SELECT > Royal York 11U Red Top TP 11U 4-2 in 2025 EBA 11U Select Tournament Playoff Game

IN A COMPETITIVE DOWN AND DIRTY CONTEST, THE CARDINALS FEND OFF A VALIANT TORONTO PLAGROUNDS RALLY BID IN THE FINAL INNING TO PREVAIL FOR THE ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (EBA) 11U SELECT TOURNAMENT PLAYOFF GAME VICTORY AT CHRISTIE PITS

Beneath a thick as pea soup ceiling of hot and muggy skies, the Royal York 11U Red Cardinals prevailed 4-2 over Toronto Playgrounds 11U in a 6½ inning 2025 Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 11U Select Tournament Playoff Game this afternoon at Christie Pits Diamond 2.

In the top portion of the first inning, TP 11U threatened early when they loaded the bases.

After a leadoff walk by Oliver B. (17), Valentine (99) stroked a one out single that advanced Oliver B. to third base.

Following a walk by Jacob (16) that loaded the bases, Kai U (2) scorched a hot tamale line drive that the Royal York defense turned into a debonair 4-6 double play [Cardinals second baseman caught Kai U’s screaming liner and made a lickety-split throw to the shortstop to erase a wayfaring TP baserunner at second.] that allowed the Red Birds to dodge a bullet in the first frame.

Cool as a Beit Alpha cucumber, Royal York 11U Red starter Evalina (15) utilized a strikeout and a line out in the first inning to end the TP 11U threat.

While riding atop a shiny green and yellow John Deere 25-horsepower, 48-inch Accel Deep X500 Select Series Lawn Tractor, TP 11U starter Eli (8) mowed down the Royal York 11U Red batting order in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the first inning to keep the Cardinals offense in the birdhouse.

Toronto Playgrounds threatened in the top of the second inning following a walk by Robbie (9).

Throwing down the gauntlet, Royal York 11U Red starter Evalina chalked up three strikeouts to send TP packing in the second frame.

Taking flight, Royal York 11U Red drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning when they scored a pair to stake themselves to a 2-0 lead.

After a leadoff single by Evalina, Elli (14) and Vivien (9) followed with back to back walks that allowed the Cardinals to load the bases.

Exercising patience at the plate, Livia (24) drew a bases loaded RBI walk that allowed Elli and Vivien to move up respectively to third and second base, and brought Evalina home with the opening run of the proceedings.

Subsequently, with one out and the bases still packed tighter than a tin of StarKist Tuna, Elli would take advantage of a TP 11U error to hustle home with another Cardinals run.

With two outs, Royal York 11U Red decided to execute a bold double steal attempt.

As Vivien charged towards third, TP 11U catcher Robbie made a quicksilver throw down the line to third baseman Nolan, who slapped a emphatic tag on Vivien to short circuit her Grand Theft dreams and put a kibosh on the Cardinals insurrection in the second frame.

TP 11U starter Eli tallied a pop out and a strikeout to quell the Royal York 11U Red uprising in the second inning.

With resolve, RTP 11U threatened in the top of the third inning following a single by Kyler (13). 

With no desire to pussyfoot around the mulberry bush, Royal York 11U Red starter Evalina rang up a pop out and a pair of strikeouts to put an end to the TP mutiny in the third frame.

In the bottom of the third inning, Royal York 11U Red added a run to their Bitcoin portfolio to extend their plurality to 3-0.

After stroking a leadoff single, Koyuki (10) turned on the afterburners and made two stylistic Olympian steals to get into optimal scoring position at third base.

With two outs, Avalyn (1) delivered a grace under pressure RBI double that allowed Koyuki to zoom home with a Cardinals run.

In a stouthearted effort, TP 11U starter Eli rang up three strikeouts to diffuse the Royal York civil disobedience in the third frame.

Refusing to go quietly into the afternoon sun, Toronto Playgrounds threatened yet again in top of the fourth inning.

Following a leadoff single, Oliver B. made like Bennie and Jets and stole second base.

After Max (03) hit into 4-3 groundout, Oliver B. (after advancing over to third base) made the bold as brass decision to blaze home.

Just at the moment Cardinals catcher Kelly (3) took receipt of the lightning throw from her first baseman, she caught Oliver B. in no man’s land before he could reach pay dirt. As Kelly chased her prey back up the third baseline, she tagged Oliver B. out to chalk up a succulent 3-2 defensive gem for the second out.

With no inclination to throw in the towel, Valentine stroked a two out single. A Royal York error on the play would allow Valentine to advance to second base.

After a deft theft of third, Valentine pounced on a Cardinals wild pitch to bolt homeward. In a chitty chitty bang bang play at the dish, Royal York Red catcher Kelly tagged out Valentine to bring the curtain down on TP 11U’s coup d’état in the fourth frame.

Royal York 11U Red starter Evalina chipped in with a groundout in the fourth frame to keep TP off the scoring ledger.

In the bottom half of the fourth inning, Royal York 11U Red threatened following a double by Evalina and a walk by Elli that put two Cardinals runners on the dancefloor.

With passion, TP 11U reliever Valentine reeled off two strikeouts and a pop out to keep the Cardinals off the scoreboard and out of the birdfeeder in the fourth frame.

Flexing her wings, Royal York 11U reliever Livia dispatched the TP 11U batting order with 1-2-3 efficiency in the top of the fifth inning with two pop outs and a groundout that kept TP off the scoresheet.

Royal York 11U Red added a dramatic insurance run to their nest egg in the bottom of the fifth inning to stretch their advantage to 4-0.

With two outs, Koyuki stepped into the batter’s box and slashed a Nasty Canasta shot down the first baseline for a thrilling inside the park home run that brought the Cardinals players and fans to their feet in jubilant celebration!

Unfazed, TP 11U reliever Valentine racked up a groundout, pop out and a strikeout to curtail the Royal York unrest in the fifth frame.

Answering the clarion call, Toronto Playgrounds scored a run in the top of the sixth inning to trim the shortfall to 4-1.

After hitting a two out single, Nolan threw caution to the wind and stole second base with aplomb.

Seizing the opportunity, Santiago (25) delivered a clutch RBI single that brought Nolan home with TP 11U’s first run of the game.

Unruffled, Royal York 11U reliever Livia tallied a pair of strikeouts and a groundout to extinguish the TP revolt in the sixth frame. 

With great balls of fire, TP 11U reliever Valentine hurled three scintillating strikeouts in the bottom of the sixth inning to retire the Royal York 11U Red batting order in 1-2-3 fashion to keep the Cardinals off the scoring abacus and perched to the birdbath.

Trailing 4-1, TP 11U donned their rally caps as came up for their last at bats in the top of the seventh inning, determined to change their place in the time continuum.

After a one out walk by Oliver B., Max stroked a single that advanced Oliver B. over to third base.

With runners on third and first, Valentine delivered a RBI hit that moved Max to second, and allowed Oliver B. to come home with a TP run that closed the gap to two.

Toronto Playgrounds would subsequently initiate a successful double steal that advanced Max and Valentine respectively over to third and second base with TP’s potential tying runs.

With the game on the line, Royal York 11U Red reliever Livia rang up two puckish strikeouts that vanquished the TP 11U comeback bid and sealed the deal on a hard fought 11U EBA Select playoff game victory for the Cardinals.