DOWN 3-0, TP RALLY TO PREVAIL 10-3 OVER THE ROYAL YORK CARDINALS AT ROTARY PARK TO WIN THE TORONTO BASEBALL ASSOCIATION MOSQUITO CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE AND EARN A TRIP TO THE OBA PROVINCIAL FINALS
Tournament Photos courtesy of Steve Yacht
Beneath a blanket of warm midsummer skies, the Toronto Playgrounds Major Mosquito ‘AA’ Rep Team defeated the Royal York Cardinals 10-3 in a 6 ½ inning championship final this afternoon at Rotary Park to win the 2018 Toronto Baseball Association (TBA) Mosquito Championship Game.
Trailing 3-0, TP rallied with a three run surge in the bottom half of the fourth to tie the proceedings. In the bottom of the fifth, TP exploded for six runs to snap the deadlock and pull away for the championship victory over the Cardinals.
In a postgame interview, TP Major Mosquito ‘AA’ Rep Co-Head Coach Jason Koskela was ecstatic over his team’s performance: “The coaches are extremely proud of our players’ strong character, determination and heart in earning this championship victory. TP’s organizational values of sportsmanship, community spirit and fun were the foundation for our success this weekend.”
The TBA Mosquito Championship was a double elimination tournament whereby a team that lost two playoff games would be eliminated from further contention.
Unleashing a fourteen hit attack, TP began its journey at the championship tourney with a convincing 13-3 seven inning victory over Leaside on Friday afternoon to earn its first playoff win.
In a tooth and nail battle on Saturday afternoon, TP rallied to prevail 6-4 over Royal York in a nail biting seven inning affair to earn its second playoff victory and punch a ticket into the championship final. Down 4-2, TP rallied for a pair in the top portion of the sixth frame to deadlock the game. In the top of the seventh, TP took the bull by the horns as they scored two runs to snap the 4-4 tie to take down Cardinals and remain undefeated.
Early this afternoon, Royal York edged TP 5-4 in a thrilling seven inning playoff final to force a winner take all game for the championship title. Tied 4-4, the Cardinals scored a run in the bottom half of the fifth to prevail for the slender tenderloin victory over TP.
The TP Baseball Committee wishes to congratulate TP Major Midget ‘A’ Rep Co-Head Coaches John Gordon and Jason Koskela and Assistant Coach David Badham for their fortitude and patience in steering these talented Major Mosquito ‘AA’ Reps to championship glory at the TBA Mosquito Championship playoff tournament.
The Committee also wishes to commend all the Major Mosquito ‘AA’ Rep players, coaches and parents for representing the core values of the Toronto Playgrounds Baseball program with honour, dignity and professionalism both on and off the diamond at the tournament and throughout the 2018 season.
As the TBA Mosquito champions, the TP Major Mosquito ‘AA’ Rep Team will be the City of Toronto representative at the Ontario Baseball Association (OBA) Provincial Finals during the Labour Day long weekend.
WAY TO GO, TP!