THE LIONS RALLY IN THE FINAL INNING TO OVERTAKE TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS IN AN EPIC CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWDOWN AT ETOBICOKE VALLEY PARK
Despite falling short in the championship game, the TP Rookie Ball Selects celebrate their second place finish at the sixteen team Lloyd McConnie Memorial Rookie Ball Tournament at Etobicoke Valley Park. [Photo courtesy of Carmela DeLuca]
Beneath a canopy of warm and sunny blue skies, the Erindale Lions edged the Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects 18-17 in a nail biting seven inning Lloyd McConnie Memorial Rookie Ball Tournament Championship Game this afternoon at Etobicoke Valley Park Diamond 2.
The proceeding was an epic tooth and nail battle that was contested between two talented and undefeated teams. In the end, the pesky Lions rallied from a 17-13 deficit in the bottom of the seventh frame to overtake a gritty TP team and take home the prize.
Despite falling short of their championship goal, TP achieved a huge accomplishment this weekend by finishing second overall at the tournament with a stellar 4-1 record in a sixteen team field. The lessons gleaned at the Lloyd McConnie was a huge learning experience for the entire team and will prepare them well for the upcoming 2018 EBA Rookie Ball Select Playoffs in August.
TP opened the round robin portion of the tourney yesterday morning with a convincing 17-2 win over the Royal York Red Cardinals to earn their first victory.
With the wind in their sails, TP capped off their Saturday with a dominating 29-0 victory over the North Toronto Minor A’s to earn their second round robin win.
Early this morning, TP defeated the Guelph Royals 28-5 to finish the round robin with a perfect 3-0 record and capture the David Lauzon Division title at the tourney. As a result, TP (along with three other division title winners) qualified for the playoff elimination phase of the tournament.
In a semi-final game played earlier on Sunday afternoon, TP defeated the Brampton Royals 13-4 to punch a ticket into the chanpionship round.
The TP Baseball Committee wishes to thank TP Rookie Ball Select Head Coach Vincent Lynch and Assistant Coaches Massimo Galati, Jean Potter and Joel Shaffer for their fortitude and patience in steering these talented Rookie Ball Selects to the championship round of the Lloyd McConnie Tournament, and through the highs and lows of the 2018 season.
The Committee also wishes to commend all the Rookie Ball Select players, coaches, parents and family members for representing the core values of Toronto Playgrounds Baseball program with honour, dignity and professionalism both on and off the diamond during the course of the 2018 season.
In closing, the editor of the TP Baseball Website and Twitter feed wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks to all the parents and coaches who stepped up to the plate this weekend to send in their sweet pictures and play by play from the Lloyd McConnie tourney.
WAY TO GO, TP!
Pictures from the 2018 Lloyd McConnie Memorial Rookie Ball Tournament Championship Game at Etobicoke Valley Park on July 8, 2018. [Photos courtesy of Carmela DeLuca, Neemez Kassam, Vasan Persad and Laura Heath Potter]