IN A TOOTH AND NAIL BATTLE WHERE RUNS CAME AT A PREMIUM, THE A’s PREVAIL OVER TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS IN AN ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (EBA) 13U PEEWEE SELECT THRILLER AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a pristine ceiling of warm skies, the Annette 13U A’s edged the Toronto Playgrounds 13U Blue 6-5 in a five inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 13U Select Loop game tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
In the top half of the first inning, Annette 13U threatened early following a pair of walks by Devin (19) and Cahlen (13) that put two A’s runners on the dancefloor.
With true grit, TP 13U Blue starter Gabe (72) chalked up three strikeouts to vanquish the Annette threat in the first frame.
Toronto Playgrounds staked itself to an early 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning.
After Grover (11) reached base on a hit by pitch with two outs, Brayden (9) delivered a clutch RBI triple that allowed Grover to come home with the opening run of the proceedings.
Unfazed, Annette 13U starter Ethan (21)rang up two strikeouts and a groundout to end the TP 13U Blue insurgency in the first frame.
In lickety-split fashion, Annette 13U answered back with three in the top of the second inning to take a 3-1 lead.
After stroking a leadoff single, Griffin (24) turned on the afterburners and swiped his way around the horn to third base with two derring-do steals.
With two outs, Keenan (12) muscled a clutch RBI single that brought Griffin home with the A’s game tying run.
Following a walk by Bruno (14) that put two ducks on the pond, Devin delivered an unvarnished two RBI double that allowed Keenan and Bruno to motor home with Annette 13U’s go ahead runs.
TP 13U Blue reliever Harrison (42) entered the fray to tally a groundout to extinguish the Annette 13U insurgency in the second frame.
TP 11U Blue threatened in the bottom of the second inning following a riveting triple to left-centre field by Jack C (1).
Rising to the occasion, Annette 13U starter Ethan rang up two strikeouts and a groundout to terminate the TP 13U Blue threat in the second frame.
Annette 13U tacked on a run in the top of the third inning to extend their plurality to 4-1.
After a leadoff hit by Jack (18), Cahlen singled to put two A’s on the basepaths.
With runners on third and first, Griffin hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Cahlen at second base and brought Jack home with an Annette run.
With fortitude, TP 13U Blue reliever Harrison utilized a groundout and two strikeouts to pacify the A’s uprising in the third frame.
Refusing to go quietly into the abyss, TP 13U Blue responded with a pair in the bottom half of the third inning to trim the margin to 4-3.
After a leadoff single by Jack U (16) and a walk by Liam (28), Brady (7) hit into a one out fielder’s choice that advanced Jack U to third and erased Liam at second.
With two outs and runners on the corners, Grover delivered a clutch two RBI single that allowed Jack U and Brady to blaze home with a pair of TP runs that made it a one run game.
Clinging to a slender tenderloin one run lead, Annette 13U reliever Cahlen entered the proceedings to tally a groundout that snuffed out the TP 13U Blue coup d’etat in the third frame.
Like a proud boxer who took a good licking, Annette 13U counterpunched with two runs in the top of the fourth inning to stretch their lead to 6-3.
After TP 13U Blue centrefielder Brady made an amazin’ catch to rob Keenan of a hit, Bruno drew a one out walk, and Devin stroked a single that put two A’s runners on base.
Ethan followed with a RBI single that brought Bruno home with an Annette run.
With runners on third and second, Jack delivered a RBI double that advanced Ethan to third and allowed Devin to come home with another A’s run.
Following a walk by Cahlen that loaded the bases, TP 13U Blue reliever Brayden entered the fray to reel off a pop out and a fly out to curtail the Annette dissent in the fourth frame.
Toronto Playgrounds quickly answered back with a pair in the bottom half of the fourth that sliced and diced the gap to 6-5.
Following a back to back walks by Billy (24) and Rishi (19) to begin TP 13U Blue’s portion of the inning, Jack C hit into a groundout that advanced Rishi to third base and brought Billy home with a TP run.
Subsequently, with two outs, Harrison delivered a clutch RBI hit that allowed Rishi to come home with a TP 13U Blue run that made it a one run game again.
Annette 13U reliever Cahlen utilized a groundout, strikeout and pop out to subdue the TP 13U Blue resistance in the fourth frame.
Annette 13U threatened to add an insurance run in the top of the fifth frame.
After stroking a leadoff single, Shawn (44) brazenly stole two bases to get into scoring position for the A’s at third base.
With no desire to mess around, TP 13U Blue reliever Brayden took care of business and sandwiched a pair of strikeouts between a pop out to quash the Annette 13U disobedience in the fifth frame.
Trailing 6-5, TP 13U Blue proudly donned their rally caps in the bottom of the fifth frame as they made one final attempt to overtake Annette 13U.
With one out, Jackson (22) and Brady garnered back to back walks that put TP’s potential tying and game winning runs on base.
Subsequently, with two outs and TP runners at third and second base, Brayden crushed a shot to the gap between left and centre field.
As the ball made its descent to the outfield grass, the Annette 13U centrefielder rushed in and made a spectacular game saving catch that derailed TP 13U Blue’s last gasp comeback bid.
Annette 13U closer Kevin (26) rang up two strikeouts and a fly out to seal the deal on the A’s hard fought victory over TP 13U Blue.
Un grand jeu!!!