IN A ROLLER COASTER BATTLE, THE HOMESTEADS RALLY BACK FROM AN 11-2 DEFICIT TO PREVAIL OVER THE MONARCHS FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE AT DOMINICO FIELD AT CHRISTIE PITS
Beneath a warm ceiling of twilight skies, the Homesteads prevailed 14-11 over the Monarchs in a 5 ½ inning battle tonight at Dominico Field at Christie Pits to win the 2024 Toronto Playgrounds Baseball Association (TPBA) 18U Varsity Division House League Tournament Championship Game.
With spunk, the Monarchs jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the top half of the first inning.
After a leadoff walk by Julia (9), Parker (1) drew a walk that put two Monarchs on the discotheque floor.
With runners on third and second, Georgia (5) stroked a 1-3 groundout that advanced Parker to third base and allowed Julia to hustle home with the opening run of the proceedings.
Following a two out walk and steal of second by Lucky (2), Lauren (8) delivered a clutch two RBI single that brought Parker and Lucky home with a pair of Monarchs runs.
Unfazed, Homesteads starter Andy (5) chalked up a groundout and two strikeouts to diffuse the Monarchs putsch in the top f the first frame.
Not to be outdone, the Homesteads quickly answered back with a pair in the bottom of the first inning to trim the shortfall to 3-2.
After stroking a leadoff single, Andy moved over to second base with a derring-do steal.
On the next play, Monarchs first baseman reeled in an eight mile high pop up off the bat of Dashiell (15) for the first out.
Following a deft theft of third base, Andy took advantage of a Monarchs wild pitch to zoom home to score the Homesteads first run on a chitty chitty bang bang play at the plate.
After garnering a walk, Graham (9) turned on the afterburners and swiped his way around the horn to third base with aplomb.
With a keen eye on the pitch, Robbie (10) cranked a RBI sacrifice fly that allowed Graham to come homeward with a Homesteads run.
With tenacity, Monarchs starter Lucky tallied a pop out, fly out and a groundout to subdue the Homesteads mutiny in the bottom of the first frame.
Taking a degree of active periphrastic action, the Monarchs replied with a four spot in the top of the second inning to widen their upper hand to 7-2.
With jurisdiction, Holden (3) led off the Monarchs portion of the inning with a solid single.
Throwing caution to the wind, Holden rattled the Homesteads with two audacious steals that advanced him to third base. On his deft heft of third, Holden took advantage of a Homestead error to blaze home with a run for the Monarchs.
Following a single by Julia, Parker drew a walk that put two ducks on the pond.
After Julia and Parker had advanced respectively to third and second with a pair of steals, the Homesteads uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Julia to motor home with a Monarchs run.
On the same play, Parker took advantage of the Homesteads error to hustle into third base with a down and dirty headfirst slide that kicked up a startling plume of dust.
After a walk and stolen base by Georgia that put runners at third and second, Roman (6) delivered a RBI single that moved Georgia to third and brought Parker home with a Monarchs run.
Following a walk by Lucky that loaded the bases, the Homesteads uncorked another wild pitch to the backstop that allowed Georgia to come home with another Monarchs run.
The Homesteads threatened in the bottom of the second following a walk and a pair of derring-do steals by Josh (7) that advanced him into optimal scoring position at third base.
However, Monarchs reliever Lauren (8) rang up two strikeouts and a groundout to put a kibosh on the Homesteads sedition in the bottom of the second frame.
With the wind in their sails, the Monarchs added four runs to their portfolio in the top of the third inning to stretch their plurality to 11-2.
After a two out hit by Luka, Holden stroked a single that put two runners on base.
Following respective thefts of third and second base by Luka and Holden, the Homesteads issued a wild pitch that allowed Holden to advance to third and brought Luka home with a run.
After Julia and Parker garnered back to back walks to load the bases, Georgia took one for the team when she was hit by pitch, allowing Holden to shuffle home from third with a Monarchs run.
With the bases packed tighter than a tin of Underwood Deviled Ham, the Homesteads unfurled another wild pitch that allowed Parker and Georgia to move over to third and second, and Julia to score a Monarchs run.
Following a walk by Roman that reloaded the bases, the Homesteads served up another wild pitch that brought Parker home with another Monarchs run.
Licking their wounds, the Homesteads found their mojo in the bottom half of the third inning as they scored four runs to trim the deficit to 11-6.
Following a hustle bustle single by Andy, Dashiell drew a walk that put two runners on base.
With runners on third and second, Graham delivered a RBI single that moved Dashiell over to third and allowed Andy to score a Homesteads run.
After a wild pitch by the Monarchs during the next at bat, Graham advanced to third and Dashiell seized on the opportunity to come homeward with a Homesteads run.
Following a walk by Robbie, the Monarchs served up another wild pitch which allowed Robbie to move to third and allowed Graham to score a Homesteads run.
Sensing the opportunity before him, Tyler (12) powered a RBI double that brought Robbie home with another Homesteads run.
The Monarchs threatened in the top portion of the fourth inning after Griffin (11) reached base on a fielder’s choice and Luka’s single that put two aboard.
However, the Monarchs were unable to capitalize after Homesteads reliever Graham found the groove and chalked up a pair of groundouts and a pop out to break off the Monarchs outbreak in the top of the fourth frame.
Throwing down the gauntlet, the Homesteads scored four in the bottom of the fourth inning to close the gap to 11-10.
After hitting a one out single, Jake (8) made like Bennie and the Jets and stole a couple of bases to advance to third base.
A subsequent Monarchs wild pitch would allow Jake to scurry home with a Homesteads run.
Following a walk by Ben (11), Josh reached base on a hit by pitch that put two Homesteads on base.
Aroon (1) followed with a RBI single that moved Josh to second and brought Ben home with a Homestesda run.
After a succinct theft of third base, Josh took advantage of a Monarchs error to come barreling home to score another Homesteads run with a ballsy headfirst slide at the dish. Aroon would advance over to second base on the play.
Following a steal of third base by Aroon, Dashiell delivered a RBI singlr that brought Aroon home with a Homesteads run that made it a one run affair.
Wheeling and dealing, Homesteads reliever Robbie quickly retired the Monarchs in 1-2-3 fashion in the top portion of the fifth inning with a pop out and two smokestack lightning strikeouts that kept the Monarchs off the scoresheet .
With carpe diem urgency, the Homesteads tallied four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to overtake the Monarchs 14-11.
After a Nash the Slash leadoff hit by Graham, Robbie followed with a single that put two aboard.
With runners on third and second, Tyler launched a two RBI double that brought Graham and Robbie home with the Homesteads go ahead runs.
Following a steal of third by Tyler and a walk by Malcom (3), the Monarchs unleashed a wild pitch that advanced Malcom to second and allowed Tyler to motor homeward with a Homesteads insurance run.
After Jake reached base on a hit by pitch, Ben drew a walk that loaded the bases.
Josh followed with a RBI single that brought Malcom home with another Homesteads run.
Trailing 14-11 and donning their rally caps, the Monarchs came up for their final at bats in the top of the sixth inning determined to change their circumstance in the time continuum.
After Lucky reached base on a catcher’s interference call, Lauren drew a walk that put two Monarchs on base.
With the game on the line, Homesteads reliever Robbie rang up pair of strikeouts and a groundout to bring the curtain down on the Monarchs comeback bid and seal the Homesteads championship victory.
