UNLEASHING A TAKE NO PRISONERS 30-HIT ASSAULT, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS BURY THE WOLVERINES AT CHRISTIE PITS TO EARN THEIR SECOND EBA ROOKIE BALL SELECT LOOP VICTORY
Beneath a picturesque canopy of warm and soothing summer skies, the Toronto Playgrounds Rookie Ball Selects defeated the Weston Wolverines 19-3 in 5 ½ innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Rookie Ball Select Loop action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
The lopsided proceeding was an entertaining affair between two talented teams, In the end, TP played some solid defence and uncorked a thirty hit aerial bombardment to pacify the Wolverines and take home the victory prize.
Weston drew first blood in the top portion of the first when they jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. After a two out single by Javier (17), J.J. (8) delivered a clutch RBI triple to bring him home with the opening run of the game.
In the bottom of the first, Toronto Playgrounds sent eleven batters to the plate as they cranked out eight hits to stake themselves to a 5-1 lead. After a leadoff triple by Caz (7), Jack (1) stroked a single that put two ducks on the pond. Nico (38) followed with a 1-3 groundout that advanced Jack to second and brought Caz home with the tying run.
Following a one out single by Aaron (16) that put two runners on base, Eamon (13) delivered a RBI single that allowed Jack to motor home with the go ahead run.
With two otters on the lake, Henry (3) stroked a RBI single to bring Aaron home. Michael (31) and Malito (20) followed with back to back RBI singles that respectively delivered Eamon and Henry homeward.
After Weston went down quietly in the top of the second, TP sent a Barry Manilow Copacabana conga line procession of fourteen batters to the dish in the bottom half of the second as they tallied nine runs to increase their advantage to 14-1.
Following back to back singles by Nico and Aaron to open the inning, Eamon crushed a two RBI triple that cleared the bases. A Wolverines error on the play would allow Eamon to shuffle home with another run.
After a bucketful of singles by Henry, Michael and Malito that loaded the bases, Logan (5) stroked a RBI single to bring Henry home. Caz followed with a RBI single that allowed Michael to come home and crow. A Weston faux pas on the play would open the portal for Malito to come homeward with another run.
Following a single by Jack that reloaded the bases, Nico hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Jack at second, moved Caz to third, and delivered Logan home.
With two aboard, Aaron stroked a RBI single that brought Caz homeward. After a single by Eamon that reloaded the bases, Henry hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Nico to come home with the peameal bacon.
After the Wolverines went down in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the third, Toronto Playgrounds added three more to their booty in the bottom of the third frame to expand their lead to 17-1. After a leadoff hit by Malito, Logan and Caz stroked back to back singles to load the bases. Jack followed and hit into a fielder’s choice that advanced Caz to second, erased Logan at third, and brought Malito home with a run.
With two capybaras on the diamond, Nico delivered a RBI single that allowed Caz to come homeward.
Subsequently, after a two out single by Eamon that loaded the bases, Henry stroked a clutch RBI single to bring Nico home.
Refusing to quietly into the night, Weston rallied with a pair in the top of the fourth to trim the margin to 17-3. With two ducklings on the inlet, J.J. delivered a clutch two out two RBI triple that brought Lucas (81) and Javier home with the Oreo Double Stuffed Cookies.
The TP offence would be thwarted by the Gold Glove heroics of Wolverines pitcher Alex (6) in the bottom of the fourth. With precise 1-2-3 efficiency, Alex vacuumed up three consecutive line drives and made three straight 1-3 putout plays to keep Toronto Playgrounds off the scoring ledger.
Not to be outdone, TP’s dynamic defensive duo returned the favour in kind in the top of the fifth. With one out, TP second baseman Malito and first baseman Nico hooked up on back to back 4-3 putouts to keep the Wolverines off the base paths during the inning.
In the bottom half of the fifth, Toronto Playgrounds tallied a pair of insurance runs to secure their lead at 19-3. After a pair of one out singles by Nico and Aaron that put two runners on base, Eamon hit into a 1-3 groundout that brought Nico home. Henry followed with a RBI single that allowed Aaron to saunter homeward with the Lou Malnati’s Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza.
Donning their rally caps, Weston threatened in the top of the sixth after Dominic (4) and Damon (80) stroked respective singles to put two mallards on the lake. However, the Wolverines rally bid fizzled and the curtain came down on the game.
The TP Rookie Ball Selects (2-7-1) continue their homestand at Christie Pits Diamond 3 next Wednesday (August 6) evening when they host the Martingrove White at 6:00 p.m.