SELECT > Martingrove Top TP 9U Selects 20-16


A VALIANT TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS RALLY IN THE FINAL INNING FALLS A TAD SHORT AS THE WHITE SOX HANG ON TO PREVAIL FOR THE EBA 9U SELECT LOOP VICTORY AT CHRISTIE PITS

Despite a jarring collision with shortstop Dominic (15) [right], TP 9U third baseman Avi (22) [left] had the wherewithal to hang onto the ball for a spectacular solo catch that ended a Martingrove uprising in the top of the third inning.

Beneath a warm canopy of tranquil Spring skies, the Martingrove White Sox prevailed 20-16 over the Toronto Playgrounds 9U Selects in a five inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 9U Select Loop game tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 3.

The high octane proceeding was a fun and entertaining contest between two talented and well coached teams. After the gritty White Sox had built themselves an eleven run advantage, a pesky TP squad made a feverish comeback bid in the final inning. In the end, Martingove hung on for the victory after TP was unable to extricate themselves from the hole that they had dug for themselves earlier in the game.

In the top half of the first inning, Martingrove jumped out yo an early 3-0 lead.

After a leadoff single by Sofia (19), the TP defence committed an error that allowed Sofia to hustle around the horn into scoring position at third base. Kayden followed with a RBI groundout that allowed Sofia to come home with the opening run of the game.

Following a pair of one out singles by Jayden (4) and Dante (34) that put two runners on base, Christopher (25) delivered a clutch two out two RBI single that brought Jayden and Dante home with a pair of White Sox runs.

Christopher (25) muscles a clutch two out two RBI single during Martingrove’s three run uprising in the top of the first inning.

Toronto Playgrounds answered back quickly with two runs in the bottom of the first to make it a one run game.

After a leadoff double by Avi (22), Ellis (44) stroked a single that put two ducklings on the pond. Adam (11) followed with a RBI single that allowed Avi to motor home with TP’s first run.

Following a single by Cal (3) that loaded the bases, Kaden (0) hit into a one out fielder’s choice that brought Ellis home with a run that closed the gap to 3-2.

Martingrove replied with a five spot in the top of the second that stretched their lead to 8-2.

After back to back singles by Brennan (27) and Joseph (11) that put two aboard to open the inning, Tommy (1) hit a RBI single that brought Brennan home with the peameal bacon.

With one out and two White Sox runners on base, Sebastian (13) connected for a RBI hit that allowed Joseph to motor homeward with a run.

Following a two out single by Sofia that loaded the bases, Kayden delivered a grace under pressure bases clearing three RBI triple that brought Tommy, Sebastian and Sofia home to roost.

With two outs and the bases loaded, Kaden (7) powers a grace under pressure bases clearing three RBI triple during a five run White Sox fusillade in the top of the second frame.

Not to be outdone, TP answered with a pair in the bottom portion of the second to trim the margin to 8-4.

After a one out double by Julian (13), Sydney (9) and Elliot (72) followed with back to back singles that loaded the bases. With two outs and the bases still juiced to the gills, Cordell (99) delivered a clutch two RBI single that allowed Julian and Sydney to come home with a two TP runs.

With his eye on the prize, Julian (13) connects for a one out double that sparked a two run TP rally in the bottom of the second.

However, Martingrove struck back with a five run assault in the top half of the third to extend their upper hand to 13-4.

Dante sparked the White Sox fusillade when he led off the inning with a wicked triple. A TP error on the play allowed Dante to come home with a run.

Dante (34) crushes a leadoff triple that ignited a five run surge for Martingrove in the top of the third inning.

Anthony (23), Christopher, Luca (22) and Brennan would reach base on respective singles. A wild series of TP errors allowed all four Martingove players to subsequently come home and tally four runs.

With the game slipping away from their grasp, Toronto Playgrounds finally righted their ship with three stellar defensive gems.

After Joseph hit an eight mile high pop up in the air, TP shortstop Dominic (15) battled the darkening sky to make a sweet catch in the shoestrings of his trusty mitt to ring up the first White Sox out.

The fans in the bleacher seats along the first baseline cheer TP shortstop Dominic (15) after he reeled in an eight mile high pop up with a spiffy catch for the first Martingrove out in the the top of the third frame.

Then TP first baseman Cal (3) sacrificed his body by diving full speed onto the infield dirt to corral a sharp as cheddar cheese grounder off the bat of Peter (18). As Peter hustled down the line, Cal crawled and stretched himself to the limit to get his outstretched glove onto first base to tally the second out.

And for the pièce de résistance: Despite a jarring head on collision with shortstop Dominic, TP third baseman Avi had the wherewithal to hang onto the ball after making a supercalifragilistic pop up catch off the bat of Sebastian to chalk up the third out.

With the wind in their sails, TP scored three in the bottom of the third to close the shortfall to 13-7.

After Nicola (5) reached base on a fielder’s choice, Avi and Ellis hit respective singles to load the bases. Adam followed with a one out two RBI single that brought Nicola and Avi home with a pair of runs.

Adam (11) launches a two RBI single during TP’s three run surge in the bottom of the third inning.

Subsequently, with two outs and two aboard, Carson (27) stroked a RBI hit that allowed Ellis to score.

Putting the pedal to the metal, Martingrove exploded for seven insurance runs in the top of the fourth that increased their lead to 20-7.

Following a leadoff single by Damian (8), Sofia stroked a RBI hit that brought Damian home to crow.

Sofia (19) delivers a RBI single during the White Sox seven run tsunami in the top of the fourth inning.

With a runner on first, Kaden powered a RBI triple that allowed Sofia to come home with a run.

Jayden followed with a groundout that brought Kayden home from third with another White Sox run.

After a one out double by Dante, Christopher sliced a clutch two out RBI single that brought Dante home with a run.

Following a single by Luca that put two runners on base, Brennan delivered a two RBI triple that allowed Christopher and Luca to come homeward bound with two additional runs.

For the icing on the cake, Joseph stroked a RBI single to bring Brennan home with a run.

In the bottom half of the fourth, TP scored a pair to trail 20-9.

After Sydney reached base on a one out single, Dominic got on base via a fielder’s choice that put two seals on the pond. With two outs, Cordell delivered a clutch two RBI single to bring Sydney and Dominic home with two runs.

Cordell (99) drives home a pair of runs for TP in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Martingrove would fail to score in top of the fifth courtesy of some ready steady TP defensive play.

Trailing by eleven, TP refused to go quietly into the night as they donned their rally caps in the bottom portion of the fifth frame.

After a leadoff hit by Nicola, Avi followed suit with a single that put two runners on base. Ellis followed with a RBI double that brought Nicola home with a run. A Martingrove error on the play allowed Avi to come home with another TP run.

The TP rally continued as Adam stroked a RBI single to bring Ellis home with a run that closed the gap 20-12.

Following a single by Cal that put two aboard, Carson hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Adam to come home to roost.

After Kaden reached base on a fielder’s choice, Cole stroked a two out single that put two ducks on the pond. Julian followed with a clutch two out two RBI triple that brought Kaden and Cole home with two runs that sliced the shortfall to five.

With a runner on third, Sydney delivered a RBI hit that allowed Julian to come homeward and close the gap to 20-16.

However, that was as close that TP got as their frenetic comeback bid in the fifth frame fizzled out.

Photos from the EBA 9U Select Loop Game between the Toronto Playgrounds 9U Selects and the Martingrove White Sox on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at Christie Pits Diamond 3.