TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS TOP THE A’s IN A THRILLING OUTTA TIME AFFAIR AT CHRISTIE PITS
Game Post composed with file from Paul Ungerman
Beneath a grey blanket of cloudy skies, the Toronto Playgrounds 12U Selects prevailed 7-4 over the Annette A’s in a 3 ½ inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Peewee Select game tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
The proceeding was a well played and exciting contest between two talented and well coached teams. After a nitty gritty TP squad had staked itself to a 7-2 advantage in the bottom portion of the third frame, the pesky A’s refused to go quietly into the twilight as they rallied for a pair in the top of the fourth to trim the margin to three. With one out and the bases loaded, Annette’s valiant comeback bid was short circuited when the game was called due to the strict COVID-19 time limit for the affair.
In the top of the first, Annette jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. With Milo (1) aboard on a fielder’s choice, Aiden (21) drew a two out walk that put two ducks on the pond. Jack P. (14) followed with a RBI single that brought Milo home with the opening run of the game.
With A’s baserunners at second and first, Miles (91) stroked a clutch RBI single that allowed Aiden to come home with their second run.
Shaken, but not stirred, TP starter Dylan (10) struck out the next batter to extinguish the Annette insurrection. Dylan also induced a pair of groundouts in the first frame.
Refusing to be outdone, Toronto Playgrounds answered back in lickity splick fashion in the bottom half of the first to deadlock the affair at 2-2. Following a leadoff walk by Momo (18) and a single by William (33), Charlie Z. (8) garnered a two out walk that loaded the bases. It was at this juncture where Momo bolted homeward from third base to score TP’s first run on a brazen Holy Moly Grand Theft steal of home!
Following a walk by Dylan that reloaded the bases, Aron (14) worked the count to his advantage as he drew a RBI walk that brought William home with the tying run.
At this moment, Annette southpaw reliever Tristan (6) entered the fray from the bullpen to coax a groundout that subdued the TP uprising and leave the bases loaded. In a gritty effort, A’s starter Keaton (34) chalked up a pop out and a strikeout in the first inning.
TP reliever Rocco (99) tallied a pair of groundouts and a strikeout in the top of the second to keep the Athletics off the scoring ledger.
Making the most of their opportunities, TP took a 3-2 lead in the bottom portion of the second. After a hard hit one out single by Cooper (3), Evan (55) and Charlie B. (11) followed with back to back walks to load the bases. Subsequently, with two outs and the bases still juiced to the gills, William patiently garnered a grace under pressure RBI walk that allowed Cooper to come home with TP’s go ahead run.
With TP continuing to threaten, A’s reliever Jack Y. (4) entered the game to tally a lineout to bring the curtain down on the inning. Kudos to Annette shortstop Aiden for snagging a hot tamale line drive (off the bat of Rocco) in the shoestrings of his trusty mitt to ring up the third out. And in a workmanlike effort, A’s reliever Tristan rung up a strikeout and a pop out in the second frame.
Annette threatened in the top of the third inning when they got two runners aboard. However, TP reliever Julian (20) extricated himself and the team from the sticky wicket courtesy of two groundouts and a strikeout.
With the pedal to the metal, Toronto Playgrounds added four insurance runs in the bottom half of the third to widen their lead to 7-2. With one out, TP loaded the bases with a fusillade of three consecutive singles courtesy of Charlie Z., Dylan and Aron. Milo (27) followed and crushed a MY! OH! MY! three RBI triple that cleared the bases.
Subsequently, with two outs and a runner on third base, Julian delivered a RBI sacrifice fly to left field that brought Milo home with TP’s seventh run.
Annette reliever Jack Y. recorded a strikeout and a flyout in the third frame. A’s reliever Aiden entered the proceeding to ring up a strikeout for the third out.
Refusing to surrender, Annette donned their rally caps in the top of the fourth as they battled back with two runs to slice the shortfall to 7-4. After a leadoff single by Keaton, Findlay (7) and Leo (10) garnered back to back one out walks to load the bases. With his steely eye on the prize, Jack Y. followed with a clutch two RBI double that brought Keaton and Findlay home.
After Jayden (0) drew a walk that reloaded the bases, the A’s were on the threshold of miraculous comeback. Unfortunately, it was at this point where the strict time limit was reached and the officiating crew was forced to end the proceedings.
During his foray on the hill, TP reliever Momo tallied a strikeout in the fourth inning.
EXTRA INNINGS:
- Cooper (3) led the TP hit parade by going 2 for 2 [single, triple] at the dish with a run scored.
- Kudos to TP second baseman Sean (13) for a strong defensive effort versus Annette.
