The Fall of Empires

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - June 6 to 12, 2022

The Leafs enjoyed a week of whipping old rivals, capped by another shutout at the Pits.

Damon Topolie celebrates his first home run of the season, looking mighty sharp in the Leafs' new Sunday whites.

There used to be a time, not long ago, when stomachs would tighten at the sight of three straight games against the Barrie Baycats and Brantford Red Sox on the Toronto Maple Leafs schedule.

Between 2005 and 2019, 14 IBL championships were won by Barrie and Brantford.  Seven apiece.  These clubs were beyond dynasties, they were veritable empires.  The only club that could make a dent in this era of uninterrupted rule was the Leafs, who managed to grab a lone title in 2007.

The Leafs held longstanding rivalries with both clubs.  Unfortunately Toronto usually ended up on the short end.  Road trips to Barrie and Brantford were not fun.  Driving to those cities for a game felt like travelling in one of those transport trucks packed with hogs headed for the abattoir.  The outcome was inevitably bad.

But the empires have fallen.  The championship rosters are no more, replaced by loads of youngsters who had no part in the dominance of the past.

The Leafs are also riding a youth movement and the results so far have been very satisfying.

After shutting out the Baycats last week, the Leafs beat them again up in the wild forests of Midhurst.

A weekend home-and-home series saw the Leafs annihilate the still-winless Red Sox by a two-game total score of 25-2.

Very satisfying indeed.

Thursday, June 9, 2022 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats

On Thursday night, the Leafs scored two runs on a chaotic wild pitch play to take the lead for good.  (Image: Barrie Baycats TV YouTube)

Throwing it all away.

That's how the Barrie Baycats blew Thursday night's game up in the great Canadian north.

An error-riddled see-saw battle came down to one fateful play in the 8th inning and the Toronto Maple Leafs took the lead for good.

The Leafs enjoyed an early 4-1 lead through four innings.  Two of those runs were off the bat of centerfielder Gregory Carrington, who hit a pair of RBI singles in the early going.  

In the bottom of the 5th, starter Diego Dominguez was touched up for three runs and Barrie tied the score.

The Baycats took the lead in the bottom of the 6th.  They scored a run off reliever Dylan Jacober who was making his debut appearance in a navy V-neck.  5-4 Barrie through six.

In the top of the 7th, the Leafs loaded the bases and scored the tying run when right fielder Luca Boscarino safely reached first on an error by Barrie second baseman Owen Jansen.

The stage was set for the fateful eighth.  

With reliever Chris Cox on the mound, DH Damon Topolie reached first when Jansen committed another error at second.  Shortstop Jose Vinicio doubled and Topolie moved to third.  Then, with two out and first baseman Jordan Castaldo at the plate, Cox uncorked a wild pitch and Topolie rumbled home.  Barrie catcher Tyler Plumpton grabbed the ball and threw it wild, allowing Vinicio to slide home.  On one chaotic play, the Leafs scored twice and took a 7-5 lead.  Fitting that a game with eight errors in total would be decided in messy but pleasing fashion.

Former Baycat Chris Nagorski pitched a perfect bottom of the 8th for Toronto.

Closer Dustin Richardson came on for the 9th.  He ended the game on a swinging strikeout to secure the win for Nagorski and a 7-5 FINAL.

Toronto 7 7 3

Barrie 5 9 5

W - Nagorski (1-0, 3.60)

L - Cox (0-2, 6.75)

S - Richardson (1)

BOXSCORE

Friday, June 10, 2022 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox

The Leafs piled it on late and celebrated a Friday night blowout in Brantford.  (Image: Brantford Red Sox YouTube)

There is no joy in Brantford cuz the Red Sox were blown out.  Again.  It's the story of the 2022 season for that club.

On Friday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs rolled into town to take on the winless Brantford nine.

Marek Deska set the tone on the mound.  The Leafs starter pitched five innings, giving up one run off two hits while striking out six.  The Red Sox were held to five hits and two runs on the night.

Eight different Leafs recorded an RBI.  Catcher Justin Marra and left fielder Luca Boscarino each had two.

After eight innings the score was 7-2, and the Leafs piled on four more in the 9th for an 11-2 FINAL.

Toronto 11 12 6

Brantford 2 5 1

W - Deska (1-0, 3.00)

L - Moore (0-3, 8.48)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, June 12, 2022 - Brantford Red Sox at Toronto Maple Leafs

Sunday afternoon was the second start in a row in which Zach Sloan pitched the majority of a home shutout at the Pits.

The Maple Leafs showed us the best version of themselves on Sunday.

After blowing out the Red Sox in Brantford on Friday, they followed up with an even bigger blowout at Christie Pits.

Before the game started, arriving fans enjoyed the sight of the home team strutting around in a hot new look: proper home white uniforms.  When asked, no one could remember the last time the Leafs wore white at home.

"1984," one player suggested.

"1884," another said.

The Sunday whites got the best possible christening.  Zach Sloan started on the mound.  For the second start in a row, he gave up no runs and set the stage for a Christie shutout.

The game was over in the first inning.  The Leafs sent ten men to the plate and put five runs on the board.

The mauling continued in the 2nd with three more Leaf runs for an 8-0 lead.

You know things are going well when your leadoff hitter - Jose Vinicio - comes to the plate four times in four innings.  All day long it was one rally after another.  In the 4th, left fielder Aidan McAskie hit a 2-run homer to make it 10-0. 

Sloan handed the ball to Sam Greene, who pitched a scoreless sixth.  Greene was relieved by Dylan Jacober who delivered two scoreless innings.  

DH Damon Topolie and catcher Justin Marra both joined the tater parade with round trips in the 7th and 8th innings.  On a day that forecast rainy weather, the Leafs delivered their own thunder and lightning.  They pummeled Brantford pitching for 19 hits.  Centerfielder Gregory Carrington got four of them, including a double.  McAskie and Topolie led the way with 3 RBIs each.  

In the 9th, Adam Marra came out of the bullpen and wrapped up the second Christie Pits shutout of the season and a 14-0 FINAL.

Player of the Game was Damon Topolie.

Brantford 0 8 0

Toronto 14 19 0

W - Sloan (3-1, 2.14)

L - Lupton (0-1, 36.00)

BOXSCORE

The Leafs are riding a four game winning streak.  At 7-5, they have climbed to 4th place in the IBL standings, 2 games behind the Welland Jackfish.

The week ahead: 

Wednesday, June 15 - Kitchener Panthers vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 7:30 pm at Christie Pits

Thursday, June 16 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Kitchener Panthers, 7:30 pm at Jack Couch Park

Sunday, June 19 - Hamilton Cardinals vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits

Lighting up the Pits

Maple Leafs Weekly Recap - May 30 to June 5, 2022

A rare shutout and a walkoff winner brought the thrills back to Christie Pits this week. 

Dustin Richardson greets Luca Boscarino for a high five after the Leafs walked off the Royals on Sunday.

The post-Jack era of Maple Leafs baseball is awash in newness.  Clean new unies, a swanky new infield at Christie Pits, and plenty of new faces on the team.

Manager Damon Topolie continues to sort out the pieces in hopes of building a winning roster for the 2022 season.  Not a game has gone by without someone making his Leafs debut on the field, or one of the rookies making a big contribution.

On Wednesday, the first of this season's six night games took place at the Pits.  The new wave Leafs hosted the equally new wave Barrie Baycats and completely shut down their old rivals.  Rookie Aidan McAskie homered as part of the Leafs' scoring barrage.  Starter Zach Sloan teamed up with three other pitchers to forge a rare home shutout, the first one since 2016.

Another of Topolie's rooks was the hero on Sunday, as Luca Boscarino drove in the winning run for a walkoff in extras.  It capped off a week where the Leafs brought the thrills to the Pits.

They also played a game in London.

Wednesday, June 1, 2022 - Barrie Baycats at Toronto Maple Leafs

Zach Sloan struck out nine Baycats and led the Leafs to a rare Christie Pits shutout.

Fans who attended the Toronto Maple Leafs' first Wednesday nighter of the season got all kinds of treats.

As the sun set over Christie Pits, there was an arc of clouds over the park lit up a brilliant pink.  Photogs oohed and aahed at the spectacle.

On the field, Zach Sloan led the way as four Leaf pitchers combined to shut out the visiting Barrie Baycats.  

Catcher Justin Marra doubled in the bottom of the 3rd to score shortstop Jose Vinicio with the game's first and what turned out to be the winning run.

In the bottom of the 4th, centerfielder Gregory Carrington doubled to score left fielder Aidan McAskie and make it a 2-0 game.

McAskie returned in the bottom of the 6th to hit a solo home run and make it a 3-0 score.

Second baseman Dan Marra rounded off the Leafs' scoring with a solo home run of his own in the bottom of the 8th.

Calm as an accountant, Sloan went five innings and struck out nine.  Rhys Montgomery was next, and he added two goose eggs to the scoreboard and struck out two.  Adam Marra faced the minimum in a shutdown 8th.  

As night fell, all eyes turned to the Leafs bullpen.  There, closer Dustin Richardson warmed up in anticipation of making his season debut.  At the end of the 8th inning, manager Damon Topolie gave the signal and Richardson walked slowly to the mound, staring down the Baycats like a guilty verdict.  Richardson wears a perpetual look on his face of someone who is here to deliver all the worst news.

Richardson toyed with the Baycats' batters.  He gave up a double, walk and single to load the bases.  With the tying run at the plate, Barrie's travelling supporters expressed optimism.  Richardson proceeded to record three outs in a row, striking the final man out swinging.  That sealed the win for Sloan and a 4-0 FINAL.

Sloan was player of the game with the win and nine Ks.  For the Leafs, it was their first shutout at Christie Pits since June 2016, when they whipped the Hamilton Cardinals 9-0.*

* The most recent Christie Pits shutout was during the 2018 postseason, when the Leafs lost 8-0 to the Kitchener Panthers.  One may choose to believe that was all a weird dream.

Barrie 0 9 2

Toronto 4 7 0

W - Sloan (2-1, 2.40)

L -  Khan (0-1, 3.00)

BOXSCORE

Friday, June 3, 2022 - Toronto Maple Leafs at London Majors

The Leafs threatened late but took the loss on Friday night in London.  (Image: London Majors YouTube)

Friday night at Labatt Park, Damon Topolie ran out a lineup that featured five players making their debuts with the Mapes.  They faced the defending champion London Majors and starting pitcher Jose Arias.

The Majors were on the board first when Cleveland Brownlee hit a solo home run in the bottom of the 1st inning.

Arias nursed that 1-0 lead through eight innings, striking out nine Leafs along the way.

London added three runs to take a 4-0 lead into the 9th.  

Arias handed the ball to his bullpen mates, who almost bungled the game away.  With one out, the Leafs got singles from left fielder Grant Tamane, first baseman Jordan Castaldo, and third baseman Johnathan Solazzo.  Tamane advanced home on a fielding error to foil the shutout attempt.  DH Aidan McAskie added another single to score Castaldo and slice the Majors' lead in half.  That was as far as the comeback got, and London escaped with a 4-2 FINAL.

Toronto 2 6 1

London 4 8 1

W - Arias (2-0, 0.72)

L - Teraoka (0-1, 1.80)

S - Ferrington (1)

BOXSCORE

Sunday, June 5, 2022 - Guelph Royals at Toronto Maple Leafs

Luca Boscarino lit up the Pits with a walkoff winner in extra innings.

All weekend long, jubilee celebrations took place across the pond, but at Christie Pits the Leafs had no time for royalty in any shape or form.

The Guelph Royals came to town for the first time this season.  Hard to tell who gave them the worst welcome.  Up on the hillside, the Bushmen pelted the visitors with nonstop heckling.  On the field, the Leafs lost an early lead but came back to walk it off.  If you ask the Royals, they might tell you the umpires gave them the most grief.

It started early, with Guelph starter Claudio Custodio walking two batters in the 1st inning.  Manager Dino Roumel responded by cheerfully encouraging the home plate ump to pay closer attention to his duties.  TOSSED.

Second baseman Dan Marra drove in the first run of the game with a sac fly in the bottom of the 1st.

For the Leafs, Diego Dominguez made his season debut on the mound and cruised through three perfect innings.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 4th, a wild pitch from Custodio allowed third baseman Aidan McAskie to dash home and make it a 2-0 ballgame.

As the game progressed, the visiting bench and players continued to share their opinions on the quality of umpiresmanship that was on display, believing they were on the wrong end of several calls.  

The Royals rallied with runs in the 5th and 8th innings to tie the game.  In the bottom of the eighth it looked like they might seize the lead.  With runner J.D. Williams on third and one out, Josh Garton lofted a sac fly to left.  Grant Tamane caught the ball and launched a missile towards home.  Of all the luck, the ball skulled a groundhog and took a high bounce to the backstop.  Williams stormed across the plate and Guelph took the lead...

...until an appeal at third base ruled that Williams had left early.  Runner out, run negated, tie game.  In between innings, Royals backup catcher Brendan Keys expressed gentle concern about the umpiring crew's visual capabilities.  TOSSED.

The game eventually went into extras and out came the ghost runners.

In the 10th inning, both clubs cashed in their ghosts and the game remained tied 3-3 going into the 11th.

Adam Marra took to the mound for the Leafs and kept Guelph from scoring their ghost.

The stage was set for rookie right fielder Luca Boscarino to rap a clean single and drive in the winning run.  The Leafs raced out to jostle and douse him with water, and the Christie Pits crowd celebrated a 4-3 FINAL.

Boscarino's walkoff earned him the player of the game honours.

Guelph 3 7 2

Toronto 4 6 1

(11 innings)

W - A. Marra (1-1, 2.16)

L - Mercado (0-2, 4.65)

BOXSCORE

The Leafs move up to fifth place in the IBL standings with a 4-5 record.

The week ahead: 

Thursday, June 9 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Barrie Baycats, 7:30 pm at Vintage Throne (formerly Coates) Stadium

Friday, June 10 - Toronto Maple Leafs at Brantford Red Sox, 8:00 pm at Arnold Schwarzenegger Thunderdome

Sunday, June 12 - Brantford Red Sox vs Toronto Maple Leafs, 2:00 pm at Christie Pits