FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS WINS ALL SIX GAMES AT THE WEEKEND TOURNEY TO TAKE HOME THE CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE
Game Post composed with files from Shaun Edmondson. Photos courtesy of Bill Evans and Jim Warren.
Beneath a warm blanket of blue and cloudy skies, the Toronto Playgrounds Minor Varsity Rep Team edged the Vaughan Vikings Minor Midget Rep Team 5-4 in a nail biting 6 ½ inning final this afternoon at Concord Community Park to win the 2019 Vaughan Tournament Minor Midget AA Championship.
After Vaughan had jumped out to an early 3-0 lead through two innings, a gritty TP team rallied back with four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 4-3 advantage.
The TP comeback started when Cole (1) garnered a walk and subsequently came home to score TP’s first run of the proceeding.
On a 1-2 count, Quinn (13) delivered a two RBI double to bring home the tying runs. Harris (12) followed with a RBI single to give TP the lead.
TP tacked on another run in the bottom portion of the fifth to extend its lead to 5-3. However, a pesky Vikings team answered back with a run in the top half of the sixth to close the gap and shrink the deficit to one.
But that was close as Vaughan would get. After entering the fray in the third inning, TP reliever Ben (4) pitched five stellar frames to pick up the championship victory. Ben stymied the potent Vikings batting order by surrendering only one run, while allowing three hits, walking one and striking out four.
TP starter Alden (7) threw two strong innings against Vaughan where he allowed three runs, while allowing two hits and no walks.
With runs coming at a premium, the TP batting order mustered eight hits versus a strong brigade of Vaughan pitchers. Quinn and Harris led the TP attack with two hits and two RBI’s each.
TP’s victory in the championship final was the icing on the cake of a sweet weekend whereby the team won all six games that they played in at the weekend Vaughan Tournament.
On Friday night, TP began its journey at the tourney with a convincing 7-1 victory over the Thornhill Reds at Worth Park.
Baffling the Reds over the course of six innings, TP starter Noah (22) picked up the win by allowing only one run, while striking out seven. TP reliever Aaron (54) pitched a scoreless seventh to bring the curtain down on the proceeding.
With the wind in their sails, TP began Saturday morning with a thrilling 7-6 seven inning comeback win over the Royal York Cardinals at the Benjamin Vaughan Complex.
Trailing 6-4, TP rallied with three in the top half of the fourth to take a 7-6 lead. The big TP comeback was keyed by a walk by Ryan (2); a single by Kyle (26) and a Cardinals error on a ball hit by Alden.
Pitching two-thirds of an inning, TP reliever Harris picked up the victory against the Red Birds. Harris surrendered one run, while allowing one hit and striking out one. TP reliever Aaron tossed two-thirds of an inning to seal the deal and pick up the save.
TP starter Ryan pitched a gritty three and two-thirds innings against the potent Royal York lineup. Ryan allowed five runs, while issuing two hits and striking out six Cardinals.
Later that afternoon, TP edged the Eagles 4-3 in a dramatic come from behind victory in the final inning at the Benjamin Vaughan Complex.
Down 3-1, TP rallied with three runs in their last at bats in the bottom of the seventh to usurp the Eagles. Deadlocked 3-3, Kyle delivered the game winning walk off RBI hit.
With their third round robin win, TP punched a ticket into the playoff elimination round.
Last night, TP defeated the North Toronto A’s 7-2 in a 6 ½ inning Quarter-Final Game at The Sports Village to earn a berth in the semi-final round.
Trailing 1-0, TP rallied with three in the bottom of the fourth frame to take a 4-1 lead. Keying the TP comeback was respective RBI hits from Kyle, Harris and Jona (15).
For good measure, TP tallied four insurance runs in the sixth to salt the game away. Alex, Noah, Cole and Quinn drove in runs during the TP surge in the inning.
Pitching wire to wire, TP starter Jose (24) tossed a solid seven innings against the Athletics to earn the complete game victory. Jose surrendered only a pair of runs, while allowing seven hits and striking out three A’s.
Early this morning, TP prevailed 4-2 over the Bolton Braves in a tooth and nail 6 ½ inning Semi-Final contest at Concord Community Park to punch a ticket into the championship round for all the marbles.
Down 2-1, TP rallied with three in the bottom of the fourth to take a lead they would not surrender. After stroking a single, Justin (4) came around to score the tying run. After a Braves error brought home TP’s go ahead run, Alden delivered a sacrifice fly to give TP a two run cushion.
TP starter Noah went the distance over seven srellar innings to earn the complete semi-final game win over the Braves. Noah surrendered two runs, while allowing five hits, striking out six and issuing no walks.
In postgame media scrum, the skippers of the TP Minor Varsity Reps were ecstatic with the performance of the team at the Vaughan Tournament.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the boys for their effort this weekend.”, said Co-Head Coach Tim Lawrence. “The guys never quit on each other, and grinded out tough win after tough win.”
“Everyone contributed this weekend.”, said Co-Head Coach Aidan McClory. “TP was down in five of the six tournament games. However, the team always persevered.”
The Toronto Playgrounds Baseball Committee wishes to congratulate TP Minor Varsity ‘AA’ Rep Co-Head Coaches Tim Lawrence and Aidan McClory and Assistant Coach Bill Evans for their fortitude and patience in steering these talented Minor Varsity ‘AA’ Reps to championship glory at the Vaughan Tournament.
The Committee also wishes to commend all the Minor Varsity ‘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 2019 season.
Way to go, TP!