On the Christie Hillside: Maple Leafs Return to Action, First Week Not a Total Washout

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - July 7 to 11, 2021

Toronto Maple Leafs 2021 season kicks off with two rainouts, a blowout, and a triumphal home return

Lord Thundering Jesus, that's Sean Reilly and Johnathan Solazzo, on the same field, wearing the same Toronto Maple Leafs uniform, proving to us all that nothing will be impossible in this post-pandemic summer.

It has been 23 months since the Toronto Maple Leafs last played a baseball game.

The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the entire 2020 IBL season. It put a big dent in the 2021 season too, but as the third wave subsided and vaccination levels rose, case counts declined and Ontario entered its multi-step reopening plan. Baseball became possible again.

Baseball! Again!

As we rolled into the month of July, the IBL got the green light and seven clubs prepared to take the field -- the Guelph Royals being the only club to announce it would sit out the season.

Leafs fans, having waited so long to see their boys back in action, were forced to wait a couple of days longer. The club's first two games were rained out. They started the season on the road in London with a regrettable result, but the celestial bodies came into alignment on July 11, and the Leafs returned to the field at Christie Pits. Your favourite unaccredited sports media figure was back as well.

Slowly by slowly, life is returning to normal.

For Leafs' manager Damon Topolie, this year's normal includes a mightily bolstered roster. Johnathan Solazzo, Justin Marra and Grant Tamane are back at the plate. Marek Deska, Zack Sloan and Mateos Kekatos are back on the mound. This year, they are joined by returning stars Sean Reilly, Jordan Castaldo, Garrett Takamatsu and Connor Lewis. A veritable Christie Pits All Star Team. The pulse quickens and the mind imagines all manner of demolitions to come.

So, it's game on and the Leafs are ready to wreak some havoc. Only...

Wednesday, July 7, 2021 - Hamilton Cardinals at Toronto Maple Leafs

Rained out.

Thursday, July 8, 2021 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats

Rained out.

Friday, July 9, 2021 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors

Maple Leafs mound conference in London, one of several on a brutal season opening night.
Image from London Majors YouTube

Not rained out, but maybe it should have been.

There are no fancy phrases that can polish this one. On the road at Labatt Park in London to formally kick off their 2021 season, the Leafs were demolished.

Zack Sloan made the start on the mound. He cruised through the first two innings, but got into trouble in the 3rd and 4th, giving up a total of six runs. That was already more than enough for the London Majors, who poured it on to score six more off reliever Cameron Gillis.

The Leafs newly-assembled lineup scraped out five hits and one unearned run, scored on a wild pitch.

Toronto 1 5 1

London 12 11 2

W - Boon (1-0, 0.00)

L - Sloan (0-1, 10.80)

S - Ferrington (1)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, July 11 - Welland Jackfish at Toronto Maple Leafs

The boys are back in town.

Despite the drizzle there were smiles all around.

Players, crew, fans and curious onlookers. After the lost pandemic year, everyone was happy to be at Toronto's legendary ballpark, Dominico Field at Christie Pits. Despite the early afternoon drizzle, there were plenty of people who wanted to be here for this.

Manager Damon Topolie must have been all too happy to run his newly-assembled roster out onto the field. The 2021 Leafs look like a kind of anniversary all-star team, featuring some of the biggest names to wear the maple leaf logo in the past decade.

2B Grant Tamane

1B Jordan Castaldo

DH Sean Reilly

C Justin Marra

LF Garrett Takamatsu

3B Johnathan Solazzo

CF Connor Lewis

RF Jeff MacLeod

SS Ryan Johnston

P Mateos Kekatos

After all the "hey how are yas" and "nice ta see yas", the Leafs got down to the business of havoc and destruction against the visiting Wellanders.

It did not take long.

The Leafs scored eight runs in the first inning. Four players batted twice. Welland's starter Eric Hegadoren was done after one.

For the Leafs, Mateos Kekatos pitched five innings and gave up four runs. Good enough for a win on the day. He was relieved by Andrew Hyde for two innings, with Adam Marra and Marek Deska each pitching one inning to wrap things up.

The Leafs' boxscore is a riot of crooked numbers.

DH Sean Reilly and third baseman Johnathan Solazzo clubbed five RBIs each. Solazzo hit his first home run of the season, as did right fielder Jeff MacLeod, who drove in three.

Behind them, second baseman Grant Tamane, first baseman Jordan Castaldo, left fielder Garrett Takamatsu and center fielder Connor Lewis each drove in a run.

As the game went on, the drizzle let up and more fans arrived at the Pits to breathe in the optimistic atmosphere. If Sunday's performance is the kind of show the home nine promise to put on this summer, then this shortened season might become something unforgettable.

Welland 7 7 3

Toronto 18 17 0

W - Kekatos (1-0, 7.20)

L - Hegadoren (0-1), 45.00)

BOXSCORE