TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS ERASE A THREE RUN SHORTFALL IN THE FINAL FRAME TO PREVAIL FOR A SLENDER TENDERLOIN EBA 11U SELECT LOOP VICTORY OVER THE CARDINALS AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a warm blanket of luscious Spring skies, the Toronto Playgrounds 11U Red Selects edged the Royal York Cardinals 10-9 in five innings of Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 11U Select Loop action tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
The proceeding was an entertaining and well played affair between two talented and well coached teams. In a tooth and nail contest, TP eked out a slender tenderloin comeback victory over the Cardinals in their last at bats.
Royal York jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top half of the first inning.
Following a one out walk, Rayne (21) advanced to third base on a groundout by Evan (27) and a stolen base. A TP wild pitch would allow Rayne to motor home with the opening run of the game.
With true grit, TP 11U Red starter Tristan (19) tallied two strikeouts and a groundout in the first frame to end the Cardinals insurgency.
In the bottom of the first, Toronto Playgrounds threatened when they got two runners on base courtesy of Jack’s (16) hit by pitch and a walk by Henry (27).
Nonplussed, Royal York starter Evan (27) vanquished the threat with three sparkling strikeouts that kept TP off the scoring ledger.
Exercising patience at the dish, Royal York added another run to their nest in the top of the second to extend their lead to 2-0.
After a leadoff walk by Drew (29), Zachary (11) and Jackson (12) followed suit with back to back walks to load the bases. Subsequently, with two outs, Luca (9) garnered a bases loaded RBI walk that brought Drew home with a run.
Shaken, but not stirred, TP 11U Red reliever Brady (7) rang up two strikeouts to extricate himself from a bases loaded jam and put an end to the Cardinals uprising in the second inning.
With one out and the bases still juiced to the gills, Brady was helped out immeasurably by his friends. As Gianluca (36) slashed a fly ball to centre, TP centre fielder Kale (6) swooped in like a gazelle to make a sterling catch for the second out.
Toronto Playgrounds threatened in the bottom portion of the second, Following a pair of walks by Gabriel K. (13) and Calvin (11) to open the inning, Billy (24) reached base on a hit by pitch that loaded the bases.
After Royal York starter Evan tallied a strikeout for the first out, the Cardinals defence turned a Quasimodo solo double play that dashed TP’s hopes in second frame.
Taking flight, Royal York exploded for a four spot in the top half of the third to widen their upper hand to 6-0.
After Ashton (47) reached base on a fielder’s choice, Rayne stroked a two out single that put two runners on base. Evan followed with a clutch RBI hit that allowed Ashton to come home to roost.
Following a walk by Max (88) that loaded the bases, Grayson (34) delivered a grace under pressure two RBI single that brought Rayne and Evan home with a pair of runs.
After a walk by Ethan (10) that reloaded the bases, Drew garnered a bases loaded RBI walk that allowed Max to fly homeward with another Cardinals run.
In a nitty gritty foray on the hill, TP 11U Red reliever Calvin chalked up a groundout and a strikeout versus the Cards in the third inning.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, the TP offence stirred to life in the bottom of the third frame as they scored a pair to trim the margin to 6-2.
Following a leadoff walk by Harrison (42), Brayden (9) drilled a scorching single that put two runners on base. On the play, Brayden’s hit also allowed Harrison to hustle around the horn to third base.
With runners on the corners, TP executed some well crafted subterfuge that fooled the Royal York defence by calling for a delectable double steal that allowed Brayden to take second base and brought Harrison home with TP’s first run of the game.
Following a single by Jack that put runners on the corners, TP double dipped once again into their bag of tricks by calling for another double steal that moved Jack to second and allowed Brayden to zoom home with a run.
With one out and two aboard, Royal York reliever Ethan entered the fray from the bullpen to end the TP rebellion in the third with a pop out and a groundout.
The Cardinals answered back with a run in the top of the fourth to stretch their advantage to 7-2.
After a pair of walks to begin the inning, Zachary and Jackson advanced to third and second respectively with a series of steals. William (8) followed by hitting into a fielder’s choice that erased Jackson at third and allowed Zachary to motor home with a run.
With a dab of guile and a dash of honey mustard, TP 11U Red reliever Kale (6) rang up a groundout and two strikeouts in the fourth frame to terminate the Royal York coup d’état.
Taking no prisoners, Toronto Playgrounds stormed back with four in the bottom half of the fourth to close the gap to 7-6.
Following a leadoff walk and stolen base by Gabriel K., Billy delivered a one out RBI double that allowed Gabriel K, to come homeward with a run.
After Brady reached base on a hit by pitch, Harrison stroked a clutch RBI single that advanced Brady to third and brought Billy home with another TP run.
With two ducks on the pond, Brayden delivered a RBI hit that moved Harrison to third and allowed Brady to hustle home with a run.
Following a walk by Jack that loaded the bases, Tristan drew a bases loaded RBI walk that brought Harrison home and make it a one run game.
In a spirited effort on the mound, Royal York reliever Ethan tallied two strikeouts against TP in the fourth frame.
Refusing to concede an inch, the Cardinals answered back with two in the top of the fifth to widen their plurality to 9-6.
After a one out walk, Alden (6) advanced to second base on a groundout by Brandon (91). With two outs, Ashton stroked a clutch RBI single that allowed Alden to motor home with an insurance run.
Following a walk by Rayne that put two Cardinals on the bird fountain, Evan delivered a RBI single that brought Ashton home with another Royal York run.
In a valiant foray on the hill, TP 11U Red reliever Henry tallied three groundouts in the fifth frame to pacify the Cardinals attack.
Down by three, Toronto Playgrounds donned their rally caps in the bottom of the fifth as they made one last comeback bid to overtake Royal York.
After Henry reached base on a fielder’s choice, Kale drew a one out walk and Gabriel K, stroked a single to load the bases. Calvin followed with a RBI hit that brought Henry home with a run that trimmed the shortfall to two.
With the bases still loaded, Billy strode into the batter’s box and delivered a stinging two RBI double that moved Calvin to third base and allowed Kale and Gabriel K. to hustle home with the tying runs.
Following a walk by Charlie (20) that reloaded the bases, Harrison worked the count in his favour to draw a grace under pressure two out bases loaded RBI walk that brought Calvin home with TP’s winning run.
