THE ARTFUL DODGERS PREVAIL OVER THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH ROCKIES AT BICKFORD PARK
Pictures from the Toronto Playgrounds House League Baseball Peewee Division regular season game between the Dodgers and Rockies at the Bickford Park Diamond on June 17, 2018.
Beneath a sheath of hot and humid skies, the Dodgers defeated the Rockies 12-2 in 3 ½ innings of Toronto Playgrounds House League Baseball Peewee Division action this evening at Bickford Park.
The proceeding was a fun and entertaining contest between two talented teams. In the end, the Dodgers made the most of their opportunities to prevail over the Rockies.
In 1-2-3 fashion, Dodgers starter Liam (13) struck out three in the top half of the first to keep the Rockies stuck in the quarry.
The Dodgers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Following a leadoff walk and steal by Wolf (11), Malcolm (14) connected for a RBI double that brought Wolf home with the opening run of the game.
With one aboard, Simon (10) delivered a RBI triple to bring Malcolm homeward. A subsequent dropped third strike during Ryan’s (1) at bat would allow Simon to motor home with another run.
Following a two out double by Lucas (3), Tyler (7) and Ethan (9) would garner back to back walks to load the bases. Liam followed with a RBI single that brought Lucas home to crow.
In a gritty foray on the hill, Rockies starter Lucky (14) struck out two Dodgers in the first frame.
With one out in the top of the second, the Rockies threatened by loading the bases via a walk by Evan (5), a fielder’s choice by Lucky, and a single by Brianna (1).
However, Dodgers reliever Ethan (9) coaxed the next Rockies batter to hit into an inning ending double play. As Jackson (12) stroked a sharp cheddar line drive down the first baseline, Dodgers first baseman Ryan snagged the hot tamale in the shoestrings of his trusty mitt to tally the second out. Noticing that the Rockies baserunner had wandered afar from first on the play, Ryan stepped on the base to ring up the unassisted double play.
The Artful Dodgers would add four more in the bottom portion of the second to widen their advantage to 8-0. After a leadoff single by Wolf and a walk by Malcolm that put two swans on the lake, Simon delivered a two RBI triple to bring Wolf and Malcolm home.
With a runner on third, Ryan delivered a RBI double that allowed Simon to shimmy homeward with another Dodgers run.
Later, with one out and runner at second, the Rockies would rise to the occasion and make a nice defensive play to deny the Dodgers a run. As Lucas hit a slow grounder between third and second, Ryan made the turn at third in a brazen bid to come home. As Ryan charged down the baseline, Rockies shortstop Aaron (11) collected the ball and made a lightning throw to catcher Evan, who tagged out Ryan to tally the pretty 6-2 putout play.
Subsequently, after advancing to third on a pair of steals, Lucas would pounce upon a Rockies wild pitch to zoom home with a run.
In a workmanlike effort on the mound, Rockies reliever Matthew (2) tallied a pair of groundouts in the second frame against the Dodgers.
The Rockies would answer back with a pair in the top of the third to trim the margin to 8-2. After reaching base on a dropped third strike to lead off the inning, Matthew advanced to second on Will’s (3) groundout. Taking advantage of a Dodger’s wild pitch to move to third, Matthew seized upon a passed ball to zoom home with the Rockies first run.
Following a one out walk and stolen base by Aaron (11) that put him into scoring position, Jordan (10) stroked a RBI single to bring Aaron home to do the jitterbug.
Rockies reliever Ryan (1) would chalk up a groundout and two strikeouts in the third to quell the Rockies uprising.
The Dodgers tallied four insurance runs in the bottom of the third to increase their lead to 12-2. After a leadoff triple by Tyler and a walk by Ethan put two ducks on the pond, Wolf stroked a one out two RBI single to bring Tyler and Ethan home.
After Wolf’s theft of second, Malcolm delivered a RBI double that brought Wolf home to roost.
Following Malcolm’s steal of third, Simon hit the ball back towards the mound. As Malcolm bolted homeward, Rockies reliever Jordan (10) corralled the ball and made a rocket throw to catcher Will, who adroitly applied the tag on Malcolm for the 1-2 putout.
With two outs, Simon stole his way around the horn to third base and came home with a run on a Rockies error.
In addition to initiating the 1-2 putout, Rockies reliever Jordan also struck out a Dodgers batter in the third frame.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, Dodgers closer Simon (10) chalked up a groundout and two strikeouts in the top of the fourth to seal the deal on the Artful Dodgers victory.