TAKING NO PRISONERS, THE RED A’s BURY TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS IN AN EBA 13U SELECT LOOP GAME AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a warm canopy of serene Spring skies, the Annette Red A’s defeated the Toronto Playgrounds 13U Blue Selects 19-5 in a four inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 13U Select Loop game tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
Taking care of business, Annette staked themselves to an early 4-0 lead in the top half of the first.
After a leadoff hit by Carter (7), Stefano (1) reached base on a dropped third strike that put two runners on base. Finn (12) followed with a RBI single that brought Carter home with the opening run of the game.
With runners at second and first, Jace (33) stroked a RBI hit that allowed Stefano to motor home with a run. A TP error on the play allowed Finn to advance to third base.
Following a stolen base by Jace that put runners at third and second, Elaina (11) delivered a two RBI hit that brought Finn and Jace home with two more runs for the Red A’s.
On the play, Elaina made a brazen decision to stretch her single into a double. As she charged towards second base, TP right fielder Gabriel (14) retrieved the ball and made a rocket throw to second baseman Jack (1), who tagged Elaina out to thwart her Grand Theft dreams and ring up the first out on a pretty 9-4 gem.
After a walk by Angus (88), TP 13U Blue starter William C. (22) found his inner Flamin’ Groovies as he rang up two strikeouts to end the Annette uprising in the first frame.
Wheelin’ and dealin’ the heat, Annette Red starter Jace chalked up three scintillating strikeouts in the bottom of the first to keep TP off the scoring ledger.
With the wind in their sails, Annette sent a Macarena Line of fourteen batters to the dish in the top of the second as they parlayed a Mandarin Buffet serving of seven walks and three key hits into thirteen runs to widen their upper hand to 13-0.
As Dakin (19) reached base on an error to lead off the inning, the TP defence shone as they recorded two lickety-split outs against the Red A’s.
After Sawyer P. (43) slashed a fly ball to right field as the sun began to set, TP right fielder Jack battled the radiant glare and swooped in like a gazelle to make a nifty catch in the shoestrings of his trusty mitt to tally the first out.
On the next play, TP shortstop fought the brightness of the descending sun to reel in an eight mile high popup off the bat of Annette batter Xavier (3) to ring up the second out.
It was at this juncture where the tides turned and the A’s would not be denied. After Sawyer D. (13) reached base on a two out hit by pitch that put two runners on base, Carter stroked a RBI hit to bring Dakin home with a run.
Following a walk by Stefano that loaded the bases, Finn crushed a three RBI double that cleared the bases and allowed Sawyer D., Carter and Stefano to come home with a three spot,
The Annette hit parade continued as Jace hit a RBI single that brought Finn home with another run.
Exercising patience at the plate, Elaina and Angus drew back to back walks to load the bases. Sebastian (32), Evan (09) and Dakin garnered respective bases loaded RBI walks that allowed Jace, Elaina and Angus to come home to roost.
With the bases still juiced to the gills, Sawyer P. capped off the Red A’s big inning with another bases loaded RBI walk that brought Sebastian home to crow.
In the bottom portion of the second, Toronto Playgrounds stirred to life as they broke the goose egg with a run that trimmed the margin to 13-1.
Following a leadoff walk, Jack turned on the afterburners as he swiped his way around the horn into scoring position at third base with a pair of derring-do steals. With one out, Spencer (27) delivered a RBI groundout that allowed Jack to zoom home with TP’s first run of the game.
Nonplussed, Annette Red reliever Stefano tallied a pair of strikeouts and a groundout in the second frame to pacify the TP insurgency.
The Red A’s added two more doubloons to their treasure trove in the top half of the third to widen their advantage to 15-1.
After a leadoff walk by Xavier and a single by Sawyer D. that put two swans on the lake, Carter delivered a RBI hit which advanced Sawyer D. to third and Xavier to score.
Following a double play resulting from a Quasimodo infield fly call, Finn muscled a RBI double that brought Sawyer D. home with another Annette run.
TP 13U Blue reliever Andrew (17) tallied a fly out and groundout in the third inning to end the Red A’s rebellion.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, Toronto Playgrounds rallied with four in the bottom of the third to whittle the gap to 15-5.
After a leadoff hit by Charles (11), Dante (10) drew a walk that put two ducklings on the pond. William C. followed with a run scoring groundout that moved Dante to second base and brought Charles home.
Following a pair of one out walks by Gabriel and Andrew that loaded the bases, Nathan K. (2), Noah (16) and Jack garnered respective two out bases loaded RBI walks that allowed Dante, Gabriel and Andrew to shuffle home with three runs.
In a spirited foray on the hill, Annette reliever Sebastian rang up a groundout and a strikeout versus TP in the third frame.
With a Belairdirect flourish, Annette added four insurance runs in the top vector of the fourth to solidify their lead at 19-5.
TP centre fielder Dante went full throttle to make a sweet catch on a dying quail off the bat Angus to chalk up the first out. After the catch, an excited Dante was heard exulting, “I did something!!!” from the outfield.
Following a majestic one out triple by Sebastian, Evan stroked a single that put two aboard. A subsequent TP error would allow Sebastian’s pinch runner Angus to motor home with a run.
After consecutive one out singles by Dakin and Sawyer P., Xavier drew a walk that loaded the bases. Sawyer D. followed with a glorious three RBI double that brought Dakin, Sawyer P. and Xavier home.
Donning their rally caps, TP threatened in the bottom of the fourth after Lucas (24), Charles and Dante garnered respective walks to load the bases.
Shaken, but not stirred, Annette Red reliever Sawyer P. found his Mojo Jojo and rang up three strikeouts to leave the bases loaded and seal the deal on a dominating victory over TP.
