SELECT > TP 9U Top Annette 9U 7-3

IN A RAIN SHORTENED AFFAIR, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS PREVAIL OVER THE A’s FOR THE ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (EBA) 9U SELECT GAME VICTORY AT CHRISTIE PITS

Game Post composed with files courtesy of Steve Phillips.

Beneath a fluctuating ceiling of overcast and rainy skies, Toronto Playgrounds 9U prevailed 7-3 over the Annette 9U A’s in a rain shortened three inning Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 9U Select Game this afternoon at Christie Pits Diamond 3.

Annette 9U threatened in the top half of the first inning following a pair of singles by Giovanni (38) and River (10) that put two A’s baserunners on the dancefloor.

With one out, River (10) strokes a single that put a pair of Annette 9U baserunners on base in the top of the first inning.

However, the TP defense answered the clarion call by chalking up a dynamic 1-5 putout to erase Giovanni at third base for the first out.

Emboldened, TP 9U followed it up with a nifty pop out catch at second base for the second out and a Kirby vacuum suction groundout play at first base that extinguished the Annette insurgency in the first frame.

In the bottom of the first, Toronto Playgrounds threatened following respective singles by Xander (13) and Killian (21).

Annette 9U second baseman  Owen (11) tags out TP 9U baserunner Xander (13) to stymie the TP offensive thrust in the bottom of the first inning.

Unfortunately, the TP attack fizzled out in the first frame as they were unable to capitalize on the opportunity at hand.

Annette 9U staked themselves to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. 

With one out, Levi (5) muscled a one out single for the A’s.

Levi (5) sets the table with a one out single for Annette 9U in the top of the first inning.

With his eye on the prize, Saul (89) delivers a two run home run shot for the A’s in the second frame.

With the A’s fans cheering from behind the first baseline fence, Annette 9U players rushed out of the dugout to congratulate Saul (89) on his two run inside the park home run blast in the second inning.

Saul (89) followed with a scorching two run inside the park home run blast that brought the Annette faithful in the bleacher seats to their feet in jubilant celebration.

With lickety-split urgency, TP 9U answered back with a three spot in the bottom portion of the second inning to take a 3-2 upper hand.

After a one out single by Samuel (28), Cillian (99) stroked a Hai Karate chopper that allowed TP to put two ducks on the pond.

Samuel (28) slashes a one out single to spark the TP 9U attack in the bottom of the second inning.

Cillian (99) strokes a down and dirty single that puts two TP 9U runners on base in the second frame.

As Annette 9U second baseman Owen (11) awaits the throw, Samuel (28) slides safely into second base with authority in the second inning.

With the pitch veering into his wheelhouse, Teo (43) is poised to deliver a game tying two RBI double for TP 9U in the second frame.

With carpe diem authority, Teo (43) launched a two RBI double that brought Samuel and Cillian home with TP’s game tying runs.

Taking full measure of the opportunity before him, Justin (2) delivered a RBI hit that allowed Teo to motor home with TP’s go ahead run.

Justin (2) strokes a RBI single to bring home TP 9U’s go ahead run in the bottom of the second inning.

With pluck, Annette 9U replied with a run in the top of the third inning that deadlocked the proceedings at 3-3.

After Russell (17) reached base on a fielder’s choice, Giovanni singled to put two A’s on base.

Giovanni (38) strokes a key one out single that put two Annette 9U runners on the base paths in the top of the third inning.

With two ducks on the pond, Jamie (99) connects for a solid RBI hit to bring the A’s game tying run home in the third frame.

Russell (17) hustles home with Annette 9U’s tying run in the third inning.

Jamie (99) followed with a one out RBI single that brought Russell home with Annette’s game tying run.

Ratcheting up the pressure on TP, River stroked a single that allowed the A’s to load the bases.

Keeping the pressure on the TP 9U D, River (10) muscles a one out single that allows the A’s to load the bases in the third frame.

With the game on the line, the TP defense rose up to the occasion by executing an exquisite 8-6 double play that put a kibosh on Annette’s sedition in the third frame.

TP 9U coaches diligently utilize everything in their tool chest to keep the pitching machine dry during a rain delay after the completion of the top portion of the third inning.

Following a rain delay, TP 9U put the pedal to metal in bottom portion of the third as they snapped the stalemate by exploding for four runs to take a 7-3 lead.

After Daisuke (24) connected for a hit to lead off the inning, Xander stroked a one out single that advanced Daisuke to second base.

With one out and a runner on first, Xander (13) delivers a key single that would allow TP 9U to snap a 3-3 tie in the bottom half of the third inning.

Taking advantage of an Annette error, Daisuke (24) blazes home from second base with TP 9U’s go ahead run in the third frame.

On the play, Annette committed an error that allowed Xander to move over to second, and brought Daisuke homeward with TP’s go ahead run.

With steely eyed resolve, Elliot (9) stroked a single that moved Xander over to third base, and put two swans on the lake.

Putting the poker to the fire, Elliot (9) strokes a single for TP 9U in the third inning.

Killian (21) muscles a RBI hit on the third frame to bring home a TP 9U insurance run.

Killian (21) followed with a RBI hit that advanced Elliot to second and allowed Xander to motor homeward with a TP insurance run.

For the icing on the cake, Ben (8) stepped up to the dish and delivered a coup de grâce two RBI single that cleared the bases and brought Elliot and Killian home with two more TP runs. Ben would be hung out to dry by the Annette defense after an unsuccessful bid to advance to second base on the play.

Laying on the lumber, Ben (8) delivers a pièce de résistance two RBI single for TP 9U in the third inning.

After connecting for a two out Nash the Slash hot tamale shot (top) for TP 9U, a hustling Gavin (27) is erased at first base on a razor’s edge 4-3 play by the Annette 9U defense in the third frame.

With two outs, Gavin (27) scorched a hot tamale shot between second and first. However, the Annette defense turned a nifty 4-3 gem to just nab a hard charging Gavin for the third out and subdue the TP 9U insurgency in the third frame.

And with the rain continuing to come down, turning the field of play into a muddy morass, the officiating umpires called for curtain to come down on the proceedings at the end of the third.