IN A TOOTH AND NAIL BATTLE, THE WOLVERINES SNAP A 3-3 DEADLOCK IN THE FINAL INNING TO PREVAIL OVER TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS AT CHRISTIE PITS
After taking the throw from left fielder Jack (4), TP catcher Lukas (23) lunges to tag out Weston baserunner Josh (3) to thwart his bid to score in the top of the second inning at Christie Pits Diamond 3 and complete a stellar 7-2 double play to preserve TP’s early 2-0 lead.
Beneath a sombre canopy of sunny and cloudy skies, the Weston Wolverines defeated the Toronto Playgrounds Major Mosquito Selects 6-3 in five innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Mosquito Select Loop action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
In brazen grand theft fashion, Zach (24) slides under the tag attempt of Weston catcher Nixon (88) to steal home in the bottom of the first and give TP a 2-0 lead.
The tooth and nail proceeding between two talented teams was a well contested affair where any runs scored came at a premium. In the end, the pesky Wolverines snapped a 3-3 deadlock in the final frame to prevail over a gritty TP squad for their fourth victory of the season.
TP starter Eitan (19) rang up a pair of strikeouts and induced a pop out in the top of the first to keep Weston off the scoring ledger.
In the bottom half of the first, TP staked itself to an early 2-0 lead. After a one out single by Charlie (6), Zach (24) drew a walk to put two ducks on the pond. Later, with runners at third and second, Lukas (23) delivered a clutch two out RBI single that brought Charlie home with the opening run of the game.
Taking advantage of a Wolverines defensive lapse, Zach seized the moment and bolted from third base to score another run on a brazen grand theft of home.
TP starter Eitan (19) pitched two scoreless innings while striking out two Wolverines.
Shaken, bur not stirred, Weston starter Adrian (14) chalked up a pop out and two strikeouts in the first to quell the TP insurgency.
With one out in the top of the second, the Wolverines threatened by putting base runners at third and second. However, TP starter Eitan coaxed Jaden (85) to hit a fly ball to left field for the second out.
On the play, Weston baserunner Josh (3) tagged up at third and made a bold dash for home. With Josh charging homeward, TP left fielder Jack (4) made a laser throw to catcher Lukas (23), who leaped back to tag out Josh and thwart his bid to score, and tally a sweet 7-2 double play to get TP out of the inning unscathed.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, Wolverines starter Adrian struck out three in the bottom of the second to keep TP off the base paths and the scoresheet.
Weston starter Adiran (14) held the TP offence to only two runs over three strong innings while striking out six.
The Weston offence stirred to life in the top portion of the third when they scored one to trim the shortfall to 2-1. After reaching base with one out walk, Gavin (80) stole second. On the play, TP committed an error that allowed Gavin to dart homeward with their first run.
TP reliever Liam (13) would tally two strikeouts and a line out in the third to douse the Wolverines uprising.
The TP Major Mosquito Selects would threaten in the bottom of the third by putting runners on base at third and second. However, Weston starter Adrian would pitch himself out of the mojo jojo jam via a fly out, strikeout and groundout. Kudos to Wolverines left fielder Gavin for making a Gold Glove catch on Jack’s (4) liner to ring up the first out of the inning.
In the top of the fourth, Weston stormed back with a pair to take a 3-2 lead. Following a leadoff walk by Ryan (48), Josh stroked a one out single. On the play, a TP faux pas allowed Josh to advance to second and brought Ryan home with the tying run.
Taking advantage of Weston wild pitch, Lukas (23) blazes home with TP’s tying run in the bottom of the fourth.
After Fernando (90) reached base on a catcher interference call to put two Wolverines on board, Jaden delivered a RBI single to bring Josh home with the go ahead run.
Nonplussed, TP reliever Charlie (6) would chalk up two strikeouts in the fourth to quell the Weston insurrection.
With two outs and the bases loaded, Charlie would be the beneficiary of a nice defensive gem from his teammates. As Matthew slashed a liner into left, TP left fielder Eitan corralled the ball and made a rocket throw to third baseman Jack. who tagged out Jaden at third to ring up a sweet 7-5 putout to get TP out of the inning.
TP answered back in lickety splick fashion in the bottom of the fourth to deadlock the game 3-3. Following a leadoff double and stolen base, Lukas would blaze homeward with the tying run on a wild pitch by Weston.
Wolverines reliever Ryan (48) threw two solid innings to earn the win. Ryan surrendered only one run while striking out five TP batters.
Unperturbed, Wolverines reliever Ryan (48) struck out the next three batters to snuff out the TP rebellion.
Exercising patience at the dish, Weston feasted upon a Mandarin buffet serving of six walks in the top half of the fifth to score three and take a 6-3 lead. With one out and the bases loaded, Josh drew a RBI walk that brought Adrian home with the go ahead run.
With the bases still juiced to the gills, Fernando followed with a bases loaded RBI walk to plate Ryan. Subsequently, with two outs, Ethan (82) garnered a bases loaded RBI walk to bring Nixon (88) home with another insurance run.
TP reliever Lukas (23) would enter the fray from the bullpen in the fifth to tally a groundout and two strikeouts to bring the Wolverines mutiny to an end.
Refusing to surrender, TP gamely donned their rally caps in the bottom of the fifth. However, Weston reliever Ryan would retire TP in 1-2-3 fashion with a pop out and two strikeouts to seal the deal on their victory.
The TP Major Mosquito Selects (4-3) travel to Jeff Healey Park on Monday (July 23) evening to battle the Royal York Boys at 6:00 p.m.
Pictures from the TP Major Mosquito Select and Weston Wolverines EBA Mosquito Select Loop Regular Season Game at Christie Pits Diamond 3 on July 22, 2018.