Red Sox win 5-4, win series 4-3
Cruel Pits! You waited to the very end to spring your harshest act of cruelty.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were cruising this afternoon and seemingly headed for a berth in the IBL semifinals. They had taken an early lead in game seven of their quarterfinal series against the Brantford Red Sox, and held onto it for most of the day.
It was a hot and sunny afternoon at Christie Pits, and a huge crowd of home faithful were on hand to witness an expected victory.
Justin Cicatello was on the mound for the Mapes, and he delivered an ace performance. Over six innings, he gave up four hits and just one unearned run to keep the visitors in check.
Toronto took the lead in the bottom of the second. Four singles in a row by DH Damon Topolie, shortstop Dan Marra, centerfielder Connor Lewis (RBI) and second baseman Grant Tamane (RBI) resulted in two runs crossing the plate to give the Leafs a 2-0 lead through two.
In the bottom of the fifth, catcher Justin Marra bashed his third home run of the series to make it a 3-0 ballgame.
Brantford scored their first run in the top of the sixth. Cody Mombourquette reached first on an error. That was followed by a double off the bat of Benjamin Bostick. Ricky Murray then singled to drive in a run and make it a 3-1 ballgame.
First baseman Julian Johnson got that run right back for the Leafs. In the bottom of the sixth, he smashed a home run that gave the home side a 4-1 lead.
Cicatello handed the ball to Zach Sloan to start the seventh. Sloan delivered two scoreless innings in relief, and expectations for a home win began to bubble all around the park.
Those bubbles all burst in the top of the ninth. With one out and the Pits as noisy as they'd been all day, Nic Burdett singled. That brought Dan Jagdeo to the plate. After struggling for most of the series, Jagdeo struck a huge blow at the most opportune moment, hitting a two-run homer. Sloan got another out, then gave up another single. Brandon Dailey then delivered the knockout punch: another two-run homer that stunned the Pits and sent Brantford's travelling fans into a tizzy. Was this real life? Pedro De Los Santos relieved Sloan and got the final out of the inning, but the Leafs' season was suddenly hurtling towards a sudden and shocking end.
Stefan Strecker emerged from the visitors' bullpen to do what he has been doing in the IBL for the past 36 seasons: he put the other team out of its misery with minimal fuss. Third baseman Johnathan Solazzo managed a single off the Brantford closer, but left fielder Zac Orchard hit into a game-ending double play.
The Red Sox poured onto the infield to celebrate as the shell-shocked Leafs trudged off.
In a matter of minutes, the Leafs' all-but-certain return trip to the semis got cut down cruelly. Sloan got the L while Dalton Harvey grabbed the surprise W, and that puts a wrap on the 2017 season.
Brantford 5-11-0
Toronto 4-11-1
W - Harvey (2-1, 11.36)
L - Sloan (1-1, 7.10)
S - Strecker (1)
BOXSCORE
A quarterfinal series that was filled with dramatic finishes has come to an end with a game seven defeat for Toronto. Congratulations to the Brantford Red Sox.
Thanks again to all the Leafs players, coaches, staff and of course the Christie Crazies for another memorable season at the Pits.
The Toronto Maple Leafs will return to Christie Pits in May 2018 for their 50th season in the Intercounty Baseball League. Glorious haps await. See you then, my babies.
No comments:
Post a Comment