FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS PREVAIL OVER THE RIVER DOGS IN AN ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (EBA) 11U MOSQUITO SELECT LOOP AFFAIR AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a genteel canopy of warm and overcast skies, the Toronto Playgrounds 11U Blue defeated the York 11U Gold 13-0 in a 4 ½ inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 11U Select Loop game tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
York 11U Gold threatened in the top portion of the first inning. After Cortez (22) reached base on a hit by pitch, Isaac (30) stroked a single that put two River Dog runners on base.
Cool as a straight eight cucumber, TP 11U Blue starter Sydney (9) chalked up a fly out [caught by left fielder Eli (7)] and two strikeouts to end the threat and keep York off the scoring ledger in the first frame.
Taking care of business, Toronto Playgrounds staked itself to an early 4-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning.
After stroking a leadoff single, Dylan (8) quickly stole second base to set the dinner table for the TP 11U Blue offense.
Eli followed with a scorching RBI triple that brought Dylan home with the opening run of the proceedings.
Following a walk by Wilt (2) that put runners at third and first base, Casey (27) powered a two RBI triple that allowed Eli and Wilt to come home to roost with a pair of TP runs.
Cole (23) capped off TP 11U Blue’s big inning with a groundout that brought Casey home with another run.
In a lionhearted effort on the hill, York 11U Gold starter Daniel (50) tallied a groundout while facing five TP batters in the first frame.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, TP 11U Blue reliever Wilt mowed down the York 11U Gold batting order with three scintillating strikeouts that kept the River Dogs offense off the scoreboard in the top of the second inning and in the dawg pound.
Making the most of their opportunities, TP 11U Blue added another four spot to their Credit Suisse bank account in the bottom half of the second inning to increase their upper hand to 8-0.
Following a leadoff double by Ellis (44), Dominic (24) drew a walk that put TP runners at third and first base.
Julian (26) followed with a RBI single that moved Dominic to third and allowed Ellis to score.
After a theft of second base by Julian, Emile (5) stroked a Nash the Slash RBI hit that advanced Julian to third and brought Dominic home with a TP run.
Following a walk by Sydney that loaded the bases, Ewan (28) and Owen (14) garnered respective bases loaded RBI walks that allowed Julian and Emile to shuffle home with a pair of TP runs.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, the York 11U Gold offense stirred to life in the top half of the third inning.
Following a leadoff single by Re (42), Cassandra (15) drew a walk that put two River Dogs on the discoteque floor.
With no desire to pussyfoot around the mulberry bush, TP 11U Blue reliever Eli found his mojo and reeled off three electrifying strikeouts that snuffed out the York rally bid in the third frame.
In the bottom of the third frame, Toronto Playgrounds tacked on a run to extend their plurality to 9-0.
After a pair of walks by Dylan and Eli to open TP’s half of the inning, Casey reached base on a hit by pitch that loaded the bases.
Cole followed the macarena procession line and was also hit by pitch, allowing Dylan to shimmy home with a TP 11U Blue run.
With the bases still packed tighter than a can of Green Giant Niblets Corn, York 11U Gold reliever reached into his bag of tricks to rack up three strikeouts that put a kibosh on the TP insurgency in the third frame.
Not to be outdone, TP 11U Blue reliever Julian returned the favour in the top of the fourth inning when he dispatched the York 11U Gold batting order in 1-2-3 lickety-split fashion with a groundout, strikeout and a pop out that left the River Dogs offense ensconced in the kennel.
In the bottom of the fourth, TP 11U Blue added four Great West Life insurance runs to their portfolio to secure their lead at 13-0.
After Julian and Emile drew back to back walks to lead off TP’s portion of the inning, Sydney delivered a two RBI double that allowed Julian and Emile to dash home with a pair of runs.
Following a single by Ewan, Owen garnered a walk that loaded the bases, Dylan stepped into the batter’s box and stroked a RBI hit that brought Sydney home with a TP run.
With the bases still juiced to overflowing, Eli hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Dylan at second base, advanced Owen over to third, and allowed Ewan to motor home with another TP 11U Blue run.
In a spirited outing on the mound, York 11U Gold reliever Isaac tallied a groundout in the fourth frame while facing seven TP batters.
Donning their rally caps, York 11U Gold refused to throw in the towel as they came up for their at bats in the top half of the fifth inning.
River Dogs comeback hopes were ignited following a one out single and stolen base by Lucas (32).
Unfazed, TP 11U Blue closer Cole rang up three strikeouts that extinguished York’s last gasp rally bid and sealed the deal on a dominating TP victory.