TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS 11U BLUE TAME THE RIVERDOGS AT CHRISTIE PITS TO TAKE HOME THE ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (EBA) 11U MOSQUITO SELECT CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE. AFTER CAPTURING THE 11U EBA SELECT TITLE WITH A PERFECT 6-0 RECORD, THE TP 11U BLUE ARE REWARDED WITH AN INVITATION TO THE 2024 BASEBALL ONTARIO (OBA) 11U SELECT PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFFS IN WINDSOR.
Beneath a pristine ceiling of hot and hazy skies, the Toronto Playgrounds Baseball Association (TPBA) 11U Blue defeated the York 11U Riverdogs 8-2 this afternoon in a 6 ½ inning final to win the 2024 Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 11U Select Championship Tournament Game.
In the top half of the first inning, TP 11U Blue starter Ellis (44) retired the York 11U batting order in 1-2-3 fashion with two searing strikeouts and a 5-3 groundout to keep the Riverdogs offense in the dawg pound.
With two outs, Ellis was the recipient of a Say Hey play from the TP defense. After York 11U batter Adam (3) lined a sharp cheddar cheese shot down the third baseline, TP 11U Blue third baseman Cole (23) snagged the hot tamale in his glove and made a lightning throw across the diamond to first baseman Emile (5) to ring up a superlative 5-3 putout that sent York packing in the first frame.
With resolve, TP 11U Blue staked themselves to an early 4-0 advantage in the bottom of the first inning.
After a leadoff hit by Dylan (8), Julian (26) followed with single that put two TP runners on the dancefloor.
Following a two out walk by Cole that loaded the bases, Eli (7) delivered a clutch two RBI single that brought Dylan and Julian home with the opening runs of the proceedings.
With TP runners at third and second, Wilt (2) followed with a grace under pressure two RBI double that allowed Cole and Eli to motor home with two more TP 11U Blue runs.
In a stouthearted effort, York 11U starter Emiliano (56) tallied two strikeouts against TP 11U Blue in the first frame.
Licking their wounds, York 11U answered back with a run in the top of the second inning to trim the shortfall to 4-1.
After stroking a leadoff single, Lennox (19) made like Bennie and Jets and swiped his way into scoring position with a theft of second base.
With one out and a runner on third, Teo (44) hit into a 4-3 groundout that brought Lennox home with the Riverdogs first run of the game.
Shaken, but not stirred, TP 11U Blue starter Ellis chalked up a pair of groundouts and a strikeout to subdue the York 11U uprising in the second frame.
Throwing down the gauntlet, TP 11U Blue replied with a pair in the bottom of the second inning to extend their upper hand to 6-1.
Following a one out single by Dominic (24), Emile followed suit with a single that put two ducks on the pond.
With two outs and TP runners on third and second, Dylan hit a scorching Nash the Slash two RBI triple down the first baseline that allowed Dominic and Emile to blaze home with a pair of TP 11U Blue runs.
With grit, York 11U starter Emiliano rang up a groundout, strikeout and pop out to extinguish the TP 11U Blue insurgency in the second frame.
Refusing to throw in the towel, York 11U punched back with a run in the top of the third inning to trim the gap to 6-2.
Following a one out single, Connor (27) took advantage of a wild pitch to advance over to second base.
With opportunity knocking, Loukas (17) delivered a RBI double that brought Connor home with a Riverdogs run.
Unfazed, TP 11U Blue starter Ellis sandwiched a pair of strikeouts between a pop out to terminate the York 11U rebellion in the third frame.
TP 11U Blue threatened again in the bottom portion of the third inning following a walk and stolen base by Cole.
Nonplussed, York 11U starter Emiliano reeled off a fly out, groundout and a strikeout to curtail the TP 11U Blue dissent in the third frame.
With 1-2-3 efficiency, TP 11U Blue starter Ellis dispatched York 11U in the top of the fourth inning with two groundouts and a strikeout to keep the Riverdogs off the scoring ledger.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, TP 11U Blue threatened following a walk by Owen (14).
However, York 11U reliever Ryan (4) tallied a groundout, fly out and a pop out to curtail the TP 11U Blue incursion in the fourth frame.
Taking umbrage at their situation, the York 11U offense stirred to life in the top of the fifth inning.
Following a leadoff hit by Caleb (43), Emiliano chipped in a single that put two Riverdogs on the discotheque floor.
Cool as a silver slicer cucumber, TP 11U Blue reliever Julian entered the fray to ring up two strikeouts and a groundout to put a kibosh on the York 11U coup d’état in the fifth frame.
TP 11U Blue added a run in the bottom half of the fifth inning to increase their plurality to 7-2.
Following a surprise leadoff bunt single down the third baseline that flummoxed the York 11U defense, Ewan (28) took advantage of a Riverdogs error on the play to advance over to second base.
Throwing caution to the wind, Ewan upped the ante as he completed a ballsy theft of third base for TP 11U Blue.
With one out, Julian hit into a 5-3 groundout that allowed Ewan to zoom home with a TP 11U Blue run.
York 11U reliever Ryan reeled off three groundouts in the fifth frame to end the TP 11U Blue outbreak.
Refusing to walk quietly into the afternoon heat, York 11U continued to battle in the top of the sixth inning.
With their championship dreams slipping away, Loukas, Ryan and Brianna (8) took the bull by the horns as they hit consecutive two out singles to load the bases for the Riverdogs.
After racking up aa strikeout and a groundout, TP 11U reliever Julian coaxed the next York 11U batter to hit into a 1-2 fielder’s choice that extinguished the Riverdogs frenetic comeback bid in the sixth frame.
TP 11U Blue tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth to solidify their lead at 8-2.
With the bases loaded, Dominic delivered a one out sacrifice fly that brought Cole home with a TP run.
In a stalwart effort, York 11U reliever Ryan chalked up two fly outs and a strikeout to quell the TP 11U Blue insurrection in the sixth frame.
Refusing to pussyfoot around the mulberry bush, TP 11U reliever Julian rang up a pop out and a strikeout to begin the top of the seventh inning.
With TP on the cusp of closing the deal on the championship game, the York 11U coaches brought the proceedings to a screeching halt when they challenged the veracity of Julian’s pitch count numbers. The ensuing delay lasted fifteen minutes.
When play finally resumed, Teo slashed a two out screaming line drive down the first baseline. It was at this juncture where TP first baseman Emile stepped into the breach and snagged the ball in his trusty trapper mitt to ring up the final out and seal the deal on TP 11U Blue’s 11U EBA championship win.
After TP 11U Blue finished their regular season campaign atop the 2024 EBA 11U Select Loop standings with a sparkling 12-0 record, all the other 11U EBA Select teams took it upon themselves to make life as difficult as possible for TP 11U Blue during their EBA playoff run, in a determined bid to take down the top dog.
In the five playoff games played prior to this afternoon’s championship battle against York 11U, TP 11U Blue answered the clarion call with aplomb and took down all challengers with everything that they had in their tool box.
TP 11U Blue began its quest last Sunday night when they topped the Annette 11U A’s 8-4 in a six inning battle to earn its first playoff win at the EBA 11U Select tournament.
With the continuation of play on Friday afternoon, TP 11U edged the Royal York 11U White 10-9 in a dramatic six inning nail biter to earn its second EBA playoff game victory.
Early on Saturday morning, TP 11U Blue defeated the Martingrove 11U Grey White Sox 7-1 in a six inning grinder to win its third EBA playoff game.
In a rain delayed tooth and nail battle, TP 11U Blue edged TP 11U Red 4-3 in a 6 ½ inning marathon to earn its fourth EBA playoff victory.
And in a rematch early this morning, TP 11U Blue prevailed 5-2 over TP 11U Red in a feisty 6 ½ inning contest to earn their fifth playoff win at the EBA tourney.
With their victory over TP 11U Red, TP 11U punched their ticket into the EBA 11U Tournament championship round, with a showdown for all the marbles against York 11U.
Following their hard fought 8-2 championship win over the Riverdogs, TP 11U Blue finished the 2024 EBA championship tournament with an unblemished 6-0 record. In total, TP 11U Blue finished their 2024 EBA 11U Select season with a not too shabby 18-0 overall record.
And to the victor goes the spoils, as TP 11U Blue is duly rewarded with an invitation to the 2024 Baseball Ontario (OBA) 11U Select Provincial Championship in Windsor.
In an exclusive championship postgame interview with the TPBA Website, TP 11U Blue Head Coach Matt Marstrom was asked to reflect upon his team’s successful trek at the 2024 EBA Championship Tournament:
“What a weekend of baseball and weather!”
“I have never seen a community of baseball families come together to make Christie Pits playable on Saturday, not once but twice.”
“Three Shop-Vacs; drill bumps; hand pumps; brooms; rakes; and even bagged milk holders were used to get all the water off of Christie Pits Diamond 2!”
“Before and after those rain and thunder delays, there was some great baseball by an amazing group of 2012 and 2013 players from across the west end of the city and Etobicoke.”
“My group of Trash Pandas were tested all weekend. But we found ways to win with amazing catches, timely hits, and like all season…phenomenal pitching.”
“Someone new stepped up in every game to make the difference and lead us to six straight wins in the EBA 11U playoffs to finish off an incredible 18-0 run in league play.”
“It has been my pleasure to watch this group of twelve players come together to become this amazing team.”
“We have five more wins in our sights. We are ready for Windsor and the OBA’s in Forest Glade.”
“TP on 3!!!”
The TP 11U Blue Selects finished the 2024 EBA 11U Select regular season campaign with a perfect 12-0 record.
Away from the EBA Select circuit, TP 11U Blue also finished as the finalists at three tournaments during the course of the 2024 season (the Brampton (BMBI) 11U Select Tournament in mid June; the Clarington (CMBA) 11U Select Tournament in mic July; and the Dave Dash Memorial (DDM) 11U Select Tournament in late July).
The TPBA wishes to extend their congratulations to Head Coach Mark Marstrom; Assistant Coaches Dan Kuchar; Julian Lorenzo; and Jeff Vila; Team Manager Sami Kuchar; and the players of the TP 11U Blue Select Team for their hard work and dedication in achieving championship glory at the 2024 EBA 11U Select Tournament.
The TPBA also wishes to commend all the 11U Blue Select coaches, players, parents and family members for representing the core values of Toronto Playgrounds Baseball program with honour, dignity and professionalism both on and off the diamond at the EBA tourney and during the course of the 2024 season.
Hi! Ho! Hi! Ho! It’s off to the provincials we go!
WAY TO GO, TP!