Beneath a ceiling of cool and serene skies, the Eagles defeated the Lizzies 11-6 in a six inning final tonight at Dominico Field at Christie Pits to win the 2023 Toronto Playgrounds Baseball Association (TPBA) House League Tournament 15U Bantam Division Championship Game.
Taking flight, the Eagles jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top half of the first inning.
After drawing a leadoff walk, Andy (3) swiped his way around the horn to third base with a pair of derring-do steals. With one out, Hollis (7) delivered a RBI single that brought Andy home with the opening run of the proceedings.
Following Hollis’ advancement to third base courtesy of a stolen base and wild pitch, Solomon (5) garnered a walk that put two aboard. Spencer (2) followed with a fielder’s choice that moved Spencer to third base and erased Hollis on a 1-2 play at home.
With two outs and runners on third and second base, Sammy (11) powered a clutch two RBI double that allowed Solomon and Spencer to fly home with a pair of runs for the Eagles.
After a theft of third base by Sammy, Daniel (1) stroked a RBI single to bring Sammy homeward with another Eagles run.
In a gritty foray on the hill, Lizzies starter Nicolas (10) tallied a pair of groundouts against the Eagles in the first frame.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Lizzies threatened after Boaz (32) and Omar (1) reached base after they were consecutively hit by pitch with one out.
Unfazed, Eagles starter Roman (4) found his mojo and reeled off two strikeouts to end the Lizzies rebellion in the first frame.
The Eagles threatened in the top of the second inning following a pair of walks by Benji (6) and Will (12) that put two runners on the dance floor.
With no desire to pussyfoot around the mulberry bush, Lizzies reliever Silas (13) dispatched the Eagles with three Say Hey strikeouts to keep them off the scoring ledger in the second frame.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, the Lizzies battled back with a three spot in the bottom portion of the second inning to trim the shortfall to 4-3.
After a leadoff hit by Malacai (3), Ayden (4) drew a walk that put two ducks on the pond. With one out and runners on third and second base, Parker (6) delivered a one out RBI single that advanced Ayden to third base and brought Malacai home with the Lizzies first run of the game.
With runners on first and third base, Darcy stroked a sacrifice groundout that moved Parker over to second base and allowed Ayden to zoom homeward with a Lizzies run.
As Evan’s clutch two out RBI hit landed on the grass, Parker charged homeward with a full head of steam and slid head first into home plate to score a dramatic run for the Lizzies that pulled them within one run of the Eagles.
Eagles reliever Spencer chalked up a strikeout and a pair of groundouts to end the Lizzies uprising in the second frame.
Not to be outdone, the Eagles replied with a pair in the top of the third inning to stretch their upper hand to 5-3.
After stroking a one out single, Andy turned on the afterburners and swiped his way to third base courtesy of a pair of brazen stolen bases. Roman followed with a RBI hit that brought Andy home with a Lizzies run.
Subsequently, with two outs and runners on third and second base, Roman took advantage of a passed ball to hustle home with another run for the Eagles.
Lizzies reliever Seb (9) rang up two strikeouts and a groundout to pacify the Eagles unrest in the third frame.
Showing no mercy, Eagles reliever Andy mowed down the Lizzies in 1-2-3 fashion with three electrifying strikeouts to keep them off the scoresheet in the bottom of the third inning.
Returning the 1-2-3 favour, Lizzies reliever Levi (14) retired the Eagles with a lineout and two strikeouts in the top of the fourth inning to keep the Eagles offence perched in the birdbath and off the scoreboard.
Like a bruised prizefighter, the Lizzies punched back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to close the gap to 6-5.
After drawing a one out walk, Georgia (5) unleashed her Grand Theft acumen to swipe a pair of bases to get into scoring position at third base. Pouncing on a wild pitch to the backstop, Georgia blazed home to score a Lizzies run.
Exercising patience at the dish, Malacai, Ayden and Seb garnered consecutive walks to load the bases. As the Eagles uncorked another wild pitch, Ayden and Seb advanced respectively to third and second base and Malacai hustled home with another Lizzies run.
With the bases packed tighter than a can of StarKist tuna and clinging to a slender tenderloin one run lead, Eagles reliever Spencer entered the fray from the bullpen to wheel and deal two strikeouts to extinguish the Lizzies insurrection in the fourth frame.
Refusing to concede an inch, the Eagles answered back with a run in the top portion of the fifth inning to widen their plurality to 7-5.
After drawing a leadoff walk, Will advanced to third base via a groundout by Zach (15) and a stolen base. Zach subsequently shuffled home with an Eagles run on a balk call against the Lizzies.
Lizzies reliever Seb racked up a groundout and two strikeouts to snuff out the Eagles jacquerie in the fifth frame.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Eagles closer Sammy tallied two quick outs with a strikeout and a groundout.
After drawing a two out walk and swiping second base, Silas made a bold as brass decision to steal third base. As he charged towards third, Eagles catcher Hollis made a laser throw to third baseman Benji, who tagged out a sliding Silas to ring up a chitty chitty bang bang 2-5 putout that brought the curtain down on the fifth frame.
The top half of the sixth inning began with a sterling defensive play by the Lizzies. After hitting a nibbler down the third baseline, Andy bolted out the batter’s box like a gazelle towards first base. The Lizzies third baseman (?) retrieved the ball and made a hurricane throw to first baseman Parker, who reeled in throw to erase Andy on a quicksilver 5-3 putout play for the first out.
However, the Eagles would not be deneied as they added four insurance runs in the sixth frame to secure their lead at 11-5.
With a succulent pitch entering into his wheelhouse, Roman cranked an immaculate one out solo inside the park home run blast into the deep dish pizza nether region of right field to bring home a delectable run for the Eagles.
After a single by Hollis, Solomon and Spencer drew back to back walks to load the bases. Sammy followed with a RBI single to bring Hollis homeward with an Eagles run.
With the bases still juiced to the gills, Daniel stroked a sacrifice groundout that allowed Solomon to score an Eagles run.
A subsequent wild pitch by the Lizzies would open the portal for Spencer to hustle home with another Eagles run.
In a spirited effort, Lizzies reliever Nicolas chalked up a pair of groundouts against the Eagles in the sixth frame.
Donning their rally caps, the Lizzies made on final bid to change their fate in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Following a leadoff walk, Boaz turned on the jets and advanced to third base with a pair of stolen bases.
After striking out the next two Lizzies batters, Eagles closer Sammy uncorked a wild pitch to the backstop that allowed Boaz to zoom home with a Lizzies run that closed the shortfall to 11-6.
Upon working the count in her favour to draw a walk, Georgia advanced to third base on a pair of two derring-do steals. As the pitch bounced to the backstop, Georgia broke for home but was caught in a 2-1-5-1 rundown play that sealed the deal on the Eagles championship victory.
