IN AN ALL TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS (TPBA) AFFAIR, TP BLUE PREVAIL OVER TP RED IN A FUN PRESEASON EXHIBITION GAME AT CHRISTIE PITS IN PREPARATION FOR THE 2024 ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (EBA) 11U MOSQUITO SELECT REGULAR SEASON CAMPAIGN
Beneath a Chubby Checkered ceiling of bluish and cloudy skies, the TP 11U Blue prevailed 13-4 over TP 11U Red in a six inning preseason Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) exhibition game this evening at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
In the top portion of the first inning, TP 11U Blue jumped out to an early 1-0 advantage.
Following a one out walk and stolen base by Cole (23), Ellis (44) delivered a smoky bacon RBI hit that brought Cole home with the opening run of the proceedings.
Refusing to pussyfoot around the mulberry bush, TP 11U Red starter Eli O (44) found the groove and rung up two strikeouts and a line out to snuff out the TP 11U Blue rebellion.
With two outs and TP Blue base runner Ellis on third base after two derring-do steals, Eli O. also received a stellar defensive gem from TP Red first baseman Kaden (0). After TP Blue batter Julian (26) crunched the ball down the first baseline, Kaden snagged the Nash the Slash hot tamale in the webbing of his trusty mitt to tally the third out in savoir-faire fashion.
In the bottom half of the first frame, TP 11U Red threatened following a solid single and stolen base by Arlo (13).
However, TP 11U Blue starter Eli (7) tallied three Cool Hand Luke strikeouts to put the kibosh on the TP Red rally bid in the first inning.
With the wind in their sails, TP 11U Blue added four runs to their Bitcoin account in the top of the second inning to widen their lead to 5-0.
After a leadoff walk, Eli advanced to third base courtesy of a groundout by Emile (5) and a stolen base. With two outs, Wilt (2) muscled a grace under pressure RBI hit that brought Eli home with a run.
Exercising patience at the dish, Ewan (28) and Owen (14) drew back to back walks to load the bases. Cole followed with a two RBI single that allowed Wilt and Ewan to motor home with two more TP Blue runs.
Following a walk by Ellis that reloaded the bases, Casey (27) took one for the team when he brought Owen home with a run on a hit by pitch that brought the curtain down on the top half of the second frame.
In a nitty gritty foray on the hill, TP 11U Red starter Eli O and reliever Benji (15) tallied a strikeout and groundout in the second inning versus TP Blue.
The TP 11U Red offence stirred to life in the bottom of the second as they rallied for two to trim the shortfall to 5-2.
Following a pair of one out walks by Emmett (4) and Carson (27) that put two TP Red runners on the dance floor, Whit (16) delivered a clutch two out two RBI single that allowed Emmett and Carson to hustle homeward with a pair of runs.
On the play, Whit boldly threw caution to the wind as he valiantly attempted to stretch his single patty into a bacon double cheeseburger. However, the TP Blue defence answered with a sweet 8-6-4 gem. As Whit hustled towards second, TP Blue centre fielder Ellis retrieved the ball and made a smokestack lightning throw to shortstop Julian, who pivoted and made a steel eyed toss over to second baseman Ewan. As Whit slid into the base, Ewan slapped an emphatic tag on Whit to ring up the third out and vanquish his dreams for an extra value meal.
With unadulterated focus, TP 11U Blue starter Eli pitched in with a strikeout and a groundout versus TP Red in the second frame.
Not taking things lying down, TP 11U Blue answered back with another four spot in the top half of the third inning to extend their plurality to 9-2.
Following a pair of back to back walks by Julian and Eli to lead off the inning, Emile delivered a two RBI single to bring Julian and Eli home to roost. Emile would advance to second on the play.
After Dominic (24) garnered a walk that placed TP runners at third and first base, TP Blue executed a brazen double steal that moved Dominic to second base and brought Emile home with a run,
For the icing on the cake, Wilt capped off the big inning when he powered a RBI triple that allowed Dominic to hustle home with another TP Blue run.
TP Red threatened in the bottom of the third after Maxwell (03) drew a walk and advanced to third base via a stolen base and a TP Blue error.
Refusing to concede an inch, TP 11U Blue reliever Owen snuffed out the TP Red threat with a pair of 1-3 groundouts and a strikeout in the third frame.
TP 11U Blue threatened again in the top of the fourth frame. After garnering a walk, Cole put himself into scoring position as he stole his way around the horn to third base.
Cool as a cucumber, TP 11U Red reliever Kaden answered the clarion call and terminated the TP Blue menace with a pair of scorching strikeouts sandwiched around a flyout in the fourth inning.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, TP 11U Red battled back with a pair in the bottom half of the fourth inning that closed the gap to 9-4.
With Paul (77) on second base after a fielder’s choice (which erased Eli (44) at third base) and a stolen base, Kaden delivered a clutch two out RBI double that brought Paul homeward with a TP Red run.
Cordell (23) followed suit with a RBI double that allowed Kaden to blaze home with another TP Red run.
Shaken, but not stirred, TP 11U Blue reliever Julian found the inner groove as he tallied a pair of groundouts an a strikeout to cease to put an end to the TP Red uprising in the fourth frame.
Putting the pedal to the metal, TP 11U Blue added four insurance runs to their Great-West Life portfolio in the top of the fifth inning to secure their upper hand at 13-4.
Following a leadoff hit, Casey advanced into scoring position at third base courtesy of a TP Red faux pas and a stolen base. With one out, Eli delivered a RBI double that brought Casey home to crow.
After Emile and Dominic drew walks to load the bases, Wilt, Ewan and Owen garnered respective bases loaded RBI walks that allowed Eli, Emile and Dominic to shuffle home with three more TP Blue runs.
With finesse, TP 11U Blue reliever Julian kept TP 11U Red off the scoring ledger in the bottom portion of the fifth frame with a strikeout and double play.
Following a leadoff hit by Carson and a strikeout, Julian was helped out immeasurably by a sweet 9-6 play from his friends. With one out and Carson on second base, Whit hit a fly ball that TP Blue right fielder Owen reeled in for the second out. Noticing that Carson had wandered afar from the base on the play, Owen made a lightning throw over to shortstop Ewan to complete the double play!
TP 11U threatened again in the top half of the sixth inning following a pair of walks by Ellis and Julian.
Offended at their plundering ways, TP 11U Red relievers Maxwell and Arlo combined for a pop out, strikeout and groundout to silence the TP Blue offence in the sixth frame.
Donning their rally caps, TP 11U Red refused to throw in the towel in the bottom of the sixth as they gamely loaded the bases on a series of walks by Benji (15), Milo (24) and Eli (44).
Reelin’ and rockin’, TP 11U Blue closer Emile put a kibosh on the TP Red threat with a strikeout and a pair of groundouts to seal the deal on the TP Blue victory.
