FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS, THE RIVERDOGS CHOW DOWN ON TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a canvas of warm and hazy summer skies, the York Riverdogs defeated the Toronto Playgrounds Minor Peewee Selects 16-4 in five innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Select action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 2.The proceeding was a tight and entertaining affair for the first two frames, with York holding a slender 1-0 lead over TP. In the end, the Riverdogs rode the coattails of some strong pitching by their starter and pulled away with a fifteen run fusillade in the latter three frames to prevail for the lopsided victory.
York jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. After a leadoff double by Adamo (5), Josh (17) delivered him home with a one out RBI single.
TP starter Solly (27) would induce a ground out and pop up in the first to quell the Riverdogs uprising.
Solly would also receive a little defensive help from his friends during the inning. With one out, Josh would make a bid to steal second base. However, TP catcher Charlie (7) would make a rocket throw to second baseman Dante (12), who would tag out Josh to ring up the 2-4 putout.
York starter Matthew G. (13) would chalk up a pair of groundouts to keep TP off the scoring ledger in the bottom of the first.
After Charlie reached base on an error and stolen base to lead off the frame, Matthew G. initiated a quasi modo rundown play to thwart Charlie’s bid to steal third and chalk up the first out.
With two runners on the base, TP starter Solly would strike out two in the top of the second to keep the Rivedogs off the scoresheet and in the pound.
In the bottom of the second, York starter Matthew G. would strike out two to keep TP off the scoreboard.
Exercising patience at dish, York would score five in the top of the third to increase their lead to 6-0. After Matthew Z. reached base on a dropped third strike to lead off the inning, Tristan (7) drew a walk to put two aboard. Adamo followed with a one out two RBI single to bring Matthew Z. and Tristan home to crow.
After Josh was hit by pitch to put two ducks on the pond, Lee (16) delivered a two out RBI single to plate Adamo.
With a pair of Riverdogs barking on the base paths, Jonathan (4) followed with a two RBI single that allowed Josh and Lee to motor home to do the shimmy, shimmy, shake.
Digging deep into his reserves, TP starter Solly would strikeout three in the third to subdue the York insurgency.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, York starter Matthew G. would coax TP into three groundouts in the bottom of the third to keep them off the scoring abacus.
York would tally another five runs in the top of the fourth to widen their advantage to 11-0. With two outs and a runner on base, Riley (1) would stroke a RBI single to bring Tristan home.
After Riley advanced to second on a steal, Adamo launched a RBI triple to deliver him homeward. Marcellus (6) followed with a RBI double to plate Adamo.
Following Marcellus’ move to third on a wild pitch, a TP faux pas would open the portal for him to bolt home with another run.
After a walk to Josh and a single by Lee that put two otters on the bay, Jonathan stroked a RBI single to bring Josh home to do the jitterbug.
TP reliever Liam (26) would coax York into three groundouts in the fourth to quell the Riverdogs rebellion.
York starter Matthew G. would chalk up a ground out, pop up and a strike out in the fourth to keep TP off the scoring diary.
The Riverdogs would tack on five insurance runs in the top of the fifth to increase their plurality to 16-0. With the bases loaded, Tristan would draw a RBI walk to bring Matthew G. homeward.
With the bases still juiced to the gills, Adamo, Josh and Lee would garner respective RBI walks during the inning to plate Adrian (15), Matthew Z. and Tristan. A subsequent two out wild pitch with the bases loaded would allow Adamo to zoom home with York’s final run.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, TP gamely rallied for four in the bottom of the fifth to trim the margin to 16-4. After Jordy (1) reached base on an error, Charlie stroked a two out double that put two aboard. Solly followed with a two RBI double to bring Jordy and Charlie home with TP’s first runs of the game. A subsequent York error would allow Solly to come blazing home with another run.
Following back to back singles by Theo (17) and Kieran (18) that put two aboard, Jordan (10) delivered a RBI single to plate Theo.
With two outs and two runners on base, York closer Marcellus (6) would induce a groundout to seal the deal on the Riverdogs win.
The TP Minor Peewee Selects (7-2) continue their homestand at Christie Pits Diamond 2 next Wednesday, July 12 when they host the Bloordale Gold at 7:00 p.m.