A Steaming Cauldron of F#@*!

Game 22: Guelph Royals @ Toronto Maple Leafs - June 29, 2014

A certain four-letter word could best summarize the goings-on at Christie Pits today.

Even though Toronto sits well above sea level, the Pits become a demonic cauldron when the summer sun beats down.  Cool air?  Dream on.  The day started hot and stayed that way, creating a heated atmosphere throughout the park before a pitch was thrown.  I'm a big red man, and I don't do well on days like this.

Things didn't get any better when the Toronto Maple Leafs and Guelph Royals took the field. 

It started well enough.  In the 3rd inning, Glenn Jackson drove in a run and scored another off of Royals starter Nathan Borges to give the Leafs the lead.  Evan Wolf, making his first start for the Leafs, held the Royals to just two hits over the first four innings.

Then shit started to happen and F-bombs started dropping all over the park.

The Royals got a man aboard in the 5th, after shortstop Dan Marra's third error of the day.  The next man up, Josh Garton, hit one into the right field corner.  Darryl Pui tracked it down but clattered against the fence and it fell for a double.  Pui unleashed some F-bombs.  The next man up, Chandler McLaren, hit another one to right.  It was good for a two-run double and Jackson launched some F-bombs from centerfield.

DH Jon Waltenbury went off in the 6th inning.  After striking out, he hurled his batting helmet right out of the field of play.  It bounced off the hillside and came to a rest on a walkway.  Heads Up On The Hill went to gather it sombrely, and Waltenbury was thrown out of the game.

On the hillside, everyone looked on weakly, wilting in the heat.  The umps were not having a good day either.  A blown call at first got the normally stoic Damon Topolie spitting oaths in their direction. 

The Leafs ended up stranding nine men on base, same as the Royals, but it was Guelph who snuck one more run across the plate late in the game.

Wolf pitched a gem over 7 innings, giving up just two runs on four hits while striking out five.  Jake Hines came in to start the 8th.  A walk and a single and Hines was yanked in favour of Justin Lawrence, but Guelph scored on a fielder's choice and took a 3-2 lead.  F-bombs rained down from the Owner's box.

The Leafs rallied late but it wasn't enough as the Royals came away win the win.

F#@*!!!


Game Recap:

Newcomers Evan Wolf and Nathan Borges made starts for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Guelph Royals, respectively, and each pitcher held the other team scoreless through the first couple of innings.

In the bottom of the 3rd, rightfielder Darryl Pui and centerfielder Glenn Jackson hit a pair of doubles off of Borges.  Pui scored the first run of the game.  Second baseman Grant Tamane singled next.  He was caught stealing at second while Jackson moved over to third.  A wild pitch to left fielder Raul Borjas allowed Jackson to score, and it was 2-0 Leafs.

Wolf looked good, giving up just two hits over the first four innings.  In the top of the 5th, left fielder Bruce Yari reached first on an error by shortstop Dan Marra.  Guelph second baseman Josh Garton was up next, and he hit a flyball to right for a double, advancing Yari to third.  Rightfielder Chandler McLaren followed with another double to right, scoring Yari and Garton and tying the score at 2-2 after five innings.

Wolf was perfect through the 6th and 7th innings, then turned it over to Jake Hines for the 8th.  Hines walked McLaren and gave up a single to DH Brian Doran.  Justin Lawrence came in to pitch.  Catcher Patrick Coughlin hit into what turned out to be a game-winning  fielder's choice that allowed McLaren to score and the Royals took a 3-2 lead after the 8th inning.

Guelph brought in Ryan Greco and Sam Haight-Haldane to pitch the 8th and 9th innings, and they held the home side scoreless.  Pui and Jackson started a last-gasp, two-out rally in the 9th.  Pui singled and Jackson walked after an epic 10-pitch at bat, but Haight-Haldane got the final out and sealed the 3-2 win.

The Leafs were held to six hits on the day, with Pui hitting two and there was one each from Jackson, Tamane, DH Jon Waltenbury and first baseman Damon Topolie.  The Royals actually hit one fewer, but scored one more run than the Leafs, and that was good enough for the win on this day.


Guelph 3-5-1
Toronto 2-6-4

W - Bannon (1-0)
L - Hines (0-1)
S - Haight-Haldane (1)

BOXSCORE


The Maple Leafs are now 11-10 and in fourth place, 6 games behind the Barrie Baycats.  Their next game is on Canada Day in London, for an early-evening matchup against the Majors.

Deska Throws Down the Hammer

Game 21: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Hamilton Cardinals - June 27, 2014

If there was such a thing as an IBL All Star Game, Marek Deska took a big step towards being named its starting pitcher last night, as he threw a complete game shutout at Bernie Arbour Stadium.

Over nine brisk innings, Deska completely shackled the Hamilton Cardinals. Flyball outs, groundball outs and seven strikeouts -- he did it all while giving up only four hits and one walk.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' offence provided more than enough firepower, banging 12 hits and eight runs to give Deska his fourth win of the season.

Deska and his battery mate Tony Alvarez looked to be in synch all night. No wobbly innings. Together they made quick work of the Cardinals’ batting order. 

When Deska takes the field he is constantly in motion. He doesn't stay still. He takes the ball, stomps around the mound, climbs aboard, looks in, sets and delivers the pitch. As soon as the ball is returned to him, he repeats the process.  The whole thing takes like three seconds each time. 

It's fun to watch and his teammates must love his pace, but he’s a challenge to photograph when one comes armed with only a ridiculous point-and-shoot vacation camera. But the poorest musician blames his instrument, so let us move on.


Game Recap:

Matt Martinow and Marek Deska were the starters for the Hamilton Cardinals and Toronto Maple Leafs on this night.  They both got through the 1st inning giving up just one hit.

Leafs shortstop Dan Marra doubled and stole third in the 2nd, then scored on a groundout by catcher Tony Alvarez.  The Leafs had a 1-0 lead after two.

That was all the lead Deska needed, as he proceeded to mow through the Cards' order.  He faced the minimum number of batters in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th innings.

The Leafs' order didn't fare much better against Martinow and his stylish stirrups.  However in the 5th inning he started to falter.  Rightfielder Darryl Pui singled and stole second.  Centerfielder Glenn Jackson followed with a single, and third baseman Tyler Mitchell walked to load the bases.  A groundout by Raul Borjas scored Pui, and a single by DH Jon Waltenbury scored Jackson.  3-0 Leafs after the 5th.

In the top of the 6th, Marra walked, advanced to second on a groundout, then scored on a single by Pui.  A single by Jackson brought Pui home for a 5-0 lead.

As the sun dipped below the Hamilton mountain's horizon, the Leafs added two more runs in the next inning.  Borjas singled, then raced all the way home on a double that Waltenbury shot deep into left field.  As the ball made its way back to the catcher at home, Waltenbury rounded all the way to third.  He then scored on a flyout by Marra and it was 7-0 Leafs after the 7th.

Mitchell doubled to lead off the top of the 9th and scored on a sac fly by Waltenbury for an 8-0 Leafs lead.  It was Waltenbury's third RBI on the night and put him among the league leaders with 17 on the season.

The spotlight then fell on Deska as he went for the complete game shutout.  Two quick outs were followed by a single by third baseman Johnathan Solazzo - only the Cards' fourth hit of the night.  Deska struck out the next batter swinging.  It was an exclamation point on a masterful performance for the Leafs' bulldog ace.

The IBL All Star Game beckons...


Toronto 8-12-2
Hamilton 0-4-1

W - Deska (4-2)
L - Martinow (0-3)

BOXSCORE


The Maple Leafs are now 11-9 and they continue to hold down 4th place, 5 games back of the Barrie Baycats.  Their next game is Sunday, June 29, when they welcome the Guelph Royals to Christie Pits.

Rainout

Game 20: Barrie Baycats @ Toronto Maple Leafs - June 25, 2014


Tonight's game at Christie Pits has been rained out.  New date for this game is TBA.

Scrappy Leafs Can't Contain Brantford

Game 19: Brantford Red Sox @ Toronto Maple Leafs - June 22, 2014

I usually like to spend a few innings at Christie Pits sitting with the Toronto Maple Leafs' unofficial scorekeeper.  We find a place in the grandstand seats that wrap around home plate and compare notes on the action unfolding before us.  He scores the game by hand in his notebook and I snap photos with my ludicrous point & shoot camera.  It's all very lo fi, but it works for us.

We discuss things.  Almost each and every game, one truth that he always points out is this: the Brantford Red Sox remain the IBL's top club until someone knocks them off their pedestal.

It would be ill-advised to write off a team that has won a record six championships in a row, including last year's epic championship comeback when they were three games down and left for dead by everyone.

Sure, the Sox are off to a mediocre start in 2014.  They started the day with a 6-10 record, but it's only mid-season and there are a lot of games left to play before the post-season.  Until another club can eliminate them from contention once and for all, the Red Sox will keep coming back like Annie Wilkes.

Nice reminder of that today at a sun-drenched Christie Pits. 

The Red Sox jumped out to a quick lead in the 1st inning, then stretched it out and held on for an 11-6 win over the Leafs.

The Leafs were scrappy.  They banged out 11 hits and Raul Borjas led the way with 4 hits and 3 RBIs.  But the Leafs just weren't able to cash in enough runs - they stranded eight men on base.  Just one of those days.

So the clubs split a home-and-home weekend series and move on.  So let's move on, dammit!


Game Recap:


The Toronto Maple Leafs welcomed the Brantford Red Sox for the conclusion of their weekend home-and-home series.  Sunny skies and warm temperatures brought a slew of fans out, and they sprawled all over the Christie hillsides to soak up some rays or chillax in the shade.

Justin Lawrence got the start for Toronto.  Unfortunately, he faced the entire Red Sox order in the 1st inning.  Rightfielder Ben Bostick doubled to lead off, and centerfielder Terrell Alliman singled.  First baseman Nick Weglarz walked to load the bases.  Shortstop Lee Delfino then singled to score Bostick and keep the bases loaded.  Catcher Will Richards flied out, then third baseman Jeff Hunt drew a walk that brought Alliman in to score.  Lawrence struck out DH Wayne Forman, but walked in another run as leftfielder Nic Burnett took first base on balls.  Second baseman Mike Bonanno grounded out to Lawrence to end the inning, but the Red Sox were already up 3-0.

Andrew Vant Wout was the starter for Brantford, and he got through the bottom of the 1st unscathed.

Bostick - flashing the highest and reddest socks of the day - led off the 2nd inning with a single.  He then stole second, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a passed ball.  4-0 Red Sox after the 2nd.

The home side got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the 3rd.  Vant Wout had a spell of wildness and walked centerfielder Glenn Jackson and second baseman Dan Marra.  Left fielder Raul Borjas then hit a double that cashed in Jackson and made it 4-1 Red Sox after the 3rd.

The Red Sox scored again immediately in the 4th.  Burdett got a leadoff walk, moved around the bases, and scored on a single by Alliman that made it 5-1.

The Leafs got a run back in the bottom of the 5th.  Jackson singled, stole second and was driven home on a hit by Borjas that made it 5-2.

Alliman continued his scoring assault and knocked Lawrence out of the game in the 6th with a three-run home run that made it 8-2.

The Leafs got one back in the bottom of the inning, as first baseman Damon Topolie doubled to lead off, and scored on a single by catcher Tony Alvarez.  8-3 Red Sox after the 6th.

Jackson started the bottom of the 7th by getting hit by a pitch from Vant Wout, who then walked Marra.  Tyler Soucie came on in relief.  Borjas was up next, and he reached first on a fielder's choice that saw Marra put out at second.  Borjas quickly stole the base, and he and Jackson scored on a hit by DH Jon Waltenbury that ended up being fielded for an error.  After the 7th, it was 8-5 Red Sox.

Jake Hines started the 8th on the mound for Toronto, but he gave up two singles and was replaced by Justin Cicatello.  An intentional walk with two outs loaded the bases.  The gamble did not pay off, as Delfino drove in two runs with a single, and a fielding error saw another run score to make it 11-5 Red Sox after the 8th. 

The Leafs kept battling to the end.  Dan Marra singled off Soucie, then moved to second on a wild pitch.  Raul Borjas stepped up with a single for his third RBI of the game, but the Leafs ran out of outs and the Red Sox came away with an 11-6 win. 


Brantford 11-11-3
Toronto 6-11-1

W - Vant Wout (2-0)
L - Lawrence (2-3)

BOXSCORE


The Maple Leafs are now 10-9 and in 4th place, 5 games behind the Barrie Baycats, who will be the next to visit Christie Pits on Wednesday night, June 25.

Leafs Rock the Red Sox

Game 18: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Brantford Red Sox - June 20, 2014



On the olde fashioned map of Brantford seen above, the red "X" indicates the present day site of Arnold Anderson Stadium, home of the IBL Red Sox.

That's where the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Red Sox like a piñata for a 14-2 win tonight.

The Red Sox have been getting rocked lately and the Leafs continued the trend.  It was Toronto's third win in a row in Brantford, going back to last season.  Sucks to have missed this one.

Every Leafs starter got at least one hit.  Olé!

Rightfielder Darryl Pui went 4 for 6 with 4 RBIs.  Olé!

Centerfielder Glenn Jackson went 2 for 5 with a triple and 3 RBIs.  Olé!

Shortstop Dan Marra went 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs.  Olé!

Second baseman Jalen Harris and third baseman Tyler Mitchell each hit RBI doubles.  Olé!

Starting pitcher Marek Deska's winning line was 6.2 IP, 6H, 2R, 6K.  Olé!

No Toronto home runs on the night, but no errors either.  Olé!


Toronto 14-17-0
Brantford 2-6-2

W - Deska (3-2)
L - Forer (2-1)

BOXSCORE 


The Maple Leafs are now 10-8 and holding steady in 4th place, 4.5 games behind the Barrie Baycats.  They conclude this home-and-home series against the Red Sox back home at Christie Pits on Sunday, June 22.  Olé!

Hard Times for the K-Dub

Game 17: Toronto Maple Leafs @ Kitchener Panthers - June 19, 2014

Hard times for Sausageland these days. 

Schneiders, K-Dub's signature industry, is closing its local plant this year and moving it to Hamilton, thus ending the company's association with Kitchener after almost 125 years.  Lots of jobs will be leaving town. The iconic Schneiders billboard girl will remain for now, still smiling despite the downfall of the people who put her there.

The IBL Panthers have been struggling too. They began the 2014 season with a 6-game losing streak and have remained mired in the bottom half of the standings.

Some folks may have expected monster off-season signing Sean Reilly to single handedly carry the team to a championship and rescue the local economy, but right now the Panthers are closer to last than first.

Still, there is plenty of time for the club to turn things around. Reilly is in the top five in Home Runs, RBIs and Batting Average, and the city is not likely to become the next Detroit.

The Panthers showed a lot of fight last night at Jack Couch Park, but they were unable to hold off the Toronto Maple Leafs, who got out of town with a 6-5 win.

Brian Oliver made his first start of the season for Kitchener. An issue with the lineup card resulted in a reshuffle of fielders and the Panthers lost their DH, meaning Oliver got to bat as well. He went 1 for 2 and scored a run, but gave up 8 hits and 5 runs and ended up with a no decision.

The win went to Leafs newcomer Evan Wolf, who pitched the final two innings in relief of Jas Shergill, who had given up 6 hits and 3 earned runs while striking out four Panthers. Wolf lost the lead in the 8th inning during one of Kitchener’s comeback rallies, but the Leafs scored the winning run in the 9th and Wolf pinched the win.

The game was close and moved fast. Twice the Leafs took a lead, but twice the Panthers came back to tie. Every starter but one got a hit, and Sean Mattson led the way with 3 RBIs. Jalen Harris (being congratulated above) hit a 2-run home run – his first of the season. Jon Waltenbury, who had played a good-natured heel for the crowd all night, got the last laugh by driving in Glenn Jackson with the winning run in the 9th.

This weekend, the Leafs will play a home-and-home series against the Brantford Red Sox, who have been rocked in their past couple of games. Hopefully the Leafs can continue the trend.


Game Recap:

The Kitchener Panthers pounced early in this game, as Toronto Maple Leafs starter Jas Shergill hit centerfielder Tanner Nivins with his first pitch. Catcher Scott David followed with a single. DH Sean Reilly then doubled both men in for an early 2-0 score.

After the first inning, Reilly was forced to play first base and the Panthers lost their DH due to an issue with the lineup card.

Toronto DH Jon Waltenbury and first baseman Damon Topolie started the 2nd inning with a pair of singles. Waltenbury stole third base, then came home on a sac fly by leftfielder Sean Mattson. 2-1 Panthers after the 2nd.

Shergill and Brian Oliver kept the score close, each of them pitching a scoreless 3rd inning.

The Leafs took the lead for the first time in the 4th, as Mattson walked and second baseman Jalen Harris hit his first home run of the season. 3-2 Leafs.

Shergill continued to pitch well, but the Panthers tied the game in the 5th. His opposite, Oliver, hit a single and moved to second on a walk, then he rumbled home with the tying run on a single by Scott David.

The Leafs struck back immediately. Topolie walked and third baseman Tyler Mitchell hit a double. High-socked Mattson, who never speaks, spoke with his bat instead. He lashed a double of his own and it was 5-3 Leafs after the 6th.

Kitchener got one more run off of Shergill in the bottom of the 7th, as Sean Reilly singled to drive in a run.

Shergill would be relieved by newcomer Evan Wolf. A throwing error by Mitchell allowed his opposite Rick Murray to reach first base and advance safely to second. A single by second baseman Mike Andrulis brought Murray home and it was all tied up at 5-5 going into the 9th.

David Whiteside moved from second base to pitch the 9th for the Panthers. He immediately gave up a single to Glenn Jackson – who came close to hitting one onto the highway behind the outfield trees earlier. In this situation, a single was fine. Jackson moved to second on a putout by catcher Grant Tamane, then took third on a wild pitch by Whiteside. All that remained was for Waltenbury to smack a single into the outfield and drive in the winning run for a 6-5 win.

Toronto 6-12-3
Kitchener 5-7-1

W - Wolf (1-0)
L - Whiteside (0-1)

BOXSCORE


The Maple Leafs are now 9-8 and in fourth place, 5 games behind the Barrie Baycats.  They next play a home-and-home series against the Brantford Red Sox this weekend, starting tonight at Arnold Anderson Stadium.