REP > TP 10U Reps Top Etobicoke 9-7


TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS PREVAIL OVER THE CARDINALS IN A TOOTH AND NAIL TBA MOSQUITO REP BATTLE AT CHRISTIE PITS

With a dash of cunning and a dollop of guile, Toronto Playgrounds 10U Rep reliever Henry (21) pitched four solid innings against the potent Etobicoke Cardinals batting order during a TBA Mosquito Reo game at Christie Pits Diamond 3. In a stellar outing, Henry surrendered only one run to the Cards while striking out four Red Birds to pick up the win.

Beneath a luscious blanket of late summer skies, the Toronto Playgrounds 10U Reps defeated the Etobicoke Cardinals 9-7 in a cracker jack 5 ½ inning Toronto Baseball Association (TBA) Mosquito Rep game this afternoon at Christie Pits Diamond 3.

The proceeding was a highly entertaining and well played affair between two talented and well coached teams. In the end, a gritty TP squad took the bull by the horns in the latter innings to eke out a hard fought victory over the pesky Cardinals.

In the top portion of the first, Etobicoke jumped out to an early 2-0 lead. After a leadoff walk by Jaime (24), Hudson (23) garnered a walk that put two aboard. Following a one out walk by James (99) that loaded the bases, Jake (54) stroked a two RBI single to right field that brought Jaime and Hudson home with the opening runs of the game.

With two outs, Jake (54) strokes a clutch two RBI single in the top of the first inning to stake Etobicoke to an early 2-0 lead.

Shaken, but not stirred, TP starter Max (1) tallied a groundout and strikeout in the first inning to subdue the Red Birds rebellion. Max was also helped out by a sweet defensive play from his friends when TP right fielder Farouk (77) made a rocket throw to TP second baseman Jack (11), who tagged out Jake, (who was trying to stretch his big single into a double) in a pretty 9-4 play for the second out.

After taking the throw from left fielder Farouk (77), TP second baseman Jack (11) tags out Cardinals baserunner Jake (54) to thwart his bid to stretch his 2 RBI single into a double in the first inning.

Toronto Playgrounds answered back quickly with a pair in the bottom of the second to tie the game 2-2. Following a leadoff single by Michael (31), Jack drew a walk that put two ducks on the pond. With runners at third and second, Caz (7) delivered a grace under pressure two out two RBI hit that allowed Michael and Jack to motor home with the tying runs.

Caz (7) delivers a grace under pressure two out two RBI hit in the bottom of the second frame that allowed TP to tie the game 2-2.
As Etobicoke catcher Thomas (22) awaits the throw, Jack (11) slides home with TP’s tying run in the bottom of the first inning.

Etobicoke starter Luke (1) racked up a flyout, strikeout and a lineout in the first to quell the TP insurgency.

Taking flight, the Cardinals struck back with four in the top of the second to take a 6-2 advantage. Following a two out double by Luke, Colin (34) connected for a clutch RBI single that brought Luke home with the go ahead run.

Jaime (24) delivers a RBI double during Etobicoke’s four run surge in the top of the second inning that gave them a 6-2 advantage.

After a walk by Gianluca (27) put a pair of Red Birds on base, Jaime stroked a RBI double that advanced Gianluca to third and allowed Colin to come homeward with a run.

With runners at third and second, Hudson delivered a bases clearing two RBI double that delivered Gianluca and Jaime home.

With steely resolve, TP starter Max (1) threw two nitty gritty workmanlike innings against Etobicoke.

In a nitty gritty effort on the hill, TP starter Max recorded a pop out and groundout in the second inning.

Answering the clarion call, TP replied with two in the bottom half of the second to trim the shortfall to 6-4. After a one out walk by Max, Henry (21) connected for single that put two aboard. However, an Etobicoke error on the play allowed Henry to move over to second and brought Max home with a run.

With a swan on the lake, Ciaran (2) delivered a RBI single that allowed Henry to come home to roost.

In a strong two inning effort, Etobicoke starter Luke (1) limited TP to three earned runs while striking out three.

Unfazed, Cardinals starter Luke rang up a pair of strikeouts in the second frame to snuff out the TP rebellion. Luke also received a big play from his D for the second out when Red Birds catcher Thomas (22) made a lightning throw to shortstop Justin (25) to erase Ciaran’s attempt to steal second.

Etobicoke added another run to its ledger in the top of the third to stretch their lead to 7-4. Following a leadoff single and stolen base by Justin, Jake connected for a RBI single that allowed Justin to fly homeward with a run.

After stroking a leadoff single, Etobicoke baserunner Justin (25) slides full speed into second base with a brazen steal in the top of the third inning. Justin’s hustle would subsequently allow him to score and stretch the Cardinals lead to 7-4.

Nonplussed, TP reliever Henry (21) tallied a strikeout and a groundout in the third frame to subdue the Cardinals mutiny. Henry also was the beneficiary of a nice defensive gem from TP catcher Nico (38). Nico made a rocket throw to second baseman Farouk. who tagged out Jake to thwart his Grand Theft attempt on a 2-4 putout.

With the wind in their sails, TP exploded for three runs in the bottom of the third to deadlock the affair at 7-7. Following a leadoff double by Jack, Nico brought him home with a a RBI single.

After Malito (99) was hit by a pitch that put two freshwater trout on the skillet, Caz delivered a RBI single that brought Nico home and make it a one run game.

Subsequently, with two outs and a runner at second base, Eamon (13) connected for a clutch RBI single that brought Malito home with TP’s tying run.

DELIVERY MEN > Clockwise from the top: Nico (38), Caz (7) and Eamon (13) delivered respective RBI hits during TP’s three run rally in the bottom of the third frame that allowed them to deadlock the proceedings 7-7.

Cardinals reliever Hudson (23) tallied a groundout in the third to end the TP uprising. With nobody out, Hudson received a huge defensive play from his teammates during the inning. After snagging a scorching line drive off the bat of Farouk in the shoestrings of his mitt for the first out, Red Birds shortstop Nick (11) made a laser toss to first base to erase Caz, who had wandered off base, and ring up a sweet 6-3 double play.

Etobicoke threatened in the top half of the fourth after Luke reached base on a one out double. However, TP quickly terminated the threat with a pretty defensive jewel. As Luke bolted from second base in a brazen attempt to steal third, TP catcher Nico fired a lightning bolt to third baseman Michael, who slapped an emphatic tag on Luke to foil his Grand Theft dreams with an exquisite 2-5 putout play.

D.O.A. > After taking receipt of the throw from catcher Nico (38), TP third baseman Michael (31) tags out Cardinals baserunner Luke (1) in a chitty, chitty, bang, bang, 2-5 putout play that thwarted Luke’s bid to steal third base in the top of the third inning.

TP reliever Henry deftly bookended the fourth frame with a groundout and lineout to keep the high flying Cardinals off the scoresheet.

In the bottom of the fourth, Etobicoke reliever James (99) chalked up a pair of groundouts and a strikeout to keep TP off the scoring abacus.

Etobicoke reliever James (99) kept high octane TP offence off the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning by chalking up a pair of groundouts and a strikeout.

The Red Birds threatened again in the top of the fifth. Following a one out single, Hudson swiped his way into scoring position at third base.

Reaching into his bag of tricks, TP southpaw reliever Henry craftily rang up a groundout, pop out and strikeout to vanquish the threat and keep the hungry Cardinals away from the bird feeder.

After launching a deep fly ball down the left field line, Jack (11) blazed around the horn for a dramatic inside the park solo home run that gave TP an 8-7 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning that propelled them to a victory over the Cardinals.

Toronto Playgrounds took the lead in dramatic fashion in the bottom portion of the fifth. After powering a fly ball down the left field line to lead off the inning, Jack turned on the afterburners and hustled around the horn for a Holy Cow inside the park home run that gave TP an 8-7 advantage.

Holding onto a slender tenderloin one run lead, TP proceeded to tack on an insurance run for good measure. After stroking a single, Nico stole his way into scoring position at third. Malito followed with a RBI single that brought Nico homeward to do the Gangnum Style.

Etobicoke reliever Navin (29) found the groove and tallied a pair of flyouts and a groundout in the fifth to extinguish the TP insurgency.

With Etobicoke threatening a comeback in the final inning, TP catcher Nico (38) holds a mound conference with TP pitcher Henry (21) to discuss strategy to quell the Cards insurgency. Nico caught six solid innings behind the plate while throwing out two Cardinals baserunners.

Refusing to go quietly, the Cardinals continued to battle in the top of sixth. Following a leadoff single by Jake, Navin drew a one out walk that put two Red Birds on the base paths.

With the game on the line, TP reliever Henry chalked up a pair of strikeouts and a flyout to seal the deal on the victory.

EXTRA INNINGS

Collage photos from the September 20, 2020 TBA Mosquito Rep Loop game between the TP 10U Reps and the Etobicoke Cardinals at Christie Pits Diamond 3.