IN A CHICKEN FRICASSEE AFFAIR, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS PREVAIL OVER THE WHITE SOX IN A SPRIGHTLY ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (EBA) 13U PEEWEE SELECT CONTEST AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a warm duvet of hazy summer skies, the Toronto Playgrounds 13U Red defeated the Martingrove 13U White Sox 11-7 in a 4 ½ inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 13U Select game tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
Martingrove jumped out to a lickety-split 3-0 lead in the top half of the first inning.
After Jacob (3) muscled a leadoff double, Max (7) drew a walk that put White Sox runners at second and first.
Sensing opportunity, Jacob completed a deft theft of third base. A TP error on the play would allow Jacob to scoot home with the opening run of the proceedings.
Throwing caution to the wind, Max followed suit with a pair of derring-do steals that advanced him into scoring position at third.
With two outs, Benjamin (2) delivered a clutch RBI single that brought Max home with a White Sox run.
After Benjamin rattled the TP defense with two intrepid steals that moved him over to third base, Capone (44) reached base on a dropped third strike and Bobby (12) garnered a walk that loaded the bases.
Finn (45) followed with a grace under pressure RBI hit that allowed Benjamin to dash homeward with another Martingrove 13U run.
Unfazed, TP 13U Red starter Issy (1) sandwiched a line out between two strikeouts to curtail the White Sox insurgency in the first frame.
Not to be outdone, Toronto Playgrounds answered back with a three spot in the bottom of the first inning to deadlock the game at 3-3.
After stroking a leadoff single, Christopher (24) turned on the afterburners and stole two bases with aplomb to advance into scoring position at third base.
Following a walk by Tristan (3) that put TP runners at third and first, Oliver (88) hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Tristan at second base and allowed Christopher to zoom home with TP 13U Red’s first run of the game.
After a one out single by Chris (7) that put runners at second and first, TP 13U Red executed a pair of steals that allowed Oliver and Chris to advance respectively to third and second base.
As Martungrove 13U uncorked a wild pitch, Chris moved over to third and Oliver hustled home with a TP run that made it a one run affair.
Matthew (77) followed with a groundout that brought Chris home with TP 13U Red’s game tying run.
With two outs, TP continued to keep the pressure on the White Sox defense. After Calvin (11) connected for a double, Issy garnered a walk that put two runners on the dance floor.
Nonplussed, Martingrove 13U starter Capone coaxed a groundout to snuff out the TP 13U Red mutiny in the first frame.
In the top of the second inning, Martingrove 13U replied with four runs to take a 7-3 advantage.
After White Sox batter Michael (11) drew a one out walk, Tristan (10) and Mason (5) were hit by pitch consecutively to load the the bases.
Licking his chops at the opportunity laid before him, Jacob delivered a two RBI double that advanced Mason to third base and allowed Michael and Tristan to hasten homeward with a pair of Martingrove runs.
Max followed with a groundout that brought Mason home with a White Sox run.
Exercising patience at the dish, Adam (24) and James garnered back to back walks with two outs that reloaded the bases
Benjamin stroked a clutch RBI single that allowed Jacob to score another Martingrove 13U run.
In a spirited outing on the hill, TP 13U Red starter Issy chalked up a strikeout and groundout against the White Sox in the second frame.
Taking umbrage at their situation, TP 13U Red counterpunched with four runs in the bottom portion of the second inning to tie the proceedings at 7-7.
After garnering a one out walk, Wilt (2) threw down the gauntlet and rattled the White Sox defense with two ballsy steals that advanced him into optimal scoring position at third base.
Following a walk by Christopher that put two TP runners on the discotheque floor, Tristan delivered a RBI single that moved Christopher to third and allowed Wilt to score a TP 13U Red run. A White Sox error on the play allowed Tristan to advance to third base and brought Christopher home with another TP run.
During the next at bat, Tristan took advantage of a Martingrove wild pitch to score a dramatic run for TP that sliced the shortfall to one.
After back to back walks by Oliver and Chris put two swans on the lake, Matthew stroked a RBI single that allowed Oliver to motor homeward with TP 13U Red’s tying run.
In a plucky outing, Martingrove 13U reliever James rang up a strikeout against TP 13U Red in the second frame.
With the game deadlocked at 7-7, Martingrove 13U threatened in the top of the third inning.
Following a one out double by Bobby, Finn drew a walk that put two White Sox runners on the basepaths.
Cool as a Sweet Success cucumber, TP 13U Red reliever Calvin tallied a 1-3 comebacker to the mound and two scintillating strikeouts that vanquished the Martingrove 13U coup d’état in the third frame.
Returning the favour, Martingrove 13U reliever Joseph (13) dispatched TP 13U Red in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the third inning with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout that kept TP off the scoring ledger.
Refusing to go quietly into the night, Martingrove 13U threatened again in the top of the fourth inning.
Following a single by Mason, Jacob garnered a walk that put two mallards on the pond.
Free and easy, TP 13U reliever Calvin terminated the threat with two strikeouts and a groundout that kept the White Sox off the scoresheet in the fourth frame.
Taking the bull by the horns, Toronto Playgrounds scored four in the bottom of the fourth inning to take an 11-7 lead.
After Wilt reached base with a one out walk, Christopher stroked a single that put two TP runners on base.
Subsequently, with runners on third and second, Oliver delivered a clutch two out RBI single that advanced Christopher to third and brought Wilt home with TP 13U Red’s go ahead run.
With the summer breeze in their sails, Chris muscled a RBI single that moved Oliver to second and allowed Christopher to charge home with a TP insurance run.
Flexing his Grand Theft acumen, TP baserunner Oliver threw caution to the wind as he scored a dramatic TP 13U Red run with daring steal of home!
After Matthew drew a walk that put two runners in the coliseum, Calvin stroked a RBI single that brought Chris home with another TP run.
In an intrepid outing, Martingrove 13U reliever Joseph rang up two strikeouts against TP 13U Red in the fourth frame.
Proudly donning their rally caps, Martingrove 13U were determined to change their fate as they came up for their last at bats in the top of the fifth frame.
After Adam garnered a leadoff walk to open the inning, TP 13U reliever Calvin hooked up with first baseman Chris to pickoff Adam at first base in 1-3 style for the first out.
However, the pesky White Sox refused to throw in the towel as they continued to battle. After James reached base on a hit by pitch, Benjamin hit a single that put two aboard.
With no appetite to pussyfoot around the mulberry bush any longer than necessary, Calvin chalked up a pop out and a strikeout to end the Martingrove 13U insubordination in the fifth frame and bring the curtain down on a thrill hill TP 13U Red victory.