeated the York Riverdogs 16-4 in 5 ½ innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Select action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
Despite the lopsided result, the proceeding was an entertaining and well contested affair between two talented and well coached squads. In the end, TP prevailed over the Riverdogs through a combination of factors:
- Unleashing a twenty-seven hit fusillade over the course of six frames, TP continually built on a lead that they never surrendered.
- Utilizing their dynamic speed, TP ran the base paths aggressively throughout the game to put pressure on the York defence.
- When threatened, the TP defence rose to the occasion at several key junctures to stymie the Riverdogs offensive momentum.
After York went down quietly in the top of the first, TP jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom half of the inning. Following a leadoff single by Ben (8), Theo (3) stroked a single that put two mallards on the lake. William (6) followed a RBI single to bring Ben home with the opening run of the game.
With one out and two aboard, Jamie (20) delivered a RBI single to plate Theo. Next, Ethan (12) followed with a RBI single that brought William homeward. After a York error allowed Jamie to advance to third, Beckett (2) stroked a RBI single that brought him home to roost.
In the top of the second, York replied with a run to trim the deficit to three. With two outs and the bases loaded, Marcelo (2) would stroke a clutch RBI single to bring Quinn (7) with the Riverdogs first run of the game.
During the inning, TP shortstop William (6) battled the glare of the setting sun to make a nice catch on an eight mile high pop up off the bat Estebon (12) to ring up the first out of the frame.
Following a quiet bottom of the second for TP, the Riverdogs would claw back with a run in the top of the third to close the margin to 4-2. After a pair leadoff singles by Finn (1) and Tyler M. (4) that put two aboard, Marco (27) would deliver Finn home on a one out fielder’s choice.
The TP defence would stagnate York’s offensive thrust on pair of nifty 4-6 putouts by second baseman Nathan (29) and shortstop Jamie.
TP would tally four runs in the bottom of the third to extend their lead to 8-2. After a pair of singles by Nathan and Jamie to open the inning, Ethan stroked a RBI single to bring home Nathan.
Following a single by Beckett that loaded the bases, Holden (25) hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Beckett at second, advanced Ethan to third, and brought Jamie home to roost.
With one out and two ducks on the pond, Qayam (11) delivered a RBI single to plate Ethan.
After Henry (14) reached base on a fielder’s choice, Zach (19) stroked a two out single to load the bases. Ben followed with a RBI single to bring home Qayam.
York threatened by putting two runners aboard in the top of the fourth. However, the TP defence rose to the challenge to keep them off the scoreboard. With one out, first baseman Holden made a nice catch on a pop up to chalk up the second out. Subsequently, with Riverdogs at second and first, second baseman Nathan vacuumed up a hot tamale grounder off the bat of Aley (8) and hustled over to second base to force out a York baserunner for the third out.
TP would tack on a run in the bottom of the fourth to increase its advantage to 9-2. Following a lead off triple by William, Jamie delivered a one out RBI single to bring him homeward.
After York went down quietly in the top of the fifth, TP exploded for seven insurance runs in the bottom half the inning to widen its lead to 16-2. After a lead off triple by Qayam, Henry stroked a RBI single to bring him home to crow.
Following respective singles by Zach and Ben that loaded the bases, Theo hit into a fielder’s choice that moved Zach and Ben up a base and brought home Henry.
With one out and two aboard, William stepped into the batter’s box and crushed a woolly mammoth three run inside the park home run blast to the nether regions of the outfield.
After a pair of singles by Nathan and Jamie put two ferrets on the pond, Ethan and Beckett would follow with respective RBI singles to bring them home to do the shimmy, shimmy, shake.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, York rallied for a pair in the top of the sixth to trim the margin to 16-4. With one out and two runners on base, Riley would hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Tyler M. (4) to score.
With two out and a Riverdog on board, Quinn would deliver a RBI double to bring Riley home.
The final York batter would ground out to TP second baseman Nathan to end the game.
The TP Minor Rookie Ball Selects (2-6) take a breather from the EBA Select circuit this weekend when they participate in the annual Lloyd McConnie Memorial Select Rookie Ball Tournament in Etobicoke (July 8 and 9). TP will resume EBA Select play next Tuesday (July 11) evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3 when they host the Bloordale Gold Bombers at 6:30 p.m.