IN A CARAMEL POPCORN AFFAIR, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS PREVAIL OVER THE CARDINALS IN AN ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION 11U MOSQUITO SELECT LOOP CONTEST AT CHRISTIE PITS
Under a warm summer ceiling of breezy and hazy skies, the Toronto Playgrounds 11U Blue defeated the Royal York 11U Girls 11-1 in a six inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 11U Select Loop game tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
Taking care of business, TP 11U Blue jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the top half of the first inning.
After reaching base on a one out hit by pitch, Dylan (8) swiped second base in lickety-split fashion. Eli (7) followed with a RBI single that brought Dylan home with the opening run of the game.
Following a single by Ellis (44), Casey (27) followed suit with a hit that loaded the bases.
Cole (23) delivered a two RBI single that advanced Casey to second base and allowed Dylan and Eli to come home with a pair of TP runs.
After Julian (26) stroked a single that reloaded the bases, Dominic (24) connected for a RBI hit that brought Casey home with another TP 11U Blue run.
In stouthearted effort, Royal York 11U Girls starter Sierra (11) tallied a strikeout in the first frame while facing eight TP batters.
Cool as a straight eight cucumber , TP 11U Blue starter Sydney (9) retired the Royal York 11U Girls batting order in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the first inning with a fly out and two groundouts that kept the Cardinals offense tethered to the nest.
Toronto Playgrounds added a run to their Bitcoin account in the top of the second inning to increase their portfolio holdings to 5-0.
Following a leadoff single, Wilt (2) rattled the Royal York 11U Girls defense with a deft theft of second. A Cardinals error on the play allowed Wilt to move over to third base.
With one out, Owen (14) muscled a sacrifice fly to centre filed, allowing Wilt to motor home with a TP 11U Blue run.
Unfazed, Royal York 11U Girls starter Sierra sandwiched a pair of pop outs between a fly out to quell the TP insurgency in the second frame.
The Royal York 11U Girls threatened in the bottom portion of the second frame.
After Kelly (3) reached base on a hit by pitch, Savanne (88) garnered a walk that put two Cardinals on the bird feeder.
Wheeling and dealing, TP 11U Blue starter Sydney rang up two strikeouts and a groundout to subdue the Royal York coup d’état in the second frame.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, Royal York 11U Girls starter Sierra retired the potent TP 11U Blue batting order in the top of the third inning with a strikeout and two fly outs that kept TP off the scoring ledger.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, the Royal York 11U Girls threatened again in the bottom of the third inning after Elli (14) and Sloane (6) reached base on back to back walks.
Finding the groove, TP 11U Blue reliever Ellis chalked up three strikeouts to end the Cardinals uprising in the third frame.
In the top of the fourth, TP 11U Blue exploded for four runs to extend their plurality to 9-0.
After a leadoff double by Ellis, Casey drew a walk that put two TP runners on the dancefloor. Cole followed with a RBI hit that moved Casey to second and brought Ellis home with a TP 11U Blue run.
Following a single by Julian that advanced Casey and Cole respectively to third and second base, the Cardinals defense committed a faux pas that allowed Cole and Julian to move over to third and second, and brought Casey home with a TP run.
During the next at bat, Royal York uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Julian to advance to third base and Cole to blaze home with another TP 11U Blue run.
Dominic followed with a Nash the Slash RBI single that brought Julian home with a TP run.
Taking umbrage at their situation in the time continuum, the Royal York 11U Girls battled back with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning that trimmed the shortfall to 9-1.
After garnering a leadoff walk, Royal York 11U Girls baserunner Koyuki (10) threw caution to the wind and made two brazen steals to advance into scoring position at third base.
Following a walk by Erin (8) that put runners on the corners, the Cardinals initiated a ballsy double steal attempt that erased Erin at second base on a 2-4 play, and allowed Koyiki to hustle homeward with a Cardinals run.
Unperturbed, TP 11U Blue reliever Ellis rang up two strikeouts to pacify the Royal York dissent in the fourth frame.
Toronto Playgrounds tacked on a run in the top of the fifth inning to stretch their advantage to 10-1.
After back to back one out singles by Sydney and Owen, Emile drew a walk that loaded the bases. Ewan (28) followed with a 6-5 groundout that erased Owen at third, advanced Emile to second, and brought Sydney home with a TP run.
With determination, Royal York 11U reliever Koyuki chalked up a strikeout and two groundouts to end the TP 11U Blue insurrection in the fifth frame.
Taking care of business, TP 11U Blue reliever Ellis mowed down the Royal York 11U Girls in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the fifth inning with three electrifying strikeouts that left the Cardinals mired in the birdbath.
TP 11U Blue added a dramatic insurance run in the top of the sixth frame.
Leading off the inning, Eli stepped up to the plate and crushed a majestic solo home run blast over the fence in right field.
Upon reaching home plate, Eli was mobbed by his jubilant TP 11U Blue teammates, while the TP faithful cheered his heroic shot from the bleacher seats.
Following a walk by Ellis and a one out double by Cole, Julian garnered a walk to load the bases.
With Rome burning, Royal York 11U reliever Vivienne (9) entered the fray from the bullpen to ring up two strikeouts to extinguish the TP 11U Blue insubordination in the sixth frame.
Donning their rally caps, the Royal York 11U Girls made one final bid to change their circumstance in the bottom of the sixth inning.
After drawing a leadoff walk and a swiping second with aplomb, Mackenzie (12) made the valorous decision to steal third base. As Mackenzie charged towards her goal, TP 11U Blue catcher Cole made a lightning toss to third baseman Ellis, who applied the tag to ring up a 2-5 gem for the first out.
With the wind in his sails, TP 11U Blue closer Julian rang up two strikeouts to end the Cardinals last gasp comeback bid and seal the deal on a hard fought victory.
