IN A BATTLE ROYALE, THE WHITE SOX SNAP A 9-9 TIE IN THE FINAL INNING TO PREVAIL OVER TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS IN A THRILLING SUNDAY EBA 13U SELECT LOOP AFFAIR AT CHRISTIE PITS
Under a serene ceiling of sunny and cloudy midsummer skies, the Martingrove White Sox defeated the Toronto Playgrounds 13U Red Selects in six innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Select Loop action this afternoon at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
The dog days of summer proceeding was an entertaining battle royale contest between two talented and well coached teams. In the end, the gritty White Sox took the bull by the horns in the final inning as they snapped a 9-9 deadlock and hung on to prevail over a pesky TP squad for the victory.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, wily TP starter Milo (1) kept Martingrove off the scoring ledger in the top half of the first courtesy of three pop outs.
In the bottom of the first, TP jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. Following a leadoff double, Finn (11) brazenly utilized his Grand Theft perspicacity to steal third base. On the play, the White Sox committed an error that allowed Finn to mosey homeward with the opening run of the game.
Unfazed, Martingrove starter Sam (10) retired the next three batters with a groundout and two strikeouts to end the TP mutiny in the first inning.
Not taking things lying down, the White Sox struck back with five in the top of the second to take a 5-1 lead. Following a leadoff single, Simon (14) defiantly swiped his way around the horn to third base. After JM (55) reached base on a dropped third strike that put two aboard, Simon pounced on a TP wild pitch to bolt home with the tying run.
Taking his cue from Simon, JM also stole a pair of bases to reach third. A TP error allowed JM to come home with Maringrove’s go ahead run.
After drawing a walk, Martin (29) utilized a stolen base and a wild pitch to advance to third base. Julian (16) followed with a RBI hit that brought Martin home.
Following a walk by Samuel (28) that put two White Sox runners on base, Lorenzo (27) powered a two RBI triple to bring Julian and Samuel home with a pair of runs.
Martingrove starter Sam deftly kept TP off the scoresheet in the bottom portion of the second with a groundout and a pop out.
Battling the glare of the noontime sun, White Sox catcher Daniel (85) made a highlight reel catch on an eight mile high pop up off the bat of Pierce (7) behind home plate to tally the second out.
In the top of the third, Martingrove added two to their haul to widen their advantage to 7-1. After Daniel led off the inning with a hit, James (46) stroked a single that put two runners on base. Shwas (15) followed with a RBI single that moved James to second base and brought Daniel home.
Subsequently, with one out and runners on third and first,, Michael (2) hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Sam at second base and brought James home with the White Sox seventh run.
TP reliever Spencer (27) chalked up a pair of groundouts and a fly out to end the Martingrove insurrection in the third inning.
Kudos to TP left fielder Pierce for making a nice catch for the third out.
White Sox reliever Lorenzo tallied a strikeouts and two groundouts in the bottom of the third to keep TP off the scoring abacus.
TP reliever Spencer kept the White Sox off the scoreboard in the top of the fourth with a groundout and a strikeout.
Spencer was also the beneficiary of a sweet play from his defence. With one out and a Martingrove runner on third base, Julian rushed down the first baseline on a dropped third strike. As TP catcher Darcy (21) threw the ball to first baseman Finn to ring up Julian for the second out, White Sox baserunner Martin charged homeward in an unabashed bid to score. However, Finn made a laser throw to Darcy, who tagged out Martin at the dish in chitty chitty bang bang fashion to complete an All-Star 2-3-2 double play that left the potent White Sox offence in the laundry hamper.
With the wind in their sails, Toronto Playgrounds rallied for four in the bottom of the fourth to slice and dice the shortfall to 7-5. After a leadoff walk by Michael (9), Spencer followed with a walk that put two ducks on the pond. With runners on third and second, TP executed a bold as brass double steal that advanced Spencer to second base and allowed Michael motor home and beat the tag of Martingrove catcher Daniel to score a dramatic slender tenderloin run at the dish.
With a runner on second, Darcy delivered a RBI single to bring Spencer home with the bacon.
Following a fielder’s choice that erased Darcy at second base, Milo proceeded to swipe his way to third with an overt pair of steals, With one out, Pierce (7) followed with RBI hit that allowed Milo to score.
After a walk by Lucas (24)) put two ducks on the pond, Henry (8) stroked a RBI hit that brought Pierce home and closed the gap to two.
Shaken, but not stirred, Martingrove reliever Lorenzo chalked up a pair of groundouts and a pop out to douse the TP insurrection in the fourth frame.
The White Sox answered with a pair in the top portion of the fifth to extend their lead to 9-5. With Samuel on second base after a leadoff single and stolen base, Lorenzo reached base on a dropped third strike that also allowed Samuel to hustle home with a run.
Subsequently, with one out and the bases loaded, Sam hit into a fielder’s choice that erased James at third, moved Shwas to second, and allowed Daniel to score.
Unruffled, TP reliever Henry rang up two groundouts and a fly out in the fifth frame to pacify the Martingrove rebellion.
With the game on the line, Toronto Playgrounds rallied with four in the bottom vector of the fifth to deadlock the affair at 9-9. After a one out hit by Finn, Michael stroked a single that put two swans on the lake. With runners at third and second, the White Sox were called for a balk that allowed Michael to move to third and brought Finn homeward with a run.
Following back to back walks by Spencer and Darcy that loaded the bases, a Martingrove wild pitch allowed Spencer to advance to third and brought Michael home with another TP run.
With runners on third and second, Milo hit a RBI single that allowed Spencer to score and make it a one run game.
Pierce followed with a groundout that moved Milo to third base and delivered Darcy home with the tying run.
Subsequently, with two outs and the go ahead runs on third and second, Martingrove reliever Shwas entered the fray from the bullpen to ring up a mojo jojo strikeout that extinguished the TP rally.
Refusing to let things slip, slide away, the White Sox exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth to retake the lead 15-9. After JM and Martin stroked back to back one singles with one out, Samuel drew a two out walk to load the bases. Lorenzo worked the count in his favour to draw a RBI bases loaded walk that brought JM home with Martingrove’s go ahead run.
With the bases still juiced to the gills, Daniel stepped into the batter’s box and delivered a clutch RBI single that allowed Martin to score. A TP error on the play allowed Samuel to scoot home with another run.
With runners on third and second, James connected for a grace under pressure RBI hit that brought Lorenzo home to crow. A TP faux pas on the play opened the portal for Daniel to zoom home with an additional run.
Following a steal of second base by James, Shwas delivered a coup de grâce RBI single that brought James home.
Donning their rally caps, TP continued to battle in the bottom half of the sixth as they scored a pair to cut the margin to 15-11, After a one out walk by Payton (3), Charles (36) singled to put two otters on the lake. With runners at third and second, Martingrove was called for a balk that moved Charles to third base and brought Payton home with a run.
With two outs, Michael delivered a clutch RBI hit that allowed Charles to bring home the Ben and Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie Ice Cream.
Cool as a cucumber, Martingrove reliever Shwas rung up a strikeout to seal the deal on White Sox win.
EXTRA INNINGS
