FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS PREVAIL OVER THE WHITE SOX IN THEIR 2022 EBA 11U SELECT LOOP SEASON OPENER AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a caressing ceiling of warm Spring skies, the Toronto Playgrounds 11U Blue Selects defeated the Martingrove White Sox 16-0 in five innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 11U Select action tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
The Sunday night game was the 2022 EBA 11U Select Loop regular season opener for both teams. In a lopsided affair, TP dominated the White Sox from start to finish courtesy of a strong performance from a trio of stellar pitchers and a potent batting order that made the most its offensive opportunities.
In the top half of the first, TP 11U Blue starter Dash (00) set the tone for the proceedings by retiring Martingrove in lickety split 1-2-3 fashion courtesy of two strikeouts and a groundout that kept the White Sox offense buried in the laundry hamper.
Exercising discipline at the dish, Toronto Playgrounds sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the first frame as they parlayed three walks, a hit batsman and two key hits into an early 4-0 advantage.
Following a pair of walks by Dash and Sidney C (7) that put two ducklings on the pond, Gio (10) delivered a one out RBI hit that allowed Dash to motor home with the opening run of the game.
After a two out walk by Ricky (12) that loaded the bases, Alex (13) took one for the team when he was hit by pitch, allowing Sidney C to mosey homeward from third base and give TP a 2-0 lead.
With the bases still loaded, Sydney VK (14) stepped into the batter’s box and delivered a clutch two RBI double that allowed Gio and Ricky to come home with two more runs.
Not taking thing lying down, Martingrove threatened in the top of the second inning after Bane (4), Lucas (5) and Remy (6) garnered respective walks to load the bases.
With a dash of relish and a dollop of spicy brown mustard, TP 11U Blue starter Dash vanquished the White Sox uprising with three electrifying strikeouts that left the bases loaded and Martingrove off the scoring ledger.
Taking no prisoners, TP added four more to their tally in the bottom portion of the second as they stretched their lead to 8-0.
After a crisp leadoff single by Madeline (15), Jonas (25) and Jack (55) drew back to back walks to load the bases. Ethan (80) followed with a majestic two RBI double that allowed Madeline and Jonas to hustle home with a pair of runs.
A subsequent White Sox error would open the portal for Jack to blaze homeward with another TP run.
Following a pair of walks by Dash and Theo (6) that reloaded the bases, Gio connected for a one out RBI hit that brought Ethan home to roost.
With guile and grit, TP 11U reliever Sydney VK entered the fray in top portion of the third inning and retired the Martingrove batting order with 1-2-3 efficiency by utilizing a groundout and two squally strikeouts to keep the White Sox off the scoreboard.
Putting the pedal to the metal, Toronto Playgrounds scored four runs in the bottom of the third to extend their plurality to 12-0.
After Alex stroked a two out hit, Sydney VK drew a walk that put two aboard. With TP runners on third and first, Martingrove uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Alex to blaze home with a run.
Following a walk by Madeline that put two otters on the lake, Jonas stroked a clutch RBI single to bring Sydney VK home to roost.
After a walk by Jack that loaded the bases, the White Sox committed an error that allowed Jonas to advance to third and brought Madeline home with another TP run.
With runners on third and first, Ethan delivered a grace under pressure RBI double that brought Jonas home with the bacon and scrambled eggs.
Martingrove went down in order again in the top of the fourth frame after TP 11U Blue reliever Sydney VK bookended a groundout and a strikeout to keep the White Sox off the scoring abacus.
The TP defense turned a sweet play to ring up the second out. After reaching base on a fielder’s choice, Martingrove baserunner Declan (1) brazenly stole his way around the horn to third base with one out. As he made his bold bid to steal home to break the White Sox’s goose egg, Declan was caught in a rundown. As Declan made a frantic retreat back to third, TP catcher Gio made a rocket throw to third baseman Theo, who made an emphatic tag on Declan to complete the 2-5 defensive gem for the second out.
Toronto Playgrounds threatened again in the bottom half of the fourth frame. Following a leadoff hit by Dash and a walk by Theo, Gio was hit by pitch to load the bases.
However, the Martingrove defence rose to the occasion to keep the potent TP offence off the scoresheet.
Battling the darkening sky above him, White Sox second baseman Hugo (10) made a nice catch on an eight mile high pop fly off the bat of TP batter Sidney C to tally the first out.
After Martigrove reliever Bobby (12) rang up a strikeout for the second out, White Sox left fielder George (2) reeled in a nifty fly ball catch off the bat of Ricky to chalk up the third out and bring the curtain down on the fourth inning.
Martingrove refused to go quietly into the night as they continued to battle in the top of the fifth. After leadoff walk by Bane, Remy drew another walk that put two ducks on the pond.
With ice in his veins, TP 11U Blue reliever Jonas found the groove and mowed down the White Sox with three electrifying K’s to extinguish the Martingrove rally bid.
In the bottom portion of the fifth, Toronto Playgrounds salted the game away by adding another four spot to increase their lead to 16-0.
After Alex reached base on a hit by pitch to lead off the inning, Sydney VK singled to put two aboard. A White Sox faux pas on the play would allow Alex to gallop homeward with a run.
Following back to back walks by Madeline and Jonas to load the bases, Jack garnered a RBI walk that allowed Sydney VK to shimmy home with another TP run.
With the bases still juiced to the gills, Ethan delivered a majestic two RBI double that brought Madeline and Jonas home with two cartons of Baskin Robbins ice cream.
