TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS GROUND THE BOMBERS AT DOMINICO FIELD AT CHRISTIE PITS TO WIN THEIR OPENING ROUND ROBIN PLAYOFF GAME
Beneath a quaint ceiling of serene summer skies, the Toronto Playgrounds Varsity Selects defeated the Bloordale Bombers 13-4 in six innings tonight at Dominico Field at Christie Pits to win their opening round robin playoff game at the 2019 Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Varsity Select Championship Tournament.
In a lopsided postseason contest, TP used a combination of stellar pitching and an opportunistic ten-hit attack to prevail over the Bombers.
With authority, Toronto Playgrounds staked itself to an early 4-0 lead in the top portion of the first. After stroking a leadoff single, Francis (2) turned on the afterburners and swiped his way around the horn to third base. Seizing his moment of opportunity, Francis blazed homeward on a wild pitch to score the opening run of the game.
After Nolan (24), Liam (4) and Mark (71) garnered respective walks to load the bases, Josh (44) delivered a one out two RBI single that brought Nolan and Liam home.
Following a single by Josh (44), Jake would reach base on a Bloordale defensive error. The faux pas allowed Mark to motor home from third with another TP run.
Bombers starter Patrick (27) would tally a groundout and strikeout in the first to quell the TP insurgency.
Not to be outdone, Bloordale quickly replied with three in the bottom of the first to trim the margin to 4-3. After reaching base on a hit by pitch to leadoff the inning, Alex (6) stole his way to third base. A TP error on his theft of third allowed Alex to motor home with the Bombers first run.
After a walk by Haydn (26) put one aboard, Thomas P. (15) crushed a one out RBI triple to bring him home.
Subsequently, with two outs, Thomas F. (10) delivered a clutch RBI double that brought Thomas P. homeward.
Unfazed, TP starter Cormac (54) found the groove and chalked up a groundout and two strikeouts in the first frame to subdue the Bombers uprising.
Toronto Playgrounds struck back with six in the top of the second to widen its advantage to 10-3. Following a leadoff single by Savannah (10) and walk by Andrew (6), Thomas (8) stroked a single that loaded the bases. Exercising patience at the dish, Richard (12) drew a bases loaded RBI walk to bring Savannah home.
With the bases still juiced to the gills, Francis hit into a 4-3 groundout that moved Thomas and Richard up a base and brought Andrew home with a run. A subsequent wild pitch would advance Richard to third and bring Thomas home to crow.
Following a one out walk by Nolan that put two ducks on the pond, Will (5) delivered a two RBI single that allowed Richard and Nolan to come home with the peameal bacon.
After Will brazenly stole his way to third, Liam stroked a RBI single to bring him home.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, TP starter Cormac rang up a pair of strikeouts and a pop out to second baseman Savannah to keep the Bombers offence in the airplane hangar.
In the top of the third, TP added another gold doubloon to their booty as they widened their lead to 11-3. After a one out walk by Leo (18) and a single by Savannah, Andrew drew a walk to load the bases. Thomas followed with a 6-3 RBI groundout that brought Leo home.
Bloordale reliever Thomas F. tallied three groundouts in the third frame to douse the TP mutiny.
TP starter Cormac chalked up two groundouts and a strikeout in the bottom of the third to keep the Bombers grounded on the runwayToronto Playgrounds threatened in the top of the fourth after Will singled and stole his way into scoring position at second base. However, Bloordale reliever Thomas F. rang up three groundouts to short circuit the TP effort.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, the Bombers clawed back with a run in the bottom of the fourth to close the gap to 11-4. After a leadoff single, Alex proceeded to steal his way to third. Following a walk by Haydn that put two otters on the pond, Thomas P. stroked a RBI single that brought Alex home.
As Alex crossed the plate, Bloordale baserunner Haydn made the brazen turn at second and veered full bore towards third base. After retrieving the ball, TP left fielder Will made a laser throw to third baseman Nolan, who slapped an emphatic tag on a sliding Alex to dash his grand theft dreams and tally a sweet 7-5 putout for the second out.
TP starter Cormac tallied a strikeout and groundout in the fourth to extinguish the Bombers rally bid.
Toronto Playgrounds threatened again in the top of the fifth after a single by Josh and a walk by Cormac put two aboard. However, Bloordale reliever Thomas F. chalked up a groundout, pop out and strikeout to subdue the TP insurrection.
Weaving his hypnotic magic, TP starter Cormac tallied a pair of groundouts and a strikeout in the bottom of the fifth to keep the Bombers on the tarmac.
TP added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth to secure its lead at 13-4. Following a pair of walks by Savannah and Thomas that put two capybaras in the diamond surface, Richard hit into a 4-3 RBI groundout that delivered Savannah home. A subsequent wild pitch allowed Thomas to zoom homeward with another run.
Bloordale reliever Stephen (9) chalked up two groundouts and a strikeout in the sixth frame to subdue the TP rebellion.
Refusing to accept their circumstance, the Bombers continued to battle in the bottom of the sixth. Following a leadoff single by Adam (33), TP received a nice solo defensive shot in the arm. As Joseph (19) scorched a hot tamale line drive down the first base side, TP first baseman Thomas made a sizzling shoestring catch to tally the first out. Noticing that Joseph had wandered afar from the first base on the play, Thomas stepped on the base to ring up a sweet double play.
With two outs, TP starter Cormac rang up a strikeout to bring the curtain down on the proceedings.
The TP Varsity Selects (1-0) journey at the EBA playoffs continues tomorrow (August 10) evening at 6:00 p.m. when they travel to Sentinel Park to battle the Royal York Cardinals.
