The Inside Pitch
Two more wins for the Royal LePage mosquitos
By Lee-Ann Brinovec Junior rookie

Enjoying a rare match-up on the schedule, our two King junior rookie teams met for a game Thursday evening in Pottageville.

Schomberg Guardian Drugs (team 2) played host to the TVS Development Corp. (team 1), and it was apparent that these young players were using all of their skills in a close-fought match.

Adam Cipollone started off the game for team 1 with a well-hit line drive down the third base line, but Matteo Pecchia got his glove on it and dashed Adam's hopes of a chance to touch all the bases. The batters on both teams were outstanding with TVS having perfect plate appearances by Serene Falzone, Emily Brinovec, Jake Hansen, Connor Harris, Michael Sala, Rose Falzone, Sara Valentini, Zachary Long, and Magnus Krever. Going two-for-two on the Guardian Drugs team were Courtney Barton, Giselle Murphy, Tyler Radell, Zoe Cristante, Mackenzie McDonald, and Matteo Pecchia. On his second at bat, Cipollone pounded a ball deep into the outfield and got the home run he deserved.

Both teams played textbook defence, including Matteo Pecchia, who dashed the hopes of another team 2 batter as he caught a pop fly, and Connor Harris, who balanced his tremendous hitting skills with strong defence for his TVS team in centre field. Sara Valentini, playing first base, teamed up with Magnus Krever, working on the pitching mound, to knock down a ground ball and record a well-needed out.

Player of the game for the Guardian Drugs team was Matteo Pecchia for his outstanding defense. Player of the game for TVS Development Corp. was Connor Harris, who showed his power hitting and helped out his team defensively. Each week it is rewarding to see this group of 6 and 7 year olds playing together, making new friends, developing new skills, and learning a sport that they can play well into their adult years.

Mosquito

RCR Royal LePage were back at it again this week, both at home and in Aurora.

Last Monday night they played host to the TD Waterhouse Aurora 3 team. Despite being down to seven players after the first inning, the mosquito 1 team was a determined group and gave it their best effort. That effort paid off in a decisive win by a score of 16-3.

Travis Brinovec and Jonathan Mele shared pitching duties for the four innings played, and both were outstanding, allowing only three runs and combining for 12 strikeouts. Jonathan was also a threat at the plate, going five-for-five, with two singles, two doubles and a walk. Helping out Jonathan on offence was Daniel Lucia, who also made it to base all five times he came to the plate.

Player of the game for RCR Royal Lepage was Daniel Lucia who played perhaps his best game of the season. Congratulations Daniel.

Last Wednesday, the mosquito 1 team traveled to Aurora to face the Aurora 2 team, BMO Mortgages. The Royal Lepage team posted their 13th win of the season 16-8, as their bats made the difference in this one.

Jonathan Mele once again had some monster hits and multiple RBIs. It was a pleasure to see Samantha LaVerde show the boys how to smash the ball deep into the outfield, as she was three-for-three at the plate with a walk and two long singles. Tristan Joseph, just back from holidays and well rested, had not lost a beat as he came to the plate three times in the game and belted out two singles and a double.

Player of the game was Samantha LaVerde, who has been gaining confidence at the plate and showed it in this game.

Peewee

On July 18, against Oak Ridges Toronto Star, in only his sixth game for Filebank Records, Daniel Lisi went three-for-three at the plate and completed a heads-up double play to end the second inning.

Lisi made a magnificent running catch in centre field on an outfield fly and without a moment's hesitation, fired a perfectly aimed throw to first base to pick off a wandering runner.

The Filebank team had fought a close battle over the first three innings when Josh Lipscombe took to the mound. He pitched two strong innings as he struck out five of the seven batters he faced and made a quick out on a bunt as he scooped the ball and tossed it to Steve Leonard at first base. Filebank's impressive batting was spread widely throughout their batting order with every player in the line-up successfully reaching first base at least once. Marshall Perone was four-for-four and Daniel Lisi, Max Whicher and Landyn Friebe each went three-for-three at the plate. At the conclusion of Oak Ridge's turn at bat at the top of the fifth, time had run out and Filebank recorded their ninth victory of the season by a score of 11-9.

July 26 saw the same Filebank Records team lose a game to Bradford Centre Ice by the same score, mostly due to some defensive errors.

They were a little sluggish in the field and made some throwing errors that allowed the Bradford team to come away with an 11-9 victory. On a positive note, the Filebank hitters performed very well, with Marshall Perone, Daniel Velocci, Josh Lipscombe, Daniel Lisi and Landyn Friebe reaching base every time they stepped to the plate.

Phil's Motors traveled to Georgina last Wednesday to take on the Pefferlaw Lions Club. Despite the rain, the peewee 2 team persevered, and came away with a 16-10 victory. At the plate, Steven LaVerde, Matthew Maloney, Brady Boccia and Taylor Joseph connected for extra base hits. It was Phil's Motors ninth win of the season.

Bantam

Armstrong Petroleums lost a close game to Showcase Furniture Galleries from Newmarket Thursday 5-3.

It was a pitcher's duel on a rain soaked field until the sixth, when some defensive errors allowed the Newmarket team to score three runs. Pitchers Sean Strong and Dean Sterman held Newmarket to one run for the first four innings. Ryan Forletta came to the mound in the fifth, as he and catcher Theo Willert teamed up to help keep Newmarket off the score sheet. Dean Sterman had two doubles in the game and two RBIs, but the King team could not solve Newmarket's closer and failed to score a run in the final two innings.

Player of the game for the Armstrong Petroleums team was Dean Sterman, who was the team's most productive player both defensively and offensively.

Peewee

select

The peewee select team, sponsored by CDC Insurance Services Ltd., have now completed their regular season and await a berth in the playoffs.

On the hottest Sunday so far this summer, the team played a double header against Collingwood. The first game was a closefought battle that saw the home team come up short in a 7-2 decision as the King hitters had a tough time against the Collingwood pitchers.

The second game of the day was a different story. King's offence started with a vengeance, roaring out of the first inning as Collingwood issued walks to six batters and allowed three hits as the home team took an early 4-0 lead. At the end of two innings, the game was tied 5-5 as pitcher Josh Lipscombe struggled in the inning. Lipscombe returned to the mound in the third, back on his game, striking out two of the three batters he faced and not allowing a run.

King batters supported their pitchers' efforts with a strong third inning, sending three runners across the plate on the strength of hits from Connor MacAuley, Danton Brinovec and Travis Brinovec. The score at the end of three innings favored CDC Insurance 8-5.

King ace Ryan Forletta took the mound in fourth and pitched three innings of exemplary baseball, completely frustrating the Collingwood offence, and holding the opposition scoreless.

The home team's offence continued to dominate Collingwood pitching as two additional runs crossed the plate in the fourth and two in the sixth, topping off a King victory with a final score of 12-5.

Over the two games the players had to be commended for playing hard in some incredible heat. In the two games, Steven LaVerde achieved base five times on seven plate appearances, Danton Brinovec went four-for-six, Travis Brinovec was fourfor five, Ryan Forletta was four-for-seven and Joseph Perone achieved a perfect on-base percentage with three walks in three at bats.

The CDC Insurance Services peewee select team met and defeated Aurora's Goodyear Jays in Nobleton Saturday in their final game of the regular season.

The Cobras played one of their best games of the season behind the steady pitching of Josh Lipscombe and Ryan Forletta. Between them they struck out 12 batters, allowed five runs, six hits and seven walks. Together they held the opposition scoreless in four innings. After shutting down the Aurora batters in the top of the first, the Cobras struck for two runs at the bottom of the inning. Aurora came back at the top of the second to tie the game.

With the score 3-2 in favor of the home team, Ryan Forletta came in to pitch at the top of the fourth, faced four batters and sent the Aurora team back out onto the field without allowing a run.

The close game was over as the King team started a rally in the bottom of the fourth, led by a sharp hit from Daniel Lisi. At the conclusion of the inning, the Cobras had crossed home plate five times on two walks, and five hits, including two doubles. They added to their totals at the bottom of the fifth with a run on three walks and a long single. Ryan Forletta's shutout streak came to an end in the sixth, as the bases were loaded with none out. The first out came with a force at the plate, the second after two runs had scored, was achieved by third baseman Patrick Price making a charging catch on a foul pop fly. Forletta finished the inning with a strikeout. His shutout streak had ended at five consecutive innings, but the game's outcome was never in doubt.

The Cobras scored two more runs at the bottom of the sixth before the game was called for time and won with a final score of 11-5. The victory against Aurora brought the Cobras' record to three wins and five losses for the regular season.

With each game the CDC Insurance Cobras have been getting stronger and more confident.

Shoeless Joe's

Player of the Week

The Player of the week award (for the week ending

July 22) goes to Jonathan Mele from the RCR Royal LePage mosquito team. Jonathan had an outstanding week starting Monday, when he pitched two innings, striking out six batters and only allowing one run. He was also an incredible force at the plate in the two games, as he had three singles, three doubles, two walks and multiple RBIs. Congratulations Jonathan on a great week, keep up the good work. The Shoeless Joe's Player

of the week award (for the week ending July 27) goes to Rose Falzone from the TVS Development Corp. junior rookie team. Rose always comes to the diamond ready to play and with a positive attitude that inspires her teammates to do their best on the field. Congratulations Rose.

Sponsor of the week is Tenebaum Racing Stables, who sponsor our youngest ball players on the T-ball 1 team. Thank you for your continued support.