IN A FEISTY, ALL TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS HOMEBREW AFFAIR, TP 11U BLUE TAKE DOWN TP 11U RED IN AN ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (EBA) 11U MOSQUITO SELECT BATTLE AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a honeysuckle blanket of warm and hazy skies, the Toronto Playgrounds 11U Blue defeated the Toronto Playgrounds 11U Red 14-2 in a six inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 11U Select Loop affair this afternoon at Christie Pits Diamond 3.
TP 11U Blue threatened in the top portion of the first inning following a walk and stolen base by Eli (7) that got him into scoring position at second base.
Unfazed, TP 11U Red starter Whit (16) tallied a groundout, line out and a pop out to end the TP 11U Blue incursion in the first frame.
With determination, TP 11U Red threatened in the bottom of the first inning.
Following a one out single and stolen base by Kaden (0), Cordell (23) reached base on a hit by pitch that put a pair of TP 11U Red runners on the dancefloor.
With moxie, TP 11U Blue starter Dominic (24) vanquished the TP 11U Red insurgency with a groundout and two searing strikeouts that kept TP Red off the scoring ledger in the first frame.
Taking full measure of their opportunities, TP 11U Blue staked itself to a 4-0 advantage in the top of the second inning.
After stroking a lead off single and stealing second base, TP 11U Blue baserunner Cole (23) threw down the gauntlet when he executed a dramatic theft of third base with a ballsy headfirst slide.
Taking advantage of a TP 11U Red error on the play, Cole capped off his heroics with another headfirst slide at home plate that brought home the opening run of the proceedings.
With momentum on its side, Dominic and Owen (14) patiently garnered back to walks that put a pair of TP 11U Blue runners on the dancefloor.
Seizing the day, Wilt (2) followed with a RBI single that advanced Owen to third base, and brought Dominic home with a TP 11U Blue run.
Following a steal of second by Wilt, Sydney muscled a 1-3 groundout that moved Wilt over to third, and allowed Owen to hustle homeward with a TP Blue run.
With two outs, Dylan (8) capped off TP 11U Blue’s four run outburst in the second frame when stroked a clutch RBI single that brought Wilt home with another TP Blue run.
With mettle, TP 11U Red starter Whit (16) chalked up a groundout and a strikeout against TP 11U Blue in the second inning.
Taking umbrage at their situation, TP 11U Red continued to battle in the bottom half of the second inning.
Following a solid two out single, Rudy (10) made a bold as brass decision to steal second base in an effort to spark the slumbering TP 11U Red attack.
As Rudy charged towards his goal with a full head of steam, TP 11U Blue catcher Ellis (44) made a lightning throw to shortstop Julian (26), who slapped an emphatic tag on a sliding Rudy to thwart his Grand Theft dreams on a debonair 2-6 defensive erasure.
TP 11U Blue starter Dominic chipped in with a groundout and a strikeout to curtail the TP 11U Red rally effort in the second frame.
With the summer breeze in its sails, TP 11U Blue added three doubloons to their treasure chest in the top of the third inning to extend their upper hand to 7-0.
After a lead off single, Julian moved over to second base with an intrepid deal or no deal steal.
With one out, Ellis powered a RBI double that allowed Julian to come home with a TP 11 Blue run,
Following suit, Cole stroked a RBI hit that brought Ellis home with a TP Blue run.
After swiping second with aplomb, Cole set his sights on third base. As Cole completed his theft of third, he took advantage of a TP 11U Red faux pas to zoom home with a TP Blue run.
In a stouthearted effort, TP 11U Red reliever Benji (15) rang up two strikeouts and a groundout to pacify the TP 11U Blue insurgency in the third frame.
Refusing to go quietly into the hot afternoon sun, TP 11U Red continued the good fight in the bottom half of the third inning.
Following a one out single, Carson (27) flexed his Grand Theft modus operandi when he stole a pair of bases to advance into optimal scoring position at third base for TP Red.
After Paul (77) reached base on a two out hit by pitch that put two ducks on the pond, Kaden sensed an opportunity to break the goose egg as he slashed a sharp cheddar cheese grounder to the right side of the infield. As Kaden hustled down the first baseline and Carson charged homeward, TP 11U Blue second baseman Owen swooped in like a gazelle to vacuum up the ball and make a quicksilver toss over to first baseman Cal (55) to ring up chitty chitty bang bang 4-3 putout for the third out.
Cool as a Wautoma cucumber, TP 11U Blue starter Dominic chalked up two strikeouts and a groundout in the third frame to keep TP 11U Red off the scoring ledger for the third inning in a row.
Going for the jugular, TP 11U Blue scored three more runs in the top of the fourth frame to widen their plurality to 10-0.
After a leadoff walk by Cal and a single by Dylan, Eli drew a one out walk that loaded the bases. Ellis followed with a bases loaded walk that brought Cal home with a TP Blue run.
With the bases still packed tighter than a tin of Underwood Deviled Ham, Cole stroked a RBI single that moved Eli and Ellis respectively to third and second, and allowed Dylan to strut home with a TP 11U Blue run.
And with the bases still juiced to the gills, Dominic hit into a fielder’s choice that erased Ellis at third, advanced Cole to second, and brought Eli home with another TP Blue run.
With true grit, TP 11U Red reliever Benji tallied three groundouts to subdue the TP 11U Blue sedition in the fourth frame.
Trailing 10-0, TP 11U Red had no desire to throw in the towel as they persisted in their catfight against TP 11U Blue in the bottom of the fourth inning.
After a walk by Jack (11), Benji stroked a single that put two swans on the lake.
With no inclination to pussyfoot around the cherry tree, TP 11U Blue reliever Julian sandwiched a pair of strikeouts around a groundout to quash the TP 11U Red intransigence in the fourth frame.
TP 11U Blue threatened again in the top of the fifth inning after Sydney and Dylan delivered respective singles that put two runners on the discotheque floor.
Unperturbed, TP 11U Red reliever Kaden reeled off a pop out and two strikeouts to extinguish the TP 11U Blue outbreak in the fifth frame.
After a lengthy slumber, the TP 11U Red offense stirred to life in the bottom of the fifth inning as they scored a run to trim the gap to 10-1.
After drawing a leadoff walk, Rudy made like Bennie and the Jets on the basepaths as he swiped his way around the horn into scoring position at third base with aplomb.
Following a walk by Carson that put runners at first and third, the TP 11U Red executed a venturesome double steal. As Carson hustled towards second base and Rudy blazed homeward, the TP 11U Blue defense sniffed out the TP 11U Red chicanery. TP Blue reliever Julian threw a bullet to catcher Cole, who tagged out Rudy at the dish to ring up a 1-2 putout for the first out.
Like a gadfly, the pesky TP 11U Red were not easily dissuaded as they continued to ramp up the pressure on TP 11U Blue. After Eli D (8) garnered a one out walk, Paul stroked a single to load the bases.
Pouncing on a TP 11U Blue error, Eli D and Paul advanced respectively to third and second, and Carson blazed homeward to score TP 11U Red’s first run of the game on a chitty chitty bang bang play at the dish.
Free and easy, TP 11U Blue reliever Julian chalked up a strikeout and groundout to put a kibosh on the the TP 11U Red coup d’état in the fifth frame.
Tying a ribbon round the old oak tree, TP 11U Blue tacked on four insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning to solidify their lead at 14-1.
After Eli garnered a leadoff walk, Ellis reached base on a hit by pitch that put two mallards on the lake. With runners on third and second, Owen delivered a grace under pressure two out RBI single that advanced Ellis to third, and allowed Eli to hustle home with a TP Blue run. A TP 11U Red error on the play allowed Ellis to scamper home with another TP 11U Blue run.
Wilt followed with an immaculate RBI double that brought Owen home with a TP Blue run.
For the icing on the cake, Sydney powered a RBI double to the nether regions of the outfield that allowed Wilt to score a TP 11U Blue run.
In a stalwart effort, TP 11U Red reliever Kaden tallied a fly out and a strikeout versus TP 11 Blue in the sixth frame.
Proudly donning their rally caps, TP 11U Red came up for their final at bats in the bottom of the sixth inning.
On a mission to change their fate. Emmett (4) delivered a leadoff double to begin TP Red’s last gasp comeback effort.
Cordell followed with a hot tamale RBI double that allowed Emmett to motor home with a TP 11U Red run.
Following a one out single by Benji that put runners at second and first, TP 11U Red executed an audacious double steal that advanced Cordell and Benji respectively to third and second base.
Following a pair of scintillating strikeouts by TP 11U Blue closer Dylan, Cordell made a daredevil decision to steal home. However, the TP 11U Blue defense rose up to the challenge as TP 11 Blue catcher Cole and third baseman Julian combined to erase Cordell on a 2-5-2 rundown to seal the deal on a dominating victory over TP 11U Red.
