Leafs win 18-10
The Toronto Maple Leafs and Burlington Bandits slogged through a three-hours-plus game in a sweltering Christie Pits last night, with the local nine emerging victorious.
Both clubs slugged it out all night.
The Leafs got it going early, battering Burlington pitching and racking up an 11-1 lead after four innings. The Bandits got it going late, piling on the runs against reliever Adam Garner. In the 9th inning they found themselves still needing a touchdown and a two-point conversion just to tie the game. It was not to be.
After relieving Brett Van Pelt to start the 6th inning, Garner got touched up by the visitors, but he closed it out. The Leafs won the game 18-10, and they won back 5th place in the standings for the time being.
Among the batsmen who banged hardest were Will Richards (above centre), who went 2 for 4 with a home run and 3 RBIs, John Waltenbury (2 for 5 with a home run and 2 RBIs), Dan Marra (4 for 5 with a double and 3 RBIs), and Raul Borjas (3 for 4 with 2 RBIs).
The biggest bat of the night belonged to Brendan Keys. Balls of Steel went 3 for 4 with a home run, two walks and 4 RBIs. His cheering section was very vocal throughout the game.
Also very vocal was the Owner. From his box high atop the Christie hillside, he cheered his players on with positive enthusiasm. Late in the game, he exhorted his charges with encouraging phrases like "Keep trying your best!" and "Stay alert and enjoy success!" Inspiring stuff to guide us all through life's rich pageant.
Game Recap:
Brett Van Pelt and Rich Corrente were the starting pitchers for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Burlington Bandits respectively last night. Van Pelt worked a scoreless top of the first, but his opponent was not so lucky.
In the bottom of the 1st, second baseman Dan Marra singled and Jon Waltenbury followed with a home run off Corrente to put the Leafs on the board. First baseman Johnathan Solazzo drew a walk, and then catcher Will Richards homered. Bang, bang. 4-0 Leafs after one.
Burlington got a run back in the top of the 2nd. Second baseman Adam Odd doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch by Van Pelt, and scored on a sac fly by catcher Tyler Hardie. That made it 4-1 Leafs midway through two.
The Leafs added two in the bottom of the inning. Corrente loaded the bases by walking shortstop Connor Lewis, centerfielder Grant Tamane, and Marra. Leftfielder Raul Borjas then hit a sac fly to score Lewis. A single by Solazzo scored Tamane and it was 6-1 Leafs through two innings.
Dylan Perego relieved Corrente to start the bottom of the 3rd. He immediately gave up singles to third baseman Tyler Mitchell and rightfielder Brendan Keys. Mitchell scored on a fielder's choice by Tamane and it was 7-1 Leafs after three.
The home nine blew it open for good in the next inning. Borjas led off with a single, Solazzo followed with a walk, and Richards followed with a single to score Borjas. It was a close play at the plate. Burlington manager Kyle MacKinnon came out to argue, and ended up getting tossed from the game. He made the long walk out to the centerfield exit. Keys was up next, and he belted the first pitch from Perego over the right field fence for a three-run home run - his first round tripper of the season. 11-1 Leafs after the 4th inning.
After five solid innings from Van Pelt, Adam Garner came on to pitch for Toronto. Burlington jumped on him right away. DH Kevin Hussey singled, Odd doubled, and Hardie grounded out while driving Hussey in. Third baseman Nolan Pettipiece reached base on a walk, then shortstop Keith Kandel singled in Odd. Leftfielder Justin Gideon was up next and he singled in Pettipiece. 11-4 Leafs midway through the 6th.
In the bottom of the 6th, Keys was walked by reliever Shaun Slemko. Lewis singled next, then Marra drove them both in with a double. 13-4 Leafs after six innings.
First baseman Jim Martin singled to lead off the top of the 7th. Odd singled as well, and a single by Pettipiece drove Martin home to make it 13-5 Leafs midway through the 7th.
C.J. Machete relieved Slemko in the bottom of the 7th. He loaded the bases right away by walking Borjas, giving up a single to Solazzo, and hitting Richards with a pitch. Gianfranco Morello pinch ran for Richards. The next man up, Mitchell, was also hit by a pitch, advancing everyone and allowing Borjas to cross the plate. Thus ended the short, turbulent outing by Machete. Tyler Simmons came on to pitch next. He gave up a bases loaded walk to Keys and Solazzo trotted home. A sac fly by Lewis scored Morello. A single by Marra scored Mitchell. After a walk to Waltenbury, a single by Borjas scored Keys. 18-5 Leafs after seven innings.
A two-run homer by centerfielder Shaun Cooper made it 18-7 Leafs after eight innings of play.
Garner slogged it out to the finish. He gave up a single to Pettipiece to lead off the 9th, then gave up a home run to rightfielder Dan Franceschetti. A double by Kandel was followed by a fly out by Gideon. Cooper reached first on an error by Marra that allowed Kandel to score. But that was all she wrote as the Bandits hit into a game-ending double play and an 18-10 final for the Leafs.
Burlington 10-19-2
Toronto 18-18-3
W - Van Pelt (4-4, 3.30)
L - Corrente (4-4, 7.33)
BOXSCORE
With the win over Burlington, the Maple Leafs move up into 5th place in the standings, 12.5 games behind the Barrie Baycats. They will play their final regular season game in the Hammer tomorrow night against the 7th place Cardinals.
The Leafs hold their playoff destiny in their own hands:
A win in Hamilton, and they clinch 5th place and a first round playoff versus the London Majors.
A loss in Hamilton, and they fall to 6th place and a first round playoff versus the Brantford Red Sox.
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