IN A NIP AND TUCK BATTLE WHERE RUNS CAME AT A PREMIUM, A GRITTY TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS SQUAD MADE THE MOST OF ITS OPPORTUNITIES TO PREVAIL OVER THE PESKY A’s IN AN ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (EBA) 11U MOSQUITO SELECT LOOP CONTEST AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a honeysuckled ceiling of warm and genteel skies, the Toronto Playgrounds 11U Blue defeated the Annette 11U A’s 8-2 in a 4 ½ inning Etobicoke Baseball Association 11U Select Loop game tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
In the top portion of the first inning, TP 11U Blue starter Wilt (2) threw down the gauntlet when he mowed down the Annette batting order in 1-2-3 fashion with three scintillating strikeouts that kept the A’s off the scoring ledger.
With unconditional resolve, TP 11U Blue staked itself to an early 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning.
After muscling a leadoff double, Dylan (8) rattled the Annette defense with a deft theft of third base.
With opportunity knocking, Julian (26) stroked a RBI single that allowed Dylan to come home with the opening run of the proceedings.
After Julian had advanced to third following a wild pitch and a stolen base, Eli (7) drew a walk that put two swans on the pond,
With runners on third and second, Cole (23) delivered a one out RBI single that advanced Eli to third and brought Julian home with a TP run.
Annette 11U starter James (32) rang up two strikeouts and a groundout to pacify the TP 11U Blue uprising in the first frame.
In the top of the second inning, Annette 11U answered back with a run that trimmed the gap to 2-1.
After a leadoff walk by Riley (4), Phoenix (88) garnered a walk that put two A’s on the discotheque floor.
Following respective steals by Riley and Phoenix that moved them to third and second, Nolan (19) hit into a 1-3 groundout that advanced Phoenix to third base and allowed Riley to motor home with Annette 11U’s first run of the game.
With two outs and Annette’s potential tying run standing sixty-five away on third, the TP 11U Blue defense answered the clarion call when TP catcher Cole and third baseman Julian combined to vanquish the threat on a dramatic 2-5-2 rundown play that erased A’s baserunner Phoenix.
TP 11U Blue starter Wilt chipped in with a strikeout and a groundout to put an end to the Annette 11U mutiny in the second frame.
Toronto Playgrounds added two more runs to their tally in the bottom half of the second inning to extend their upper hand to 4-1.
After garnering a two out walk, Dylan turned on the afterburners and swiped his way around the horn to third base with aplomb.
Julian followed with a clutch RBI single that allowed Dylan to come homeward with a TP 11U Blue run.
With Julian on second base following an Annette wild pitch, Eli delivered a grace under pressure RBI single that brought Julian home with a TP run.
Unfazed, Annette 11U starter James chalked up three strikeouts in the second frame to subdue the TP 11U Blue coup d’état.
With no desire to walk quietly into the night, Annette 11U threatened again in the top of the third inning.
After a leadoff hit and stolen base by Liam (56), Freddie (1) followed with a single that put A’s runners at third and first.
Once again, the TP 11U Blue defense rose up to the A’s challenge when TP catcher Cole made a smokestack lightning throw down the line to third baseman Julian to rack up a rib grilling 2-5 pickoff play that erased Annette baserunner Liam.
Showing no mercy, TP 11U Blue starter Wilt added two strikeouts that put the lights out on Annette 11U’s rally bid in the third frame.
Going for the jugular, TP 11U Blue scored a pair in the bottom of the third inning to stretch their plurality to 6-1.
Following a leadoff single by Cole, Dominic (24) followed with a crackling RBI triple that allowed Cole to hustle home with a TP run.
After Owen (14) reached base on a hit by pitch that put two ducks on the pond, Wilt stroked a RBI single that brought Dominic home with another TP run.
On the play, Annette right fielder Nolan combined with A’s third baseman Freddie to erase TP baserunner Owen on a nifty 9-5 putout at third base to ring up the first out.
After Annette catcher Cole erased TP baserunner Wilt at third on a 2-5 play for the second out, the TP 11U Blue offense continued to ramp up the pressure on the A’s defense as Cal (55) garnered a walk and Dylan and Julian hit back to back singles that loaded the bases.
With moxie, Annette 11U reliever Sean (11) tallied a strikeout that extinguished the TP 11U Blue insurrection in the third frame.
Taking umbrage at their situation in the time continuum, Annette 11U battled back with a run in the top of the fourth inning that trimmed their shortfall to 6-2.
After garnering a one out walk, A’s baserunner James advanced over to third base courtesy of Riley’s 4-3 groundout and a stolen base.
Sean followed with a clutch two out single that allowed James to scoot home with an Annette 11U run.
TP 11U Blue starter Wilt tallied a strikeout and two groundouts to terminate the A’s rally bid in the fourth frame.
Toronto Playgrounds added two insurance runs in the bottom of the fourth to solidify their lead at 8-2.
After powering a leadoff double, Ellis (44) took advantage of an Annette error to advance to third base.
Cole followed with a 4-3 groundout that allowed Ellis to blaze home with a TP 11U Blue run.
Following a pair of two walks by Owen and Wilt, Cal delivered a grace under pressure RBI single that advanced Wilt to second base and brought Owen home with another TP run.
After Dylan drew a walk that loaded the bases, Annette 11U reliever Max (17) chalked up a strikeout that doused the sedition in the fourth frame.
With no inclination to pussyfoot around the cherry tree, TP 11U Blue closer Dominic utilized a groundout, fly out and strikeout to retire Annette 11U with 1-2-3 efficiency in the top of the fifth inning to seal the deal on TP victory over the A’s.
