IN A FUN AND EXHILARATING VIVA LAS VEGAS AFFAIR, THE A’s ERASE A TWO RUN DEFICIT IN THE FINAL INNING TO PREVAIL FOR A SLENDER TENDERLOIN EBA 9U SELECT LOOP VICTORY OVER TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS AT CHRISTIE PITS
Under a patchwork duvet of cool and genteel Spring skies, the Annette A’s edged the Toronto Playgrounds 9U Selects 13-12 in a thrilling five inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 9U Select Loop action tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
After TP went down quietly in the top portion of the first frame, Annette threatened in their half of the inning after Brayden (9) doubled and Alexander (5) singled to put two runners on base.
With two outs and A’s runners on third and first, Annette batter Tanner (84) hit an eight mile high pop up down the third baseline. Battling the glare of the setting sun, Avi reeled in the ball with a sterling over the shoulder catch to vanquish the A’s threat and tally the third out.
With determination, TP staked themselves to a 2-0 advantage in the top portion of the second frame.
Following a leadoff hit by Adam (11), Carson (27) stroked a single that put two ducks on the pond. With two outs, Julian (13) delivered a clutch two out RBI single that brought Adam home with the first run of the game.
On the play, the Annette defence committed an error that allowed Carson to hustle homeward with another TP run.
In the bottom of the second, Annette quickly answered back with a run to trim the margin to 2-1.
After a pair of one out singles by Felix (27) and Nolan (19) that put two swans on the lake, Finley (12) delivered a grace under pressure two out RBI double into deep centre field that allowed Felix to motor home with a run that trimmed the deficit to one.
As Nolan charged homeward in a bid to score the tying run, Felix made a brazen move to stretch his immaculate double into a triple. However, TP rose to the occasion with a spectacular defensive play. With Felix barreling towards third base, TP centre fielder Avi retrieved the ball and made a rocket throw to defensive rover Ellis (44). who quickly pivoted and made a laser toss to third baseman Adam. As Felix proceeded to slide into third, Adam slapped an emphatic tag on him to ring up the third out on a sweet 8-10-5 play that preserved TP’s one run plurality.
After TP went down silently in the top half of the third, Annette exploded for seven runs in the bottom portion of the inning to take a 8-2 lead.
Following a leadoff hit by Colm (16), Theo (22) and Jasper (7) stroked respective singles that loaded the bases. Brayden stepped into the batter’s box and delivered a one out two RBI double that brought Colm and Theo home and give the A’s a 3-2 advantage. A TP error on the play would allow Japser to come home with another Annette run.
With a runner on second, Alexander followed with a RBI single that brought Brayden home with a run.
After back to back singles by Kinn (11) and Tanner that reloaded the bases, Phoenix (88) stroked a two RBI hit that allowed Alexander and Kinn to motor home with a pair of runs.
With two A’s on base, Felix closed out the inning with a RBI single that brought Tanner homeward bound with Annette’s eighth run.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, Toronto Playgrounds replied with a take no prisoners eight hit assault in the top half of the fourth that allowed them to regain the upper hand 9-8.
Following a leadoff single by Avi, Cole (23) connected for a hot burrito RBI triple that allowed Avi to come home to roost.
With a runner on third, Ellis stroked a RBI hit that brought Cole homeward with another TP run.
After Elliott (72) singled, Adam followed suit with another hit that loaded the bases. Carson stepped up to the plate and delivered a RBI single that allowed Ellis to motor home with a run that closed the gap to three.
With the bases still juiced to the gills, Cal (3) powered a two RBI double that allowed Elliott and Adam to charge homeward with a pair of runs that sliced the margin to 8-7.
With two TP runners on base, Nicola (5) hit into a RBI groundout that brought Carson home with the tying run.
Deadlocked at 8-8 and with two ducklings on the pond, Julian answered the clarion call and delivered a one out RBI single that allowed Cal to blaze home with TP’s go ahead run.
.Not to be outdone, Annette answered back with a pair in the bottom half of the fourth to retake the lead 10-9.
After Finley reached base on a fielder’s choice with two outs, Colm stepped up to the dish and delivered a clutch two run inside the park home run into the deep dish pizza nether regions of left field that allowed the A’s to regain a one run advantage.
Donning their rally caps, Toronto Playgrounds refused to accept their circumstances as they replied with a three spot in the top portion of the fifth inning to reclaim the lead 12-10.
After Cordell (99) reached base on a fielder’s choice, Dominic (15) stroked a single that put two TP runners on base. With two outs and the game on the line, Adrian (4) delivered a clutch two RBI single that allowed Cordell and Dominic to come home and give TP a 11-10 advantage.
Following a single by Kaden (0) that put two aboard, Avi connected for an RBI hit that brought Adrian home with an insurance run.
Refusing to accept their fate, Annette continued to battle TP in tooth and nail fashion during their final at bats in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Following a leadoff hit by Jasper that put one aboard, Brayden crushed a wooly mammoth inside the park two run home run blast that allowed the A’s to tie the proceedings 12-12.
With the game deadlocked, Alexander stroked a single that put the potential go ahead run on base.
It was at this juncture that Kinn strode to the plate and delivered a majestic RBI triple that brought Alexander home with the A’s winning run.
