TRAILING 13-9, THE PESKY STARS STAGE A DRAMATIC COMEBACK RALLY IN THE FINAL INNING TO PREVAIL OVER THE GRITTY HOMESTEADS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE AT DOMINICO FIELD AT CHRISTIE PITS
With the game deadlocked 13-13, Angus (3) delivers a one out RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning to bring Tom (12) home with the Stars championship winning run over the Homesteads during the 2018 Toronto Playgrounds House League Baseball Championship Game at Dominico Field at Christie Pits.
Taking advantage of a wild pitch, Daniel (6) slides under the tag attempt of Homesteads pitcher Jaime (12) to score the Stars tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Beneath a tranquil ceiling of genteel September skies, the Stars edged the Homesteads 14-13 in a thrilling six inning battle tonight at Dominico Field at Christie Pits to win the 2018 Toronto Playgrounds House League Baseball Midget Division Championship Game.
Down 13-9, the Stars refused to surrender as they donned their rally caps in the bottom of the sixth. After a leadoff walk by Griff (16), Richard (8) reached base via a hit by pitch with one out to put two ducks on the pond. A subsequent Homesteads error would allow Richard to advance to second and bring Griff home to crow.
Following a single by Jordan (11) that put two aboard, Daniel (6) delivered a RBI double that moved Jordan to third and brought Richard home to roost. A subsequent pitch in the dirt that bounced away from the Homesteads catcher Piper (13) would allow Daniel to hustle over to third and bring Jordan home with a run that trimmed the gap to one.
Clinging to a slender tenderloin 13-12 lead, the Homesteads uncorked a wild pitch to the backstop that allowed Daniel to blaze homeward and elude the tag of pitcher Jaime (12) to score the Stars tying run.
After Tom (12) garnered a walk, the Homesteads intentionally walked Stars cleanup batter Sasha (13) to put two aboard. Following a steal of third by Tom, Angus (3) delivered a RBI single to bring Tom home with the championship winning run.
Francis (7) delivers a two RBI single during the Homesteads four run surge in the second inning.
From start to finish, the proceeding was a highly entertaining and well played playoff contest between two talented and well coached teams.
Stars starter Daniel (6) tallied a groundout, strikeout and fly out in the top of the first to keep the Homesteads in the cabin.
In the bottom portion of the first, the Stars jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. After stroking a leadoff single Jordan swiped his way around the horn to third. Sasha followed with a clutch two out RBI single that brought Jordan home with the opening run of the game.
Homesteads starter Jaime rung up three strikeouts in the first frame to quell the Stars insurgency.
Nonplussed, the Homesteads answered back with four in the top of the second to take a 4-1 lead. After Jaime opened the inning with a single, Leo (2) and Aaron (8) followed with back to back walks to load the bases. Willem (11) and Angelica (6) followed with respective bases loaded RBI walks to bring Jaime and Leo home with the Homesteads first runs of the game.
With one out and the bases juiced to the gills, Francis (7) delivered a two RBI single to bring Aaron and Willem home with the bacon.
Exercising patience at the dish, the Stars stormed back with three in the bottom of the second to deadlock the affair 4-4. After Isaac (2) and Mitchell (15) drew back to back walks to begin the inning, both baserunners came around to score via a combination of stolen bases and wild pitches.
Following a one out walk and a pair of stolen bases by Griff, Jordan subsequently stroked a two out RBI single to bring Griff home with the tying run.
Homesteads reliever Jake (14) would extricate himself from the sticky wicket in the second courtesy of three strikeouts to end the Stars uprising.
Jake (14) connects for a RBI single in the fourth frame. In four at bats, Jake went 4 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBI’s to spark the Homesteads attack.
The Homesteads answered back with two in the top of the third to take a 6-4 lead. Following a leadoff single and stolen base by Jake (14), Cormac (16) connected with a single that put two seals on the pond. Piper followed with a groundout that allowed Jake to score the go ahead run.
With one out and a baserunner on third, Jaime skied an eight mile high pop out to the first base side that allowed Cormac to motor home from third with a run.
Stars reliever Isaac (2) tallied a groundout, pop out and a strikeout in the third to douse the Homesteads insurrection.
Not to be outdone, the Stars replied with a run in the bottom half of the second to trim the margin to 6-5. Following a one out walk by Sasha, Angus delivered a RBI double that allowed Sasha to motor home with a run.
Homesteads reliever Aaron (8) chalked up a pair of groundouts and a strikeout in the third to snuff out the Stars rebellion.
The Homesteads tacked on a run in the top of the fourth to increase its advantage to 7-5. After a two out walk and stolen base by Francis, Jake stroked a clutch RBI single to bring Francis homeward.
Stars reliever Angus (3) rung up two strikeouts and a groundout in the fourth to extinguish the Homesteads mutiny.
Homesteads reliever Aaron recorded a strikeout in the bottom of the fourth to keep the Stars off the scoring ledger. During the inning, the Homesteads were also the beneficiaries of two gift wrapped outs courtesy of the Stars. With no outs and runners at third and first, Jacob (10) stroked a single between second and first that hit Stars baserunner Griff, resulting in the first out. The second out was a no slide call at home on baserunner Flynn (7).
Photos of the Homesteads and Stars in action during the 2018 Toronto Playgrounds House League Baseball Midget Division Championship Game at Dominico Field at Christie Pits.
In the top portion of the fifth, the Homesteads added a pair to widen their lead to 9-5. Following a leadoff walk by Piper, Jamie delivered a RBI double that allowed Piper to blaze around the horn and come home to roost. A subsequent passed ball and wild pitch would allow Jamie to come home with a run.
Stars reliever Sasha (13) would tally two strikeouts in the fifth to diffuse the Homesteads insurgency. With two outs, Sasha also received a nice 2-5 putout play from his defence that erased a wayfaring Homesteads baserunner at third base.
With their backs against the wall, the Stars exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game 9-9. After being hit by pitch, Stars leadoff hitter Jordan swiped second base. Daniel followed with a RBI single to bring Jordan home. Daniel would subsequently steal his way around the horn and come home to score on a wild pitch.
Following a one out single and a stolen base by Sasha, Isaac stroked a two out RBI single that brought Sasha home and sliced the deficit to one.
After Mitchell drew a walk to put two aboard, Flynn delivered a grace under pressure RBI single to bring Isaac home with the tying run.
The Homesteads quickly struck back with four in the top of the sixth to take a 13-9 lead. Following back to back walks by Angelica and Francis to open the inning, Jake stroked a RBI single to bring Angelica home with the go ahead run. A subsequent Stars faux pas would allow Francis to score from third base.
Following a single by Cormac that put two ducklings on the pond, Piper crushed a two RBI double that allowed Jake and Cormac to come home and do the shimmy, shimmy, shake.
And it was at this juncture in the proceedings where the Stars came up to bat in the bottom of the sixth frame and came face to face with their collective rendezvous with destiny.
Photos from the 2018 Toronto Playgrounds House League Baseball Midget Division Championship Game Postgame Ceremony at Dominico Field at Christie Pits.