THE CARDINALS SNUFF OUT A FINAL INNING RALLY BY TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS TO PREVAIL FOR THE EBA 13U SELECT LOOP VICTORY AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a pristine ceiling of serene summer skies, the Royal York Girls defeated the Toronto Playgrounds 13U Blue Selects 16-6 in six rollicking innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 13U Select Loop action tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
The proceeding was an entertaining contest between two talented and well coached teams. Despite a gallant late comeback bid in the final frame by a never say die TP squad, the gritty Cardinals played a solid overall game and rode on the coattails of a dominating performance to cruise a well deserved victory.
In the top half of the first inning, the Royal York Girls jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage. After a leadoff hit by Bamburak (11), Androulakis (10) garnered a walk that put two runners on base. Vivian Bach (55) followed with a two RBI single that brought Bamburak and Androulakis home with the opening runs of the game.
Subsequently, Dovale-Puig (22) reached base on a hit by pitch with one out that put two Red Birds aboard, With two outs and runners on third and second, a passed ball by TP allowed Dovale-Puig to advance to third base and brought Vivian Bach home with the Cards third run.
After an errant TP pickoff attempt at third base bounced away, Dovale-Puig bolted homeward. However, TP third baseman Mike (9) retrieved the ball like a gazelle and made a lightning throw to catcher Emmett (52), who tagged out Dovale-Puig to chalk up the third out.
In a stouthearted effort, TP starter Jacob (4) rang up two strikeouts against Royal York in the first inning.
With tenacity, Toronto Playgrounds made a determined bid to rally in the bottom of the first. After drawing a leadoff walk and stealing second, Henry (14) made a brazen charge to swipe third base. However, Royal York catcher Laura Bach (77) made a cannon throw to third baseman Dovale-Puig, who tagged out Henry to ring up the first out on a chitty chitty bang bang 2-5 defensive gem.
TP continued to battle as Tyler (26) launched a double and Mike garnered a walk that put two ducks on the pond.
However, Royal York Girls starter Bamburak would tally a strikeout and a groundout to end the TP threat.
Royal York added a pair to their ledger in the top of the second to increase their lead to 5-0. Following a leadoff walk and stolen base by Menezes (20), Pellar (74) stroked a RBI single to bring Menezes home to roost.
With a runner on second base, Martin (9) followed with a RBI hit that allowed Pellar to fly home with the Red Birds fifth run.
In a lionhearted foray on the hill, TP reliever Milo (21) chalked up a strikeout and a fly out in the second frame to pacify the Cardinals.
With two runners on base, Milo was also the beneficiary of a nifty defensive play from his teammates. After catching Androulakis’ fly ball for the second out, TP right fielder Emmett noticed that the Royal York baserunner had wandered afar from first base on the play. As Bamburak scrambled back to the base, Emmett made a lightning toss to first baseman Mike, However, the throw was offline and forced Mike to scurry for the ball. With Bamburak hustling towards the bag, Mike retrieved the ball and made a quick flip to Milo to complete a Twilight Zone 9-3-1 putout play for the third out.
Taking care of business, Royal York Girls reliever Dovale-Puig retired TP in 1-2-3 fashion with three stellar strikeouts in the bottom portion of the second frame.
Putting the pedal to the metal, the Cardinals scored five in the top of the third to widen their plurality to 10-0. After a leadoff double by Vivian Bach, Laura Bach followed with a RBI single to bring Vivian home.
With a runner on third, Dovale-Puig stroked a RBI hit that allowed Laura to come home to crow.
Following a single by Zacaria (14) that put two Red Birds on the dance floor, Menezes connected for a two RBI single that brought Dovale-Puig and Zacaria homeward with two more runs.
As Menezes made a brazen bid to take second base on the play, TP catcher Mike made a lightning throw to second baseman Jasper (6), who slapped an emphatic tag on Menezes to chalk up the first out of the inning.
Royal York proceeded to load the bases with one out courtesy of a walk by Pellar, a single by Martin, and a walk by Sheppard (8). Bamburak followed by hitting into a fielder’s choice that erased Sheppard at second base and allowed Pellar to sprint home from third with the Cards tenth run.
With plucky resolve, TP reliever Julian (77) rang up a strikeout to tally the third out and quash the Cardinals uprising in the third inning.
Royal York reliever Dovale-Puig tallied another two strikeouts in the bottom of the third to keep TP off the scoreboard.
During the inning, she also initiated a sweet defensive play to chalk up the first out. After Austin (29) reached base on a hit by pitch to open the inning, Dovale-Puig reached into her bag of tricks to hook up with Cards first baseman Bamburak on a sly 1-3 pickoff that erased Austin.
The Cardinals padded their nest with four in the top portion of the fourth to increase their margin to 14-0.
After a leadoff triple by Vivian, Laura and Dovale-Puig followed with back to back walks to load the bases. With one out, Menezes crushed a bases clearing four run inside the park home run shot to the deep deep pizza nether regions of centre field.
With dauntless focus, TP reliever Henry chalked up two strikeouts and a groundout in the fourth inning to extinguish the Red Birds insurrection.
Royal York Girls reliever Laura Bach bookended a pair of strikeouts around a groundout to send TP packing in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom vector of the fourth frame.
In the top portion of the fifth, the Cardinals added two insurance runs to their haul as they stretched their lead to 16-0. After Androulakis reached base on a dropped third strike, Vivian delivered a majestic one out RBI triple to bring her home.
With a runner on third, Laura followed with a RBI single that brought Vivian homeward with another run.
In unflinching fashion, TP reliever Tyler (26) tallied a groundout, fly out and strikeout in the fifth inning to subdue the Red Birds insurgency. On the second out, Tyler was helped out immeasurably with a highlight reel circus catch by TP centre fielder Henry, who robbed Dovale-Puig of sure fire hit.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, Royal York reliever Laura rang up a lineout and two strikeouts in the bottom of the fifth to keep TP off the scoresheet.
Undaunted, TP reliever Tyler kept the potent Cardinals offence off the scoreboard in the top half of the sixth with a groundout and two strikeouts.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, TP donned their rally caps for a comeback bid in the bottom of the sixth. After Emmett (52) led off the inning with a single, Austin (29) and Milo garnered consecutive walks that loaded the bases. An errant Royal York pickoff attempt would allow Austin and Milo to move up respectively to third and second and bring Emmett home with TP’s first run.
With one out and two mallards on the lake, Jacob delivered a two RBI triple that brought Austin and Milo homeward with a pair. A Cardinals error on the play allowed Jacob to zoom home with another run,
After reaching base on a single, Tyler advanced into scoring position at third base courtesy of a stolen base and a Red Birds faux pas. Mike followed with a RBI hit to bring Tyler home with TP’s fifth run.
Following a single by Julian that put two aboard, Payton (3) connected for a sacrifice fly to centre field that allowed Mike to score from third and close the gap to ten.
Shaken, but not stirred, Royal York Girls closer Zacaria found the groove and tallied a strikeout, fly out and a groundout in the sixth frame to terminate the TP rally and seal the deal on the Cardinals victory.
EXTRA INNINGS
