SELECT > Listowel Top TP 11U Blue 12-3 in 2022 Orillia Legion Minor Baseball 11U Select Gander Ross Memorial Tournament Championship Game


DESPITE FALLING TO THE LEGIONNAIRES IN THE FINAL ROUND, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS HAD A FUN AND REWARDING DOG DAYS OF SUMMER EXPERIENCE AT KITCHENER PARK IN ORILLIA

Despite their championship round loss to the Listowel Legionnaires, the Toronto Playgrounds 11U Blue Selects were all smiles after a fun and rewarding weekend at the 2022 OLMB 11U Select Gander Ross Memorial Tournament in Orillia. [Photo courtesy of Paul Shuper]

Tournament Game Post composed with files from Rob Goldstein. Tournament Photos courtesy of Paul Shuper and Jason Crowder.

Beneath a hot tin roof of hazy and humid summer skies, the Listowel 11U Legionnaires prevailed 12-3 over the Toronto Playgrounds 11U Blue Selects in a seven inning 2022 Orillia Legion Minor Baseball (OLMB) 11U Select Gander Ross Memorial Tournament Championship Game this afternoon at Kitchener Park Diamond 2.

Despite falling short of their ultimate goal, the TP 11U Blue Selects nevertheless had a fun and rewarding experience this weekend in Orillia. After finishing the tourney with a not too shabby 3-2 overall record, TP can take solace in knowing that both of their losses came at the hands of a stellar opponent from Listowel, who ultimately took home the prize.

Here is a brief recap of the TP 11U Blue Selects journey at the OLMB tourney:

  • On Friday night, Toronto Playgrounds got off to a rough start at the OLMB tournament with a 12-1 five inning loss to the Listowel Legionnaires in their opening round robin game at Kitchener Park.
  • After a good night’s sleep, TP rebounded with a take no prisoners seven inning 11-1 victory over the Muskoka Hornets on Saturday morning to earn their first round robin game win at the OLMB tourney.
  • TP 11U Blue starter Jack (55) set the tone for the proceedings as he stymied Muskoka over six stellar innings. After surrendering a run to the Hornets in the first, Jack shut down the potent Muskoka offence over the next five frames with a cookie dough mixture of four strikeouts and twelve groundball outs.
  • In the bottom of the seventh, TP 11U Blue reliever Sidney (7) entered thee fray from the bullpen and utilized a nominal ten pitches to coax the Hornets into three groundball outs to seal the deal on the win.
  • Toronto Playground’s victory over the Muskoka was a total team effort on the offensive side of the ledger. After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, TP had important contributions from every player in the batting order.as they pulled away in incremental fashion with runs scored in five of the six latter innings.
  • With the wind in their sails, TP defeated the Weston Wolverines 13-1 in a 5 ½ inning round robin game on Saturday afternoon to earn a berth in the OLMB tournament playoff elimination round.
  • After giving up a run in the bottom of the first, TP 11U Blue starter Ricky (12) reached into his bag of tricks to blank the Wolverines over the next two innings.
  • TP 11U Blue reliever Grover (11) entered the game in the fourth frame and pitched two shoutout innings that put a kibosh on Weston’s comeback hopes.
  • Trailing 1-0 after the first inning, the Toronto Playgrounds offence put the pedal to the metal as they scored thirteen unanswered runs over the final five innings to pull away for the victory over the Wolverines.
  • In an exhilarating never say die Sunday morning OLMB tourney semi-final elimination game, TP erased a six run deficit in their final at bats to prevail 12-11 over Weston in a six inning shootout at Kitchener Park.
  • Trailing 11-5, Toronto Playgrounds staged a dramatic comeback rally in the bottom of the sixth. With a dash of grit and a dollop of wood chipper determination, TP whittled the deficit down to two.
  • Subsequently, with two outs and the bases loaded, Jonas (25) delivered a grace under pressure two RBI hit that allowed Max (65) and Alex (13) to motor home with the game tying runs.
  • With runners on second and first and the game deadlocked 11-11, Ethan (80) muscled a clutch RBI single that brought Madeline (15) home with TP’s winning run over the Wolverines.
  • With their thrilling come from behind semi-final victory over Weston, TP 11U Blue punched their ticket into the championship round, with a rematch versus the Legionnaires.
The TP 11U Blue players have some fun under the sun at the 2022 OLMB 11U Select Tournament. [Photo courtesy of Jason Crowder]

On behalf of our baseball loving community, the Toronto Playgrounds Baseball Association (TPBA) wishes to extend their thanks to the coaches and players of the TP 11U Blue Select Team for their hard work and dedication in reaching the championship round at the 2022 OLMB 11U Select Tournament.

The TPBA also wishes to commend all the 11U Blue Select coaches, players, parents and family members for representing the core values of Toronto Playgrounds Baseball program with honour, dignity and professionalism both on and off the diamond at the OLMB tourney and during the course of the 2022 season.

WAY TO GO, TP!