A Royal Reply

Quarterfinals Game 2: Toronto Maple Leafs at Guelph Royals - August 11, 2018

Royals win 3-2
Series tied 1-1

The Guelph Royals landed a one-two punch on the Toronto Maple Leafs last night, and won Game 2 of their quarterfinal series by a score of 3-2.

Angel Villalona and Yomar Concepcion (above) delivered the goods for the home side at Hastings Stadium. The Royals' third baseman led his club with three hits including a two-run home run in the sixth. The homer broke a string of goose eggs on the scoreboard and gave Guelph their first lead of the game. Concepcion went the distance, throwing 160 pitches for a complete game win.

Concepcion and Zach Sloan dueled on the mound for most of the game, and it was the Leafs who grabbed an early lead.

In the top of the second, right fielder Zac Orchard drew a walk. DH Garrett Takamatsu was up next, and he took a high pitch off the helmet. Takamatsu was okay, and two men were aboard. Centerfielder Connor Lewis drove in the first run of the game with a two-out single that brought Orchard home.

Sloan carried the 1-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth. After striking out sluggers Jon Waltenbury and Josh Garton and giving up a single to Sean Reilly, Sloan got tagged by Villalona's two-run dinger. The rattle of a million cowbells reverberated around the ballpark as the Royals took a 2-1 lead after six innings.

The Leafs battled right back in the top of the second. Lewis smacked a one-out triple to deep centerfield. The next man up was shortsop Aaron Hornostaj, who grounded sharply to second. Lewis took off for home, but was thrown out at the plate. Hornostaj ended up at second on the play. He stole third, and then scored on a single by second baseman Dan Marra. That tied the score at 2-2.

Other than the home run to Villalona, Sloan was pitching a masterpiece. Through six innings he had shut down a lineup of big bats, while the defense behind him kept stamping out any sparks that threatened to turn into rallies. It looked like the Leafs would escape another jam in the bottom of the seventh, but some invisible trickster -- be it Loki, Nanabush, or some other unseen force -- threw the game into chaos.

Jeff MacLeod led off with a single, and was awarded second on an attempted steal when Sloan was called for a balk. He then moved to third on a sacrifice. Ethan Mohan worked a 3-0 count before being walked intentionally. Runners on the corners now. Waltenbury was up next, and he drilled a grounder to first, where Damon Topolie snagged it and touched the bag. He then wheeled and threw to second, looking to nail Mohan for the third out. Instead, Topolie's throw was redirected by Some Invisible Hand. The ball drifted left, and nailed one of the umpires square in the back. Mohan was safe at second, and MacLeod crossed home plate to give the Royals a 3-2 lead.

Coach Peter Topolie exploded off the Leafs' bench with the fury of a million Earl Weavers. He appeared to argue that the umpire had blocked the throw to second by being in the basepath. The umpire countered that it was not so. The argument went back and forth and the game ground to a halt. Coach Topolie continued to press his case for a couple of minutes, storming back and forth between umpires before finally getting tossed. He was still foaming when he left the field.

Further confusion ensued when the Leafs signalled to the bullpen. Marek Deska made it all the way to the mound before the umpires intervened and said that Sloan needed to remain in the game. I have no idea what that was all about, but Sloan intentionally walked the next batter before Deska relieved him to get out of the inning and end the chaos.

The Leafs still had six outs to work with, but Concepcion hunkered down. The best the Mapes could muster was a couple of walks in the ninth before Guelph's starter sealed the 3-2 win with his twelfth strikeout of the game.


Toronto 2-4-0
Guelph 3-6-0

W - Concepcion (1-0, 2.00)
L - Sloan (0-1, 4.05)


BOXSCORE


NOTE: Eric Penkala and Cory Graham are providing live webcasts of each Leafs playoff game and archiving them on YouTube. The channel is Toronto Maple Leafs IBL Webcast.

Here's their complete coverage of Game 2.

Game 3 of this series will take place at Christie Pits later this afternoon. First pitch is at 2:00 pm.

Tak-Tak-Tak-Tak-Tak-Takamatsu!

Quarterfinals Game 1: Guelph Royals at Toronto Maple Leafs - August 9, 2018

Leafs win 9-6
Leafs lead series 1-0

The skies over Christie Pits were black and blue last night.

As expected, Game 1 of the quarterfinal series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Guelph Royals was all Hammer of the Gods. Both teams took turns wailing on starting pitchers Justin Cicatello and Yunior Yambatis, belting out a total of six home runs. 

All those soaring missiles bruised the clouds and caused an atmospheric disturbance. The game was temporarily halted by rain in the seventh inning. By then the damage had been done, and Toronto ended up taking a 9-6 victory.

A new cheer has been started up this season by some sassy hillside hecklers who call themselves The Bushmen. It's for rookie Garrett Takamatsu (above), whose lightning bat and lethal flow have made him one of the new fan favourites. It was "Tak-Tak-Tak-Tak-Tak-Takamatsu!" who smashed a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth that put the Leafs ahead for good.

The game got off to an ominous start on the first pitch from Cicatello. Ethan Mohan drilled it for a home run, and that was just his first one on the night.

The Leafs struck back in the bottom of the first, courtesy of left fielder Justin Marra. Following a single by second baseman Dan Marra, brother Justin belted a homer to give the Leafs a 2-1 lead. 

The lead was extended in the bottom of the second. Right fielder Zac Orchard led off with a walk, and Takamatsu singled behind him. Catcher Mike Reeves was intentionally walked, and with two out, Dan Marra hit what looked like an inning-ender, but it was played for an error by the third baseman and two runs scored. 4-1 Leafs through two.

Justin Interisano hit a two-run home run in the top of the third to make it a 4-3 game.

Guelph took the lead in the top of the fourth when Mohan hit his second of the night, a two-run shot that put the Royals ahead 5-4.

It was looking like the game would become a 20-19 shootout, but Cicatello and Yambatis both settled down for a couple of innings, until the decisive sixth.

Orchard led off with a single. That brought Takamatsu to the plate. He wasted no time, and absolutely crushed the first pitch from Yambatis. It was a no-doubter that disappeared into the clouds somewhere over Bloor Street. The Pits went wild, and there was more to come. Centerfielder Connor Lewis walked and moved to third on a single by Reeves. Dan Marra cashed him in with an RBI single and the Leafs led 7-5 after six innings.

The Royals pulled back to within a run in the top of the seventh. Former Leaf Jon Waltenbury hit an RBI single to make it 7-6.

The Leafs got some breathing room in the bottom of the seventh, when Orchard hit a two-run homer. By then, the skies had had enough, and it started raining. The umpires did not wait long before calling a delay and the tarps came out. It was a short rainfall, and after some quick work to the infield, play resumed. Yambatis was relieved by Adam Rossit, who completed the inning. The Leafs now enjoyed a 9-6 lead and it was bullpen time.

Nick DaSilva had pitched the seventh, surrendering the RBI to Waltenbury. Andrew Simonetti pitched a perfect eighth with two strikeouts. 

Dustin Richardson came on in the ninth and slammed the door. Two K's, including a swinging strikeout of Waltenbury to end the game. Cicatello got the win in the 9-6 FINAL and the Christie Crazies went home damp but happy.


Guelph 6-8-1
Toronto 9-9-3

W - Cicatello (1-0, 3.00)
L - Yambatis (0-1, 9.44)
S - Richardson (1)


BOXSCORE


NOTE: Eric Penkala and Cory Graham are providing live webcasts of each Leafs playoff game and archiving them on YouTube. The channel is Toronto Maple Leafs IBL Webcast.

Here's their complete coverage of Game 1.

Game 2 of this series will take place at Hastings Stadium in Guelph on Saturday, August 11. First pitch is at 7:30 pm.

Flooded and Postponed

Tonight's opening game in the quarterfinal series between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Guelph Royals has been postponed.

A wild downpour appeared in the city last night. In a very short period of time, low-lying areas of the city -- places like Christie Pits -- began to feel the deluge. As of this morning, left field was underwater (above).

Earlier this afternoon, the Maple Leafs announced that due to "wet field conditions", the game has been moved to Thursday night, August 9. First pitch will be unleashed at 7:30 pm.

Playoff Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs vs Guelph Royals

Here come the Toronto Maple Leafs, rolling into the post season all smiles and styles.

The run for the 2018 IBL championship begins with a quarterfinal series against the Guelph Royals.

The Leafs won the season series three games to two, with Toronto winning early in the season and Guelph taking the last two matchups. The upcoming best-of-five series promises to be a battle.


HITTING

Looking at both clubs' 2018 season stats side-by-side, Toronto leads Guelph in most offensive categories. 

In four of the five games these teams played, the winner scored double-digit runs. Hardly an anomaly in this league, but either club is capable of putting mucho runs on the board. If the series goes long, every run scored could be crucial. The fact that the Leafs have produced more over the course of the season would give them the edge.

KEY STAT:

The Leafs were 4th in stolen bases this season, while Guelph
was bottom of the league.

PITCHING

The age-old saying in baseball is that good pitching beats good hitting. The IBL is a hitter's league, but a best-of-five series could end quickly if one side runs up against some nasty arms.

While neither club had the worst team ERA this season, their numbers weren't something to write home about. Guelph has the advantage in opponent's batting average and strikeouts. A sudden attack of cold bats could put either team in trouble.

KEY STAT:

Guelph starters threw three complete game shutouts this season.

Toronto had none.

So what's going to happen?

I don't know, could this preview be any more vague? Hah! Your guess is as good as mine eh!

Two things are for certain: after grinding through some rough patches, both clubs finished on a positive. The Royals were riding a seven game win streak before dropping their final game of the season to Barrie. The Leafs overcame a July losing streak and entered August with two big wins. Both clubs are on an up trajectory and this series should be great, so slam down a shot or two of Malibu and hang on tight. The series starts tomorrow.


QUARTERFINAL SCHEDULE

Game 1 - Wed Aug 8 at Christie Pits, Toronto - 7:30 pm
Game 2 - Sat Aug 11 at Hastings Stadium, Guelph - 7:30 pm
Game 3 - Sun Aug 12 at Christie Pits, Toronto - 2:00 pm
Game 4 - Tue Aug 14 at Hastings Stadium, Guelph - 7:30 pm*
Game 5 - Wed Aug 15 at Christie Pits, Toronto - 7:30 pm*

* if necessary

Maple Leafs 2018 Season Leaderboard

This year's IBL season promised to be a wildly competitive one, and it delivered. 

A dreary 2017 saw the Toronto Maple Leafs crash out of the first round of the playoffs, and two other franchises temporarily folded (Guelph and Hamilton). Meanwhile, the Barrie Baycats dominated from start to finish virtually unchallenged en route to their fourth consecutive IBL championship.

The Leafs got off to a great start this year, bolstered by some new signings and a return to form by veteran players. They remained in the hunt for the first couple of months of the season, before falling victim to a brutal 10-game losing streak in July. Late in the season, they pulled it together and clinched 4th place in the IBL standings. This equaled their place in the standings from last year, despite a 16-19 record.

Brothers Dan and Justin Marra led most offensive categories for the Leafs. Dan led in batting average, on base percentage and stolen bases. Justin led in home runs and runs batted in, and twice earned IBL Batter of the Week honours. Together, the Marras delivered at the plate all season.

Zach Sloan established himself as Toronto's number one man on the mound this year. He led the team in innings pitched, wins and strikeouts. For most of the season, he claimed the celebrated role of "Sunday Starter" and fell just short of leading the league in wins.

At the back of the bullpen, former Major Leaguer Dustin Richardson came in strong as a late innings stud. His 0.68 ERA led the club, and his experience proved invaluable to the rest of the pitching staff.

And now here is the final 2018 Maple Leafs leaderboard.



BATTING LEADERS

DAN MARRA

JUSTIN MARRA

BATTING AVG.
.364 D. MARRA
.353 J. MARRA
.320 G. TAKAMATSU
.282 M. REEVES
.279 C. LEWIS

ON BASE PERCENTAGE
.495 D. MARRA
.453 J. MARRA
.422 M. REEVES
.410 G. TAMANE
.391 G. TAKAMATSU

HOME RUNS
10  J. MARRA
5  M. KNECHT
5  M. REEVES
3. Z. ORCHARD
3  J. SOLAZZO
3  D. TOPOLIE

RBIs
31  J. MARRA
22  J. SOLAZZO
21  M. REEVES
20  G. TAMANE
19  D. TOPOLIE

WALKS
23  M. REEVES
21  J. MARRA
21  M. KNECHT
20  D. MARRA
19  G. TAMANE

STOLEN BASES
9  D. MARRA
8  M. KNECHT
6  G. CARRINGTON
4  C. LEWIS 
3  Z. ORCHARD
3  M. REEVES
3  D. SZPIK



PITCHING LEADERS


ZACH SLOAN

DUSTIN RICHARDSON

WINS
6  Z. SLOAN
3  J. CICATELLO
2  P. DE LOS SANTOS
(5 pitchers tied with 1 each)

ERA (STARTERS)
2.61  J. CICATELLO
4.02  Z. SLOAN
5.55  P. DE LOS SANTOS

ERA (RELIEVERS)
0.68  D. RICHARDSON
1.13  N. DASILVA
3.46  A. SIMONETTI

INNINGS PITCHED
65.0  Z. SLOAN
47.0  P. DE LOS SANTOS
38.0  J. CICATELLO
36.2  M. DESKA
31.1  R. PAGE

STRIKEOUTS
60  Z. SLOAN
38  P. DE LOS SANTOS
30  J. CICATELLO
29  D. RICHARDSON
27  M. DESKA

SAVES
3  A. SIMONETTI
2. M. DESKA
2  D. RICHARDSON
1  P. DE LOS SANTOS