IN AN EPIC TOOTH AND NAIL BATTLE, THE A’s FEND OFF A VALIANT FINAL INNING COMEBACK BID BY TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS TO PREVAIL FOR THE SLENDER TENDERLOIN ONE RUN EBA 9U SELECT LOOP VICTORY AT CHRISTIE PITS
Under a warm blanket of luscious summer skies, the Annette 9U A’s edged the Toronto Playgrounds 9U Selects 22-21 in a thrilling seven inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) Select Loop game tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
In the top parameter of the first frame, Annette staked themselves to an early 2-0 lead.
After Nolan (19) and Ryan (99) stroked back to back two out singles that put a pair of runners on base, Colm (16) connected for a hit that loaded the bases. A TP error on the play would allow Nolan to motor home with the opening run of the game.
Following a single by Liam (56) that reloaded the bases, Theo (22) delivered a clutch RBI hit that brought Ryan home with another A’s run.
With the bases still juiced to the gills, the TP defence turned a 4-3 play that chalked up the third out and subdued the Annette mutiny.
A tip of the cap to TP first baseman Cole (23) for turning in a sweet solo double play that stemmed the momentum of the vaunted A’s offensive machine during the inning. After a leadoff single by Tanner (84), Phoenix (88) hit an eight mile high pop out down the first baseline that Cole caught for the first out. Noticing that Tanner had wandered afar from the base, Cole hustled back to the bag and stepped on it to tally the second out.
Toronto Playgrounds answered back in lickety-split fashion in the bottom of the first as they scored a run to slice the margin to 2-1.
Following a leadoff single by Kaden (0), Cole stroked a solid hit that allowed Kaden to hustle around the horn into scoring position at third base. Adam (11) followed by hitting into a fielder’s choice that erased Cole at second base and allowed Kaden to blaze home with TP’s first run.
Like a hurricane, Annette sent a conga line procession of eleven batters to the dish in the top of the second as they replied with seven runs to widen their upper hand to 9-1.
After a one out hit by Felix (27), Tanner stroked a single that put two aboard. A TP error on the play would allow Felix to move up to third base. Phoenix followed with a RBI single that brought Felix home with a run.
With two ducks on the pond, Nolan delivered a RBI hit that allowed Tanner to come home with a run.
Following a single by Ryan that loaded the bases, Colm (16) delivered a two RBI hit that brought Phoenix and Nolan home with two additional runs for the A’s.
After a single by Liam had reloaded the bases, Theo muscled a two RBI hit that allowed Ryan and Colm to hustle home with a pair of runs.
Following a fielder’s choice by Brayden (9) that erased Theo at second base, Kevin (11) stroked a clutch two out RBI single that brought Liam home to roost.
Taking umbrage at their situation, TP stormed back with seven in the bottom portion of the second to close the gap to 9-8.
After a leadoff single by Elliot (72), Dominic (15) launched a majestic RBI triple that allowed Elliot to come home with a run.
With one out and a runner on third, Julian (13) delivered a RBI double to bring Dominic home.
Subsequently, with two outs and a runner on base, Adrian (4) stroked a clutch RBI that allowed Julian to motor home with another TP run.
Following a single by Kaden that put two mallards on the lake, Cole connected for a RBI hit that brought Adrian home to crow.
With runners on third and first, Adam stepped up to the plate and muscled a RBI single that allowed Kaden to score.
Seizing the moment, Ellis (44) followed with a sufferin’ succotash two RBI triple that brought Cole and Adam home with a pair of runs that pulled TP within one run of the A’s.
Feeling the heat, Annette replied with a run in the top half of the third to increase their lead to 10-8.
After back to back singles by Felix and Tanner to lead off the inning, Phoenix singled to load the bases. Nolan followed by hitting into a fielder’s choice that erased Tanner at third (on a superb solo putout play by TP third baseman Julian), advanced Phoenix to second, and brought Felix home with a run.
With one out, TP first baseman Cole repeated his defensive heroics from the first inning with déjà vu aplomb. With Annette runners on second and first, Ryan hit a pop up down the first baseline that Cole reeled in hook, line and sinker for the second out. Noticing that Nolan had wandered afar from the base, Cole stepped on the base to ring up the third out with another solo double play putout!
Not to be outdone, the Annette defence returned the favour in the bottom of the third as they retired TP in 1-2-3 fashion to keep them off the scoring ledger.
Keying the defensive stand were two scintillating plays turned in by A’s third baseman Phoenix. Following a leadoff hit by Cordell, Elliot smoked a screaming line drive down the third baseline. However, Phoenix snagged the hot tamale in the webbing of his trusty mitt to tally the first out. Noticing that Cordell has wandered afar from first, Phoenix made a laser throw over to his first baseman to ring up an exquisite 5-3 double play that stymied TP’s offensive momentum.
For the pièce de résistance, Phoenix would vacuum up a sharply hit shot off the bat of Dominic during TP’s next at bat and make a rocket toss over to first for a 5-3 putout to chalk up the third out!
In the top of the fourth, Annette punched across a run to widen their plurality to 11-8.
After a leadoff single by Colm, Theo muscled a one out RBI double to bring Colm home.
Following a single by Brayden that put two runners on base, Annette was threatening to add more to their treasure trove when Kevin stroked a dying quail into left field. However, TP left centre fielder Dominic swooped in like a gazelle to make a spectacular basket catch to tally the second out and stymie the A’s offensive thrust in the fourth frame.
However, the Annette D responded in kind in the bottom of the fourth as they retired TP in order with 1-2-3 alacrity to keep them off the scoresheet for the second consecutive inning.
In the top portion of the fifth, Tanner crushed a double to lead off the inning for the A’s. After reaching second base, Tanner made a bold as brass decision to stretch his twofer into a triple.
However, the Toronto Playgrounds defence was not amused with his bravado. As Tanner charged towards third, TP left fielder Nicola (5) retrieved the ball and made a lightning toss to shortstop Adam. Adam quickly pivoted and made a thunderbolt throw to TP third baseman Ellis, who slapped an emphatic tag on Tanner that put a kibosh on his grand thievery and ring up the first out.
Despite TP’s defensive gem, the potent Annette offence would not be denied as they scored seven runs in the fifth to stretch their advantage to 18-8.
After a one out single by Phoenix and a double by Nolan that put two ducklings on the pond, Ryan stroked a RBI single that allowed Phoenix to come home with a run.
With two aboard, Colm connected for a RBI hit to bring Nolan home with a run. A TP error on the play allowed Ryan to scoot home with another A’s run.
Following a single by Liam that put two A’s into orbit, Theo delivered a two RBI double that cleared the bases and brought Colm and Liam homeward with two more runs.
Reelin’ and rockin’, Brayden followed with a solid RBI single that allowed Theo to hustle home with a run.
After a single by Kevin put two runners on the dance floor, Felix ended the inning with a RBI hit that brought Brayden home.
Refusing to concede an inch, Toronto Playgrounds answered back with an authoritative five spot in the bottom of the fifth that sliced and diced the margin to 18-13.
After Cole reached base on a fielder’s choice (that erased Kaden at second), Adam hit a one out single that put two runners on base. Ellis followed with a RBI hit that allowed Cole to motor home with a run.
With two seals in the lake, Cordell (99) connected for a RBI single that brought Adam home.
Elliot followed suit with a RBI hit that allowed Ellis to zoom home with another TP run.
After Dominic hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Cordell at third base, Nicola stroked a single that loaded the bases. With two outs, Julian delivered a grace under pressure two RBI single that brought Elliot and Dominic home with a pair of TP runs.
In the top of the sixth, Annette replied with four runs to widen their plurality to 22-13.
After Tanner and Phoenix opened the inning with back to back singles that put two swans on the lake, Ryan stroked a one out hit that loaded the bases. Colm followed with a RBI single that allowed Tanner to score.
With the bases packed tighter than a can of StarKist Tuna, Liam hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Ryan at third, advanced Colm to second, and brought Phoenix home with a run.
With two outs and two aboard, Theo and Brayden delivered respective RBI singles that allowed Colm and Liam homeward with a pair of A’s runs.
With no desire to go quietly into the night, TP struck back with four in the bottom half of the sixth that closed the chasm to 22-17.
Following a pair of singles by Adrian and Kaden to open the inning, Adam delivered a one out two RBI double that brought Adrian and Kaden homeward with a two spot.
Ellis followed with a RBI hit that allowed Adam to come home to roost.
As the winds began to blow in TP’s favour, the Annette defence turned in a big defensive play that curtailed TP’s momentum. With one out and a runner on first, Cordell slashed a sharp cheddar cheese scorcher between third and second. As Ellis charged towards second base, Annette shortstop Brayden sucked up the ball like a Kirby vacuum cleaner and made a quick silver throw over to second baseman Liam, who stretched himself to the limit to make a sparkling basket catch to ring up the 6-4 play for the second out!
After a single by Elliot put two runners on base, Dominic stroked a RBI hit that brought Cordell home with a run that trimmed the shortfall to five.
Some effervescent defensive play by TP in the top of seventh would prevent Annette from adding any additional insurance runs to their bountiful booty chest.
Donning their rally caps in the bottom portion of the seventh, Toronto Playgrounds made one final bid to change their fate with their last at bats.
After a one out single by Adrian, Kaden stroked a single that put two runners on base. An Annette error on the play would allow Kaden to advance to second and bring Adrian home with a run that snipped the deficit to four.
Subsequently, with two outs and a runner on second, Adam stroked a clutch RBI single that allowed Kaden to hustle home with a run that salami-sliced the gap to 22-19.
Following a single by Ellis that kept TP’s hopes alive, Cordell stepped up to the dish and delivered a grace under pressure two RBI hit that brought Adam and Ellis home with a pair of runs that made it a one run game.
With the game on the line, Annette rose to the occasion with a pretty defensive play that brought the curtain down on the proceedings.
After Elliot had hit a hard shot down the third baseline, A’s third baseman Felix vacuumed up the ball and made a rocket toss over to second baseman Tanner, who secured the catch to erase a sliding Cordell and tally the 5-4 putout for the final out which sealed the deal on Annette’s slender one run win over TP.
EXTRA INNINGS
