REP > TP 18U ‘A’ Top Kitchener 18U ‘T2’ 13-5 To Win 2025 Mississauga North Baseball Association (MNBA) 18U ‘A’ Tournament Championship Game

FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS TAME THE PANTHERS TO TAKE HOME THE CHAMPIONSHIP PRIZE AT THE RIVER GROVE COMMUNITY CENTRE

Tournament Post composed with files from Jimmy Rogers. Tournament Photo courtesy of Dora Yeoh.

Beneath a warm canopy of succulent blue and cloudy midsummer skies, Toronto Playgrounds 18U ‘A’ defeated the Kitchener 18U ‘T2’ Panthers 13-5 in a seven inning proceeding this afternoon at the River Grove Community Centre to win the 2025 Mississauga North Baseball Association (MNBA) 18U ‘A’ Tournament Championship Game.

Toronto Playgrounds staked itself to an early 1-0 advantage in the top half of the second inning.

After a leadoff walk by Liam Gallagher (74), Devon Rogers (16) stroked a single that allowed Gallagher to advance to third base. Following a steal of second base by Rogers, Gallagher took advantage of a passed ball by Kitchener to hustle home with the opening run of the game.

Throwing down the gauntlet, TP 18U ‘A’ scored five runs in the top of the third frame to extend their lead to 6-0.

After Owen Paterson (51) reached base on a one out hit by pitch, Graham Meadowcroft (12) hit a single that advanced Paterson over to third base. 

Following a derring-do theft of second by Meadowcroft that put TP runners at third and second base, William Parks (33) delivered a RBI hit to right field that advanced Meadowcroft to third, and brought Paterson home with a TP run.

After K. Sood (98) was inserted into the game as a pinch runner for Parks, Sood quickly stole second base with aplomb. With TP runners at third and second, Gallagher powered a two RBI double to right field, which allowed Meadowcroft and Sood to motor home with a pair of TP runs.

Following a brazen theft of third by Gallagher, Rogers reached base on a Panthers fielding error that put a pair of TP runners on the dancefloor.

Licking his chops, Elliot Nelson (50) took advantage of the opportunity and followed with a two RBI single to centre field, which brought Gallagher and Rogers homeward with two more TP runs.

After Kitchener replied with a three spot in the bottom portion of the third inning to close the gap to 6-3, TP 18U ‘A’ took the bull by the horns and answered the clarion call in the top of the fourth frame by scoring three runs to widen their upper hand to 9-3.

Following a leadoff walk by Meadowcroft, Parks stroked a single that put two ducks on the pond.

After a one out theft of third by Meadowcroft that put TP runners on the corners, Rogers stroked a RBI hit to left field that advanced Parks over to second, and allowed Meadowcroft to blaze home with a TP run.

Following respective steals by Parks and Rogers that moved them into optimal scoring position at the third and second base, Eamon Mackenzie (7) stepped up to the plate and delivered a clutch two out two RBI double to left field that brought Parks and Rogers home with two TP runs.

After the Panthers clawed back with a run in the bottom half of the fourth, TP 18U ‘A’ parlayed four more runs in the top portion of the fifth inning to increase their plurality to 13-4.

Following a leadoff hit, Russell Lee (27) took advantage of a Kitchener faux pas to advance to second base. After a subsequent two out steal of third, Lee pounced on a Panthers wild pitch to zoom home with a TP run.

After Parks garnered a walk, Gallagher stroked a single that put TP runners at second and first base.

Going for the jugular, Rogers followed with a grace under pressure two out two RBI double to left field, that allowed Parks and Gallagher to come home with a pair of TP runs.

Following a Nasty Canasta theft of third, Rogers took full measure of a Panthers wild pitch to score another TP run.

Taking care of business, TP 18U ‘A’ starter Graham Meadowcroft stymied Kitchener over the course of five stellar innings. Meadowcroft allowed only four runs, four hits, while striking out six Panthers to earn the championship game victory.

In a solid effort, TP 18U ‘A’ reliever Freelon Wright (11) threw two superlative innings to seal the deal on TP’s championship win.

Rogers and Mackenzie powered the TP 18U ‘A’ attack against Kitchener. Rogers went 3 for 4 at the plate, with three runs scored and three RBI’s. Mackenzie chipped in with a 3 for 5 effort at the dish, with two RBI’s.

Toronto Playgrounds 18U ‘A’ began its championship journey at the MNBA tourney on Friday evening with a nitty gritty 6-0 six inning victory over the Ajax 18U ‘T3’ Spartans to earn its first Division B pool group win.

In a riveting six inning effort, TP 18U ‘A’ starter Meadowcroft and reliever Wright combined to keep Ajax off the scoring ledger, while limiting the Spartans to only two hits.

With the wind in its sails, TP 18U ‘A’ prevailed 5-0 over the Markham 18U ‘A’ Mariners on Saturday morning to earn its second pool group victory at the MNBA tourney.

TP 18U ‘A’ starter Robbie Kennedy (21) pitched a complete game six inning shutout against Markham. Kennedy surrendered only one hit, while striking out four Mariners.

On Saturday afternoon, TP 18U ‘A’ were upended 14-2 by  Kitchener 18U ‘T2’ in a five inning Division B pool group affair.

Finishing the round robin with a 2-1 record in its pool group, TP 18U ‘A’ earned a berth in Sunday’s semi-final elimination round portion of the MNBA tournament.

In a nail biting, tooth and nail extra inning battle earlier this afternoon, TP 18U ‘A’ edged the Vaughan 18U ‘A’ Vikings 11-10 in an  epic eight inning semi-final elimination game.

With the proceeding deadlocked 10-10, and TP 18U ‘A’ baserunner G. Izaguirre (14) placed on second base, Paterson delivered a RBI double to bring Izaguirre home with TP’s dramatic winning run.

With their hard fought victory against the Vikings, TP 18U ‘A’ punched its ticket into the championship round of the MNBA tournament, with a rematch versus the Kitchener 18U ‘T2’ Panthers for all the marbles.

The Toronto Playgrounds Baseball Association (TPBA) wishes to congratulate Head Coach Josh Platz; Assistant Coaches Simon Nelson and Dylan Wilson; Co-Team Managers Kristin Nelson and Dora Yeoh; and the players of the TP 18U ‘A’ Rep Team for attaining championship glory at the 2025 MNBA 18U ‘A’ Tournament.

The TPBA also wishes to commend all the TP 18U ‘A’ coaches, players, parents and family members for representing the core values of TPBA program with honour, dignity and professionalism both on and off the diamond at the weekend MNBA tourney.

WAY TO GO, TP!