Leafs win 10-2
Guelph. Nice place for a quick getaway.
The old town centre is nicely preserved. Historic stone buildings contain all manner of shoppes and restaurants. There's the river. The basilica on the hill. Interesting. Public. Art.
There's also Hastings Stadium at Exhibition Park, home to organized baseball in the Royal City for almost a century.
Fun fact: up until the 1950s, Guelph's IBL team was called the Maple Leafs. They then went through several name changes before settling on the Royals.
The IBL's present-day Maple Leafs paid a visit yesterday afternoon. The boys from Tronno were looking to snap a three-game losing skid.
It looked as if the game might be a washout. The distant sound of thunder could be heard during the national anthem and dark clouds swept in from the east. It was one of those days when both clubs would look to grab an early lead and hope to finish five.
The Leafs wasted no time. In the top of the first, centerfielder Greg Carrington led off with a double off Evan DiMichelle. He advanced to third on an out, then came home on a sac fly by third baseman Johnathan Solazzo.
Guelph came right back in the bottom of the first. Starter Justin Cicatello gave up four singles in a row to start the game, and the score was 1-1 through one.
By then, the rain had started. The umpires halted play in the top of the second. The tarps came out and everyone took cover.
The rain delay lasted over an hour. After that, the skies cleared and the rest of the game was played under a hot sun.
The Leafs took the lead in the top of the third. Second baseman Dan Marra singled and catcher Justin Marra drew a walk. They advanced on a single by DH Tyler Hardie, and then a single by first baseman Julian Johnson drove both brothers in for a 3-1 lead.
Toronto's lead was extended in the top of the fourth. The Marra brothers led the way again, as Dan singled first, but Justin grounded into a fielder's choice that eliminated him at second. Justin then stole second to put himself in scoring position with Solazzo at the plate. Solazzo then smashed an 0-2 pitch out of the park. Golazzo! Gol! Gol! 5-1 Leafs through four.
Three more runs went on the board for the visitors in the top of the sixth. Justin Marra and Solazzo both walked and then advanced to second and third on a passed ball. With two outs, DiMichelle uncorked a wild pitch and Marra dashed home to score. After a walk to rightfielder Connor Lewis, another wild pitch allowed Solazzo to score. DiMichelle gave up another walk before being relieved by Mike Gaspari. Shortstop Ryan White welcomed him with a single that drove in Lewis to make it an 8-1 game midway through six.
Guelph got back one run in the bottom of the inning, when first baseman Chris Nakashima hit a sac fly to drive in a run. 8-2 Leafs after six.
Cicatello pitched seven strong innings, giving up two earned runs off of eight hits and a walk, while striking out five. He was relieved by Adam Odd, who shut down the Royals the rest of the way.
Toronto added two more runs in the top of the ninth as Solazzo and Hardie each collected an RBI. Solazzo led the scoring assault on the day, with his home run and four RBIs. Johnson followed with a pair of RBIs, and Hardie and White each had one.
The losing streak is over. Guelph provided a weekend tonic to set things right again.
Toronto 10-12-0
Guelph 2-8-1
W - Cicatello (3-1, 1.60)
L - DiMichelle (0-2, 9.41)
BOXSCORE
The Leafs hold steady in 4th place in the IBL standings with a 7-8 record. They will look to even their season record in a game against the Burlington Herd this afternoon at Christie Pits, although at press time (9:00 am Sunday morning) it was raining in Toronto.
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