IN A SEESAW NAIL BITER, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS RALLY TO PREVAIL OVER THE RED CARDINALS AT CHRISTIE PITS TO EARN THEIR THIRD EBA MOSQUITO SELECT LOOP VICTORY
Beneath a tranquil layer of blue and cloudy skies, the Toronto Playgrounds Major Mosquito Selects staged a dramatic rally in the final frame to edge the Royal York Red 9-8 in five innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Mosquito Select Loop action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
With TP trailing 8-6 in the bottom of the fifth, Michinari (51) drew a leadoff walk and Charlie (6) followed with a single that put two ducks on the pond. Subsequently, with runners on third and second, Jack (4) hustled down the line and reached first base safely on a dropped third strike. The resulting dropped third strike allowed both Michinari and Charlie to blaze homeward with the game tying runs. A Royal York error allowed Jack to motor over into scoring position at third base.
Deadlocked at 8-8, Zach (24) stepped into the batter’s box and delivered a RBI single that brought Jack home with the winning run.
From the outset, the proceeding was an exciting back and forth nail biter between two talented teams.
In the top half of the first, Royal York staked itself to an early 1-0 lead. After a two out single and a pair of stolen bases by Addison (9) that put her into scoring position at third, Julia (18) stroked a clutch RBI double to bring Addison home with the opening run of the game.
TP starter Eitan (19) would ring up a groundout and two strikeouts in the first to quell the Red Cardinals uprising.
TP answered back quickly with five in the bottom of the first to take a 5-1 lead. After a one out double, Charlie advanced to third on a Royal York faux pas. Jack followed with a sacrifice hit that allowed Charlie to come home with the tying run.
After back to back singles by Zach and Lukas (23), Devon (16) garnered a walk to load the bases. Guillermo (14) followed with a two out two RBI double that moved Devon to third and brought Zach and Lukas home with TP’s go ahead runs. A Red Cardinals error on the play opened the portal for both Devon and Guillermo to come home with a pair of runs.
Royal York starter Jamie (15) would chalk up a groundout and a pair of strikeouts in the first frame to extinguish the TP insurgency.
The Red Cardinals replied with a run in the top of the second to trim the shortfall to three. Following a leadoff triple by Jamie, Taylor (4) stroked a one out RBI single to bring Jamie home to crow.
With guile, TP starter Eitan would tally two strikeouts in the second to douse the Royal York mutiny.
Cardinals starter Jamie rung up two strikeouts and a groundout in the bottom portion of the second to keep TP off the scoring ledger.Royal York clawed back with another run in the top of the third to cut the margin to 5-3. After respective walks by Kylie (20), Meg (6) and Addison loaded the bases, Julia delivered a sacrifice hit that allowed Kylie to come home to roost.
TP reliever Lukas (23) would tote up a pair of strikeouts in the third to subdue the Red Cardinals insurgency.
In the bottom half of the third, TP added a run to stretch its lead to 6-3. After a two out triple by Zach, Lukas followed with a RBI single to plate Zach.
Royal York starter Jamie would tally a double play and a groundout in the third to quash the TP rebellion.
With a flourish, the Red Cardinals offence took flight in the top of the fourth as they exploded for five runs to take an 8-6 lead. After a leadoff triple by Jamie, Taylor delivered a one out RBI single to bring Jamie home to rock ‘n’ roll. Following a pair of steals that moved her to third, Taylor would bolt home on a TP error to score a run.
After a single by Lane (11), Kylie would reach base on a TP faux pas that put two swans on the lake. Meg followed with a RBI single to bring Lane home with the tying run.
With two aboard, Nadia (7) delivered a sacrifice hit that allowed Kylie and Meg to come home with the go ahead runs.
TP reliever Jack (4) would ring up a groundout and a pair of strikeouts in the fourth to vanquish the Royal York insurrection.
Red Cardinals reliever Lane (11) would chalk up two strikeouts and a groundout in the fourth to keep TP off the scoresheet.
In the top of the fifth, TP reliever Charlie (6) tallied a groundout and two strikeouts to keep Royal York off the scoreboard.
And it was at this juncture in the game where TP came to bat in the bottom of the fifth and came face to face with their moment with destiny.
The TP Major Mosquito Selects (3-2) resume action on the EBA Mosquito Select Loop circuit on Sunday, July 15 when play against the TP Minor Mosquito Selects at Christie Pits Diamond 2 in an all TP affair at 6:00 p.m.