IN A HOT TIN ROOF BATTLE, THE CARDINALS TURN BACK A FINAL INNING RALLY BID BY TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS TO PREVAIL FOR A SLENDER TENDERLOIN ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (EBA) 13U PEEWEE SELECT LOOP VICTORY AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a patchwork ceiling of warm and hazy summer skies, the Royal York 13U White edged the Toronto Playgrounds 13U Blue 8-7 in a six inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 13U Select Loop nail biter tonight at Christie Pits Diamond 2.
In the top of the first inning, Royal York 13U White jumped out to an early 3-0 lead.
After a two out walk, Nicholas (30) took flight as he stole his way around the horn to get into optimal scoring position at third base.
Seizing the opportunity, Ryan (21) delivered a clutch RBI double that brought Nicholas home with the opening run of the proceedings.
Benjamin (97) followed with a RBI single that allowed Ryan to hustle home with a Royal York 13U White run.
Following his single, Benjamin proceeded to rattle the TP 13 Blue defense with two aggressive steals that advanced him to third base.
Benjamin would subsequently pounce on a TP wild pitch to blaze homeward with another Cardinals run.
With moxie, TP 13U Blue starter Rishi (19) tallied a fly out, pop out and a groundout to diffuse the Royal York White insurgency in the first frame.
TP 13U Blue answered back in lickety-split fashion with a run in the bottom portion of the first inning to trim the shortfall to 3-1.
With backbone, Jackson (22) powered a gee whiz leadoff triple to the deep dish pizza nether regions of centre field.
Subsequently, with one out, Brayden (9) muscled a 6-3 groundout that allowed Jackson to sprint home with TP Blue’s first run of the game.
Unfazed, Royal York 13U White starter Rian (17) sandwiched two strikeouts between a groundout to curtail the TP 13U Blue mutiny in the first frame.
With tenacity, TP 13U Blue starter Rishi retired the Royal York 13U White batting order in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the second inning with a a pair of groundouts and a strikeout.
TP 13U Blue threatened in the bottom of the second inning following a walk and stolen base by Gabe (72).
With spunk, Royal York 13U White starter Rian reeled off three smokestack lightning strikeouts to end the TP 13U Blue menace in the second frame.
Royal York 13U White added a run in the top of the third inning to widen their upper hand to 4-1.
After stroking a two out single, Anton (11) made like Bennie and the Jets and stole second base.
Charles (20) followed with a clutch RBI single that brought Anton home with a Cardinals run.
Free and easy, TP 13U Blue starter Rishi chalked up a pair of groundouts and a strikeout to subdue the Royal York 13U White insurgency in the third frame.
Taking umbrage at their situation in the time continuum, TP 13U Blue battled back with a run in the bottom of the third frame to close the gap to 4-2.
After reaching base on a hit by pitch to open TP’s half of the inning, Julian (26) got some retribution after he swiped a pair of bases to advance to third base.
Taking full advantage of a two out Royal York 13U White wild pitch, Julian blazed home with a full head of steam and beat the tag of Cardinals catcher William (8) to score a dramatic run for TP Blue.
Nonplussed, Royal York 13U White starter rang up a pop out and two strikeouts to terminate the TP 13U Blue revolt in the third frame.
With pluck, TP 13U Blue reliever Brayden dispatched the Royal York 13U White with 1-2-3 efficiency in the top of the fourth inning. Utilizing a pair of strikeouts and a groundout, Brayden kept the Cardinals offense off the scoring ledger and perched in the birdbath.
TP 13U Blue threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning following a one out single by Rishi.
Following a theft of second, Rishi made a bold decision to steal third base. As Rishi initiated his slide into the base, Royal York 13U White third baseman Ryan took receipt of the throw from Cardinals catcher Noah (28) and tagged Rishi out on a controversial 2-5 putout.
Royal York 13U White reliever Benjamin tallied a groundout and pop out in the fourth frame to extinguish the TP 13U Blue rally bid.
Taking flight, Royal York 13U White scored three in the top half of the fifth inning to widen their plurality to 7-2.
After Ewan (68) drew a leadoff walk, Thomas (68) connected for a single that advanced Ewan to third base.
With Cardinals runners on third and second, William (8) stroked a single that loaded the bases.
Rian followed with a RBI single that advanced Thomas and William respectively to third and second, and allowed Ewan to shuffle home with a Royal York 13U White run.
Following the procession line, Byson (3) garnered a bases loaded RBI walk that brought Thomas home with a Cardinals run.
With the bases still stuffed to the gills, Noah was hit by pitch during his at bat, allowing William to shimmy homeward with another Royal York White run.
With the game slipping away, TP 13U Blue answered the clarion call and took a stand against the plundering Cardinals.
After Anton hit a chopper down the third baseline, TP 13U Blue third baseman Gabe snagged the ball in his trusty mitt and made a laser throw to catcher Grover (11) at home plate to tally a 5-2 force out play that erased Royal York White baserunner Rian for the first out.
Taking the bull by the horns, TP 13U reliever Brayden reeled off a pair of scintillating strikeouts that put a kibosh on the Cardinals sedition in the fifth frame.
Refusing to throw in the towel, TP 13U Blue stormed back with four in the bottom of the fifth inning to trail 7-6.
After Julian drew a leadoff walk, Jackson singled to put two ducks on the pond.
With carpe diem resolve, Brady (7) stepped up the plate and crushed a golly gee three run home run shot that was heard around Christie Pits.
After circling the bases and coming home, Brady received an ecstatic round of celebratory cheers from his teammates in the dugout and the TP faithful in the bleacher seats.
With the summer wind in their sails, TP 13U Blue ramped up the pressure on the Cardinals.
Following a one out single by Jack (1), Grover muscled a single that put two TP runners on the dancefloor..
With runners at third and second, Rishi delivered a RBI single that allowed Jack to motor home with a TP 13U Blue run that made it a one run contest.
In a spirited effort, Royal York 13U White reliever Benjamin chalked up a groundout against TP 13U Blue in the fifth frame.
Licking their wounds and clinging to a one run lead, Royal York 13U White answered back with an insurance run in the top of the sixth to solidify their lead at 8-6.
Following a leadoff single by Ryan, Benjamin and Marcus (2) garnered back to back walks to load the bases.
With one out, Thomas hit into a 6-3 groundout that brought Ryan home with a Cardinals run.
TP 13U Blue reliever Brayden rang up two strikeouts and groundout in the sixth frame to put an end to the Royal York 13U White coup d’état.
Donning their rally caps, TP 13U Blue came up for their final at bats in the bottom of the sixth inning determined to change their fate.
After garnering a walk, Julian unfurled his Grand Thievery skills and swiped his way into scoring position at third base with a pair of debonair steals.
Jackson followed with a RBI single that brought Julian home with a TP Blue run that trimmed the shortfall to 8-7.
Subsequently, with nerves of steel, Jackson utilized a pair of daredevil steals to move over to third base as the potential tying run.
With the game on the line, Royal York 13U White closer Anton chalked up three strikeouts bring the curtain down on TP 13U Blue’s last gasp rally bid and seal the deal on a hard fought Cardinals victory.