THE RIVERDOGS PREVAIL OVER TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS IN AN EBA PEEWEE SELECT LOOP CLASH AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a soothing blanket of warm and overcast skies, the York Riverdogs defeated the Toronto Playgrounds Minor Peewee Selects 9-3 in six innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Peewee Select Loop action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
The proceeding was an entertaining contest between two talented teams. In the end, the Riverdogs used a combination of solid pitching and making the most of their opportunities to prevail over TP and take home the victory prize.
York threatened in the top of the first when Luca T. (42) singled and Talan (7) walked to put two mallards on the lake. However, TP starter Jamie (8) found his mojo and tallied a groundout, strikeout and pop out to leave the Riverdogs stranded.
In the bottom half of the first, TP drew first blood as they jumped out to a 2-0 lead. After Ben (6) garnered a leadoff walk, Liam (1) followed with another walk that put two ducklings on the pond. With one out, Jack (4) delivered a RBI single that moved Liam to third and brought Ben home with the opening run of the game.
With runners at third and first, TP executed a daring double steal that saw Jack advance to second and Liam motor homeward with a run.
After Niko (2) and Devon (16) drew back to back walks with two outs to load the bases, TP made another brazen move to steal home. As Jack charged homeward, York starter Marcus (33) made a lightning throw to catcher George (40), who slapped an emphatic tag on a sliding Jack to thwart his Grand Theft bid to score.
Along with being an integral component of the chitty, chitty, bang, bang 1-2 putout play at home, Marcus also struck out two in the first frame to subdue the TP insurgency.
With the wind in their sails, York scored three in the top of the second to take a 3-2 advantage. Following a leadoff double by Sanjay (39), Shane (44) delivered a RBI double that allowed Sanjay to come home with the Riverdogs first run.
After George reached base on a hit by pitch that put two capybaras on the diamond, Liam (45) crushed a one out two RBI double that brought Shane and George home with the tying and go ahead runs.
Shaken, but not stirred, TP starter Jamie recorded a pair of groundouts and a strikeout in the second to end the York rebellion.
Riverdogs starter Marcus struck out two in the bottom of the second to keep TP off the scoring ledger. Marcus was also the beneficiary of another big defensive play from his team when they erased Markus’ (29) bold bid to steal home.
York added another run to their dog dish in the top of the third to extend their lead to 4-2. After Luca T. drew a one out walk, Talan stroked a single that put two runners on base. Montisano (37) followed with a 4-3 groundout that advanced Talan to third and allowed Luca T. to score.
TP reliever Goran (43) chalked up two strikeouts and a groundout in the third to vanquish the Riverdogs uprising.
In the bottom portion of the third, York starter Marcus coaxed a flyout and a groundout to quell TP’s momentum. With one out, Marcus also helped his cause when he picked off a TP baserunner at first base.
The Riverdogs tacked on another run in the top of the fourth to stretch their lead to 5-2. After garnering a two out walk and swiping his way around the horn to third, Marcus bolted homeward on a wild pitch to score a run.
TP reliever Liam (1) tallied a flyout, strikeout and a groundout in the fourth frame to end the York mutiny.
With 1-2-3 finesse, Riverdogs reliever Luca T. mowed down TP in the bottom of the fourth with three strikeouts to keep them off the scoresheet.
York tallied another two runs in the top of the fifth to increase their advantage to 7-2. Following a leadoff double by Michael (41), Lucas (34) delivered a RBI double to bring him home with the peameal bacon.
Subsequently, with one out and a runner at third, Luca T. stroked a RBI single that allowed Lucas to come homeward with the Lou Malnati’s Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza.
TP reliever Jack rang up a strikeout, pop out and groundout in the fifth inning to suppress the Riverdogs disobedience.
York reliever Luca T. retired the TP batting order in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the fifth courtesy of a pair of strikeouts and a groundout.
The Riverdogs added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth to widen their lead to 9-2. With no outs and two otters on the lake, Liam stroked a RBI single to bring George home. Luca M. (35) followed with a 1-3 groundout that brought Marcus homeward.
With grit and polish, TP reliever Ben (6) chalked up a groundout and a pair of strikeouts in the sixth to quash the York insurrection.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, TP donned their rally caps in the bottom of sixth and scored a run to trim the shortfall to six. After earning a one out walk, Goran turned on the afterburners as he swiped second. On the play, the Riverdogs defence committed an error that allowed Goran to motor homeward with a bag of Oreo Double Stuffed Cookies.
Nonplussed, York reliever Luca T. struck out three in the sixth to bring the curtain down on the Riverdogs victory.
The TP Minor Peewee Selects (0-5) will battle the TP Major Peewee Selects (5-1) for TP bragging rights in their next EBA Peewee Select Loop game on Sunday (June 23) afternoon at 12:00 noon at Christie Pits Diamond 2. Tickets for this High Noon shootout at the TP Baseball Corral are still available from the ticket office at the TP Baseball Clubhouse. Admission taxes and surcharges are not in effect for this all TP affair.
