IN AN ALL TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS AFFAIR, THE BLUE PREVAIL OVER THE RED IN A FUN EBA 11U SELECT LOOP GAME AT CHRISTIE PITS
Under an immaculate blanket of warm and serene Spring skies. the Toronto Playgrounds 11U Blue defeated the Toronto Playgrounds 11U Red 16-1 in five active periphrastic innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 11U Select Loop action this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
The fun Victoria Day affair was an entertaining and well played proceeding between two gifted and well coached teams. In a lopsided contest, a gritty TP Blue took advantage of its opportunities to prevail for a comfortable victory over a pesky TP Red.
In the top portion of the first, TP Red jumped out to an early 1-0 lead.
After a one out walk and stolen base by Gabriel R. (2), Charlie (20) delivered a clutch two out RBI double that allowed Gabriel R. to motor home with the opening run of the game.
With TP Red threatening to add more to their tally. TP Blue starter Jack (55) rang up a pair of strikeouts and a pop out to vanquish the TP Red insurgency in the first frame.
TP Blue struck back with four runs in the bottom of the first to take a 4-1 advantage.
Following a leadoff walk by Ethan (80), Max (65) connected for a majestic two run inside the park home run shot to the deep dish pizza region of right centre field that gave TP Blue a 2-1 lead.
After a single by Jack and a walk by Sydney VK (14) put two ducklings on the pond, Alex (13) muscled a one out RBI double that brought Jack and Sydney VK home with a pair of Wendy’s Baconators.
In a nitty gritty effort on the hill, TP Red starter Jack (16) tallied a strikeout against TP Blue in the first inning.
With a dab of yellow mustard, TP Blue reliever Ricky (12) rang up two quick strikeouts to keep TP Red on their heels in the top of the second.
However, TP Red refused to take things lying down as they threatened once again during the inning.
After a two out walk by Gabriel K. (13), Liam (37) lined a seamless single to right field. As the ball rolled in the green grass, Gabriel K. turned at second base and made a brazen move to take third.
As Gabriel K. charged towards the base, TP Blue right fielder Jack retrieved the ball and made a rocket throw to third baseman Max, who tagged out Gabriel K. to ring up an exquisite 9-5 putout to put a kibosh on the TP Red rally bid and keep them off the scoring ledger.
Taking no prisoners, TP Blue added four more to their treasure chest in the bottom half of the second to extend their lead to 8-1.
With focus and fortitude, Gio (10) strode into the batter’s box and crushed a one out Cracker Jack solo home run blast that left the fans in the bleacher seats in awe.
After reaching base on a walk, Owen (9) turned on the afterburners and swiped his way around the horn with two exquisite steals to get himself into scoring position at third base. Theo (6) followed with a solid RBI hit that allowed Owen to come home with another TP Blue run.
Following a walk by Dash (00) that put two aboard, Ethan delivered a sweet RBI single to centre field that brought Theo home to roost.
With runners on third and first, Max hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Dash to hustle home with another TP Blue run that gave them a seven run cushion.
In a plucky effort on the mound, TP 11U Red reliever Charlie chalked up a strikeout and fly out versus TP Blue in the second frame.
Refusing to wave the white flag of surrender, TP Red continued to battle as they threatened again in the top half of the third frame after Gabriel R. and Harrison (42) garnered back to back walks that put two swans on the lake.
However, TP 11U Blue reliever Alex (13) vanquished the imminent commination courtesy of a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to keep TP Red off the scoresheet in the third inning.
Putting the pedal to the metal, TP Blue exploded for a four spot in the bottom of the third to stretch their upper hand to 12-1.
Following a one out triple by Jonas (25), Sydney VK drew a walk that put two runners on base. With two outs, Ricky stroked a clutch RBI single that brought Jonas home with a run. A TP Red error on the play would allow Sydney VK to scoot homeward with another TP Blue run.
After a walk by Gio put two TP Blue runners on the dance floor, Owen delivered a grace under pressure two RBI single that bought Ricky and Gio home with two pints of Baskin Robbins Cookies ‘n Cream Ice Cream.
In a spirited excursion on the hill, TP 11U Red reliever Harrison tallied two crisp strikeouts versus the TP Blue in the third inning.
In the top half of the fourth, TP Red refused to go down quietly despite an eleven run deficit. Following a walk and stolen base by Tristan (19), Billy (24) stroked a single that put two geese on the pond.
Nonplussed, TP 11U Blue reliever Ethan mowed down the TP Red batting lineup with three electrifying K’s, while riding atop a John Deere X300 Select Series 48″ Accel Deep Lawn Tractor, that extinguished the TP Red threat in the fourth frame.
TP Blue threatened to add some additional booty to their treasure trove in the bottom potion of the fourth after Theo led off the inning with a searing single.
However, TP 11U Red reliever Billy refused to allow any more cheeky pussyfootin’ on his beloved team as he chalked up two exquisite strikeouts and a 1-3 groundout back to the mound to keep the potent TP Blue offence off the scoreboard in the fourth frame.
With never say die bravado, TP Red marshalled their batting order for one last valiant comeback bid in the top half of the fifth inning at the TP Corral.
TP Red threatened again after Brady (7), Gabriel R. and Harrison garnered successive walks to load the bases.
Shaken, but not stirred, TP 11U Blue reliever Gio found his mojo and rang up three strikeouts to end the TP Red peril in the fifth frame.
For the icing on the cake, TP Blue added four more runs in the bottom of the fifth to increase their lead to 16-1.
Following a leadoff walk by Jack, Jonas drew a walk that put two seals on the lake. With one out, Alex stroked a RBI single that brought Jack home to crow. A TP Red error on the play would allow Alex to advance to third base and bring Jonas home with a chitty, chitty, bang, bang sliding play at the plate, where he just beat the tag of TP Red catcher Kale (6) to score a dramatic run for TP Blue.
With a runner on third, Ricky delivered a RBI hit that allowed Alex to score.
After a walk by Gio put two baserunners aboard, Owen hit a RBI single that brought Ricky home with TP Blue’s final run.
In a lionhearted effort on the hill, TP 11U Red reliever Gabriel R. tallied a pop out against the TP Blue in the fifth frame.
