SELECT > TP 11U Edge Annette 11U 13-12 in 2025 EBA 11U Select Tournament Semi-Final Game Two

FOLLOWING A DRAMATIC SEVEN-RUN SIXTH INNING COMEBACK RALLY TO DEADLOCK THE PROCEEDINGS AND FORCE AN EXTRA FRAME, TORONTO PLAYGROUNDS PREVAIL OVER THE A’s IN THE EXTRA INNING TO WIN AN EPIC ETOBICOKE BASEBALL ASSOCIATION (EBA) 11U SELECT TOURNAMENT SEMI-FINAL ELIMINATION GAME BARNBURNER AT CHRISTIE PITS. WITH THEIR VICTORY OVER ANNETTE 11U, TP 11U HEAD INTO A CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND SHOWDOWN AGAINST THE ROYAL YORK 11U WHITE.

Under a hot tin roof of hazy and humid skies, the Toronto Playgrounds 11U prevailed 13-12 over the Annette 11U A’s in an awe-inspiring seven inning 2025 Etobicoke Baseball Association (EBA) 11U Select Tournament Semi-Final Game this afternoon at Christie Pits Diamond 2.

Annette 11U jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

After stroking a leadoff hit, Luke (7) parlayed a stolen base and a wild pitch to move over to third base. 

Following a walk and stolen base by Liam (56) that put two A’s on base, Luke would take advantage of a TP 11U wild pitch to fly home like a peregrine falcon and score the opening run of the proceedings.

With imperturbable resolve, TP 11U starter Eli (8) wrapped a pair of strikeouts around a pop out to halt the Annette unrest in the first frame.

Toronto Playgrounds quickly answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the first inning to take a 3-1 lead.

After a leadoff hit by Valentine (99), Kai U. (2) connected for a single that put two ducks on the pond.

Eli followed with a RBI single that moved Kai U. over to second base and brought Valentine home with TP 11U’s game tying run.

After Oliver B. (17) reached base on a fielder’s choice that erased Kai U. at third and advanced Eli to second base, both Eli and Oliver B. executed a derring-do double steal that put TP runners into pristine scoring position at third and second.

With two outs, Robbie (9) took stock of the opportunity before him and delivered a clutch two RBI single that allowed Eli and Oliver B. to hustle home with TP 11U’s go ahead runs. On the play, Robbie would be erased on a failed bid to advance to second base.

Annette 11U starter Luke tallied a groundout and a strikeout to suspend the TP insurgency in the first frame.

Not to be outdone, Annette 11U replied with a run in the top of the second that trimmed the margin to 3-2.

After Felix (27) led off the inning with a single and a stolen base, Lachlan (29) hit a one out single that advanced Felix over to third base.

With A’s runners on third and second, TP 11U uncorked a wild pitch which brought Lachlan over to third and allowed Felix to score and make it a one run affair.

In a unflinching effort, TP 11U starter Eli reeled off three searing strikeouts that put the kibosh on Annette’s jacquerie in the second frame.

With finesse, Annette 11U starter Luke retired TP 11U in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the second inning with a pop out, strikeout and a groundout that kept them off the scoring ledger.

In the top portion of the third inning, Annette 11U scored three to take a 5-3 lead.

After Thomas (2) reached base on a hit by pitch, Luke stroked a one out single that put two aboard. A TP error on the play would allow Luke to move over to second base and bring Thomas home with the A’s game tying run.

Navan (14) followed with an impeccable RBI double that allowed Luke to zoom home with Annette’s go ahead run. On the play, Navan would be erased in a rundown by the TP 11U defense after an unsuccessful decision to advance to third base.

Following a two out hit, Liam utilized some Shake and Bake from the kitchen pantry to swipe his way around the horn to third base with a pair of audacious steals.

Disseminating the opportunity at hand, Nolan (19) delivered a RBI hit that brought Liam home with another A’s run.

Keeping the poker in the fire, Elliot (99) followed with a double that allowed Nolan to advance to third.

Finding his inner groove, TP 11U reliever Kai H (7) tallied a groundout to bring the curtain down on Annette’s civil disorder in the third frame.

Reaching into his bag of tricks, Annette 11U starter Luke used a strikeout and a groundout in the bottom of the third inning to keep TP 11U off the scoresheet.

Luke was also the beneficiary of a nice play from his D when TP baserunner Santiago (25) was erased at second base on a failed steal attempt.

With pluck, TP 11U reliever Liam (10) used an elixir of two groundouts and a line out in the top of the fourth frame to keep Annette off the scoreboard.

Feeling a degree of umbrage at their situation, Toronto Playgrounds took the bull by the horns in the bottom of the fourth inning as they put up a three spot to take a 6-5 advantage.

After a leadoff hit by Kai H. and a walk by Ben (28), Valentine singled to load the bases.

Relishing the moment, Kai U. followed with a two RBI double that moved Valentine to third and brought Kai H. and Ben home with TP’s game tying runs.

After the A’s uncorked a wild pitch, Valentine took hold of the proverbial opportunity to blaze home and score TP 11U’s go ahead run.

With grit, Annette 11U reliever Sean (11) entered the fray in the fourth frame to rack up two strikeouts that quashed the TP putsch.

With a profound degree of fervor, Annette 11U threatened mightily in the top of the fifth inning.

Following a one out walk by Thomas and a single by Luke, Navan reached base on a hit by pitch that loaded the bases.

With the bases packed tighter than rush hour traffic on Lakeshore Boulevard East, TP 11U reliever Liam chalked up a debonair pair of fielder choice groundouts (1-2 & 6-4) that left the bases loaded and the A’s off the scoring abacus.

Showing unflinching 1-2-3 efficiency, Annette 11U reliever Sean retired TP 11U in the bottom of the fifth inning with a groundout, fly out and a strikeout to keep it a one run game.

With their season on the line, Annette 11U threw down the gauntlet and exploded for seven runs in the top of the sixth inning to take a 12-6 lead.

Following a leadoff hit by Elliot and a walk by Felix, Freddie hit a single that loaded the bases.

With one out, Sean drew a bases loaded RBI walk that brought Elliot home with A’s game tying run.

Adrian (73) followed with a RBI groundout that advanced Freddie and Sean respectively to third and second, and allowed Felix to hustle home with Annette’s go ahead run.

Licking his chops, Mattias strode up the plate and delivered a grace under pressure two out RBI single that brought Freddie and Sean to motor home with a pair of A’s runs.

After Thomas reached base on a hit by pitch, Luke stroked a single that allowed Annette 11U to reload the bases.

Navan followed with a clutch two RBI single that brought Mattias and Thomas home with two additional runs for the A’s.

Liam capped off Annette’s seven run hurricane in the sixth frame with a RBI hit that allowed Luke to score another Annette run.

On the play, the TP defense would erase A’s baserunner Navan on a pretty 2-5 rundown play for the third out. 

With true grit, TP 11U reliever Liam tallied a strikeout and a groundout against Annette 11U in the sixth inning.

Down by six and embedded with a never say die bravado in their DNA, TP 11U answered the clarion call in the bottom of sixth frame as they rallied back with a six pack to tie the proceedings at 12-12.

After drawing a one out walk, Liam (10) turned on the afterburners and swiped his way around the horn to third base with carte blanche abandon.

Following a walk by Santiago that put two runners on the dancefloor, Kyler (13) delivered a RBI hit that moved Santiago over to second and brought Liam home with a TP run.

After Santiago was erased at third on an unsuccessful steal attempt, Kai H. and Valentine stroked back to back two out singles that loaded the bases.

Exercising patience at the dish, Kai U. and Eli garnered back to back bases loaded RBI walks that allowed Kyler and Kai H. to shimmy home with two TP runs that sliced the shortfall to three.

During the next at bat, Oliver B. took one for the team when he reached base on a bases loaded hit by pitch, which forced Valentine to shimmy home with run that pulled TP within two of the A’s

With the bases still jammed tighter than a tin of premium Atlantic sardines, Max (03) stepped into the batter’s box and delivered a grace under pressure two RBI single that brought Kai U and Eli home with TP 11U’s game tying runs!

With the game deadlocked at a Krispy Kreme Glazed Donut dozen for both teams and TP’s winning run standing only 65-feet way at third, Annette 11U reliever Sean rang up a strikeout for the third out to force the tooth and nail semi-final contest into an extra inning to decide the winner.

Under the EBA tourney’s ‘Automatic Runner Rule’, a runner is placed on second base at the start of each extra inning during tournament playoff elimination games. The rule is in place for the purpose of reducing the length of extra inning games.

With Navan standing on second as Annette 11U’s automatic runner in the top of the seventh inning, Nolan drew a walk that put two A’s on the base paths.

Following a single by Elliot that loaded the bases, Nolan was called out at second for a lead off.

With an out in his back-pocket, TP 11U reliever Oliver B. chalked up a strikeout and a fly out to keep the A’s off the scoresheet and send Annette packing in the seventh frame.

As Robbie stood on second as TP 11U’s automatic runner in the bottom half of the seventh, Nolan led off the inning with a 6-3 groundout that advanced Robbie over to third base.

With two outs, Jacob (16) put the ball in play with a sharp cheddar cheese hit between third and second. As Jacob motored down the first baseline, the Annette defense committed an error that allowed Jacob reach first safely  and brought Robbie home with TP 11U’s semi-final game winning run.

With their victory over the A’s, TP 11U punches its ticket into the EBA 11U Select Tournament Championship Round, with a showdown for all the marbles against the Royal York 11U White Cardinals.