On the Christie Hillside: Extra Effort Lifts Leafs

IBL Semifinals - Game 1 - September 2, 2023

Toronto Maple Leafs at Welland Jackfish

Toronto 4

Welland 3

(12 innings)

Toronto leads series 1-0

Looking as calm as an executioner with his axe, Jordan Castaldo's three walks, a single and three runs led the Leafs to a series-opening victory.

When Sam Greene went to the pitcher's mound in the bottom of the eleventh inning, every eye inside a tension-filled Welland Stadium was on him.

The first encounter of the 2023 semifinal series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Welland Jackfish was a tight, nervy affair. Over ten innings, the two teams had scratched out a run here, a run there. Neither side was able to break out and put distance between them and the other.

With the score tied 3-3, Greene entered the game tasked with holding the Jackfish at bay.

Toronto starter Wilgenis Alvarado had kept the home side off the scoreboard through seven innings. The Leafs spotted him a two run lead, thanks to first baseman Jordan Castaldo and his awe-inspiring plate discipline.

In the third inning, Castaldo calmly drew a bases-loaded walk off Welland starter Jake Harford to bring in a run.

In the eighth inning, Castaldo stared down Harford again, and again drew a walk. Welland pitching did the rest to gift the Leafs another run. Rattled perhaps by Castaldo's executioner-like serenity, Harford hit DH Garrett Takamatsu with a pitch. Reliever Mike Mueller then walked two batters in a row and Castaldo scored.

The Jackfish broke through to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Alvarado walked Hogan Brown, and Brown then stole second. The next man up, Ethan Hunt, hit a liner straight back to Alvarado, who scrambled for the ball and threw it wide of first base. Brown came around to score and Hunt ended up on third base. Reliever Chris Nagorski recorded a second out before hitting a batter. Enter the Undertaker, Dustin Richardson for the Leafs. The sombre giant went to the mound and hit another batter. Both of these HBP's were mere grazings but the Jackfish certainly didn't complain. With the bases loaded, Richardson reared back and... hit another batter. Hunt trotted home, the game was tied 2-2, and this nervy affair became nervier.

Neither side could score in the ninth, so it went to extras.

Looking to put this game out of its misery, Castaldo led off at the plate and shocked absolutely no one by drawing a walk off reliever Deivy Mendez. Castaldo advanced to third on a single and a fielder's choice, then trotted home on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Jesse Hodges. That made it 3-2 Leafs halfway through the tenth.

With Richardson still on the mound, Carlos Martinez opened the bottom of the tenth with a single. Martinez was subbed out for pinch runner Brandon Underhill. Richardson struck out the next batter, then gave up another single. It looked like the game might be over as a grounder by James Smibert was hit to shortstop Jose Vinicio. Instead of starting a sure double play, Vinicio misplayed the ball. Underhill raced home, the game was tied 3-3, and it was on to the eleventh.

A long flyball by catcher Justin Marra stayed in the park in the top of the inning. The Leafs were unable to do anything else, and so the spotlight turned to Sam Greene. After a game filled with lucky breaks, miscues and acts of sheer will, Greene would have to keep it going for at least another inning if the Leafs were to win, and he did it. He got the Jackfish to fly out twice and ground out.

Top of the twelfth inning. With a noisy crowd still mostly in their seats, Rich Corrente went to the mound for Welland. As luck would have it, Castaldo led off with a spicy single. A single by third baseman Johnathan Solazzo moved Castaldo to second. With two outs, second baseman Dan Marra stroked a ball to short that was misplayed. Marra was safe at first and Castaldo came around to score. The Leafs went ahead 4-3 and they had another shot to grab the win.

Seated by the Leafs' dugout, I watched Greene stomp back to the mound with Purpose, determined to end this thing. Here! Now! Taking ball in hand, he rippled with so much intensity that my own hands began to shake.

On three pitches, Greene struck out the first batter. A groundout to short made for a quick second out. Greene walked the next man up and tension spiked throughout the still-filled ballpark. Smibert returned to the plate and battled to keep the game alive. Greene worked a 2-1 count and Smibert fouled off three pitches in a row, then swung and missed for the third out.

Greene and Marra barked and pumped fists as their teammates ran to join them at the mound for high fives. The Leafs' effort in extras earned them a 4-3 win in Game 1. Greene took the well-deserved win, Corrente got the tough-luck the loss, and the Leafs drew first blood in the series.

Toronto 4 9 2

Welland 3 8 1

(12 innings)

W - Greene (1-0, 0.00)

L - Corrente (0-1, 0.00)

BOXSCORE