Rookies have been busy over the last week
The Inside Pitch
By Lee-Ann Brinovec Junior rookie

Our Tile Source team continued their winning ways this week even in the face of fierce competition from the Aurora Summers and Smith team.

The Aurora team was full of confidence as they welcomed the young Cobras to their Confederation Field, but home-team advantage was short-lived as the King team let their bats do the talking. These junior rookies got on the scoreboard quickly and often as the first seven batters all made contact, advancing their teammates around the bases.

Just as the King fans thought they could cheer no more, Nicholas Lauriola knocked a ball deep past third base for his first hit of the season. Not to be outdone, Jordan Chantiam contributed with two standup doubles in the game. Lucas "Big Swing" Critelli connected for a towering home run to the right field fence. Joining the club this week with perfect plate appearances are Ethan Fisher, Kurtis Lewandowski, Rory Paric, Jordan Chantiam, Critelli, Jake Hansen and Emily Brinovec. Saying that Emily had a good night at the plate would be a dramatic understatement, as she blasted out a home-run every time she stepped up to the plate.

Defensively, they halted Aurora in their tracks. Critelli had three unassisted outs at first base. Gregory Long took over third base in the second inning and, along with shortstop Angelo Grande, they did a great job of holding Tile Source's lead.

Capping off the game was Lauriola, who geared up in the catching equipment for the final inning and performed brilliantly as the junior rookie 1 team came out on the winning side of the score sheet. Player of the game for the Tile Source team was Lauriola.

Thee junior rookie 2 team, sponsored by Schomberg IGA, also traveled to Aurora this week to play. They stepped up to the plate and hit their way around the bases piling up runs along the way. Mark Lago hit two home runs deep into the outfield. Luca Ferrari and Michael Saraceni recorded two-fortwo nights, and Frankie Aloia connected for his first triple of the season.

The defense was extremely good, as Christian Leone was a force in the infield, ensuring that nothing was getting by him. Andrew Dinipoulos was stellar as he tagged out four base runners.

Player of the game for IGA was Andrew Dinipoulos, who not only demonstrated great defensive plays, but was also three-for-three at the plate. An incredible game so early in the season.

Filebank Records, the junior rookie 3 squad, put on a spirited effort as they played host to Home Hardware at Pottageville Park last week.

Giselle Murphy, Katie Douglas, Justin Topp and Cadence Opoka-Mullins all had perfect at bats. Ffion McKay and Cadence each scored a run and made a couple of eye-catching defensive plays. Guiliano Spizzirri and Nia McKay chipped in offensively with a base hit and a run each, and David Rumboldt knocked in a run with a second-inning blast. Player of the game for Filebank Records was Murphy who racked up two hits, two RBIs and scored twice herself. Well-done.

Senior rookie

The Rona Cashway sponsored team visited the Aurora Diggers last Wednesday, and despite their best effort, came out on the losing side of the score.

The highlight of the game was Thomas Beckley, first time ball player in his first game stepping up to the plate and cashing in a run like a veteran. Kyle Venberg was two-for-two, bringing in a pair of runs. The defense of Matthew Iannucci at second base helped keep the game close as he made a great stop on a hard-hit grounder not allowing the Aurora runners to advance. Player of the game for Rona Cashway was Beckley, who was not only helping his team at the plate, but also made a great catch and throw to first to record an out.

Thursday night, the TVS Development senior rookies won their season opener by a score of 12-9 over the previously undefeated Beeton Dr. Chan team.

Scott Cameron led the way hitting three singles. Adam Cippolone and Zachary Long continued where they left off last season with long base hits on their first at bats. Offensively, Allan Beer and Sara Valentini contributed with timely hitting and aggressive base running. Matthew Lancaster helped to seal the victory with his two base hits, and his defensive play at first base, as he recorded two unassisted outs.

Mosquito

Armstrong Petroleum recorded their second straight win as they defeated Reagans 18-4 last Tuesday evening.

Andrew Cippolone, Joshua Hollings and Mathew Ardizzi scored nine times in the game, gaining a decisive lead that was never in doubt.

It was a different story Thursday as Armstrong Petroleum went down 15-11 in defeat to Royal Lepage Aurora. Nicholas Litow started on the mound for King and after settling in he managed to close out the second inning in strong form. Francesco Amanteo took over in the third and fourth, and despite being under the weather, he completed two full innings and contributed to the offense with a single. Cippolone injured his knee on a slide into third base, but continued his catching duties.

The bats came alive for Armstrong Petroleum in the fourth when they rallied to score seven runs, but unfortunately the game was called for time which prevented the King team from coming all the way back. A show of determination from both Cippolone and Amanteo and their obvious love for the game of baseball made them co-players of the game.

Peewee

Rhind Electric began their season on a winning note as they visited Aurora and handed TD Waterhouse a 13-3 loss. Pitching was a strong point for the King team as Scott Rhind and Stewart Burman shared the duties. They combined for five strikeouts and only allowed five base runners in the game. Dennis Orr played first base to perfection, and worked well with second baseman Daniel Bilzer as they combined for a three up - three down fourth inning. Offence was not a problem with Orr going two-for-three with a single and a double, Travis Brinovec getting two singles and Matthew Maloney having a perfect night at the plate cranking out two singles and a double. Aggressive base running helped score numerous runs. Player of the game was Orr.

Bantam

The bantam team of 14 and 15 year olds, sponsored by Phil's Motors, has started the season off with two wins and a tie. In the first game May 17 against Aurora, rookie pitcher Armand Sanguigni started off the inning with great poise on the mound, surrendering only one run. The King team next sent veteran Mateo Perrone to the mound. He allowed only two runs, striking out five batters. King finally got on the scored board in fourth due to an overthrow that allowed Perrone to score from third. Theodore Willert came in as a closer in the sixth and did a great job striking out three batters of his own, and giving his team a chance to close the gap. The Cobras did just that in the sixth, bringing home Sean Strong and Theodor to tie the game at three apiece.

Unfortunately King was unable to bring in the winning run as they left him stranded at third.

May 22, Phil's Motors beat Aurora's Dr. Orschels Drillers 9-4. First time pitcher Dylon Maggiacomo started the game and did not surrender a run. After building a lead, King sent Willert to the mound and he was able to hold off Aurora's attempt at a comeback. With Perrone on the mound to close out the game, two great catches by Brandon Pedro and Brett Cummings, along with a great stop on a hard-hit ball by Luke Robertson, and it was game over for Aurora.

The highlights of the game were the overall batting by the Cobras and strong defensive plays coming from both veteran and rookie players. Player of the game, Perone with two and two-thirds innings pitched and going two-fortwo at the plate, driving in five RBIs.

Thursday, Phil's crew made a great comeback against Canadian Tire of Georgina. They had to give it everything they had, as they started the game with only nine players. Sean Strong pitched amazing in the three innings he was on the mound, and Cummings kept his team in it as he took the mound for two innings of work. Down 7-6 in the bottom of the fifth, the team had to "get down to business". King had loaded the bases when the Georgina pitcher walked in the tying run. With the bases still loaded, Sanguigni hit a single and drove in the winning run.

The 8-7 victory for Phil's Motors was a team effort, but the play of Strong stood out as he was named player of the game.

Bantam rep

Everyone connected with the minor bantam rep team had a feeling last Tuesday that the team's terrific threeinning start might not continue; but no one predicted that the roof would fall on them as well.

Starter Josh Lipscombe held what is arguably the best minor bantam team in the York-Toronto baseball loop to three hits over those three innings, shutting out the Scarborough visitors in the process.

When Lipscombe tired in the fourth, after surrendering four runs, and had to be replaced, the Cobras fortunes took the proverbial turn for the worse and the boys ended up on the wrong side of a 13-2 pasting in their first game of the season. Steven La Verde came in, but had difficulty finding his release point, and was in turn replaced by Brady Boccia. Boccia stopped the bleeding with his usual pinpoint control and finished the game. Offensively, the Cobras only mustered four hits themselves. Boccia was onefor two, as was second baseman Christian Shorthill, while Lipscombe crushed a ball for a triple, going onefor four. Centerfielder Daniel Lisi, although shut out at the plate, cashed in the team's first RBI.

All told, while the boys were disappointed at not doing better in their season opener, there were a lot of bright spots, and lots to build upon.

The team plays a double header tomorrow night at Eglinton Park North against North York; first pitch at 7 p.m. with Ryan Forletta getting the start.

On the junior side, the elites split their weekend four-game stint with the Brockville Bunnies, winning both games Saturday, but doing a 180-degree turn and dropping the two final contests Sunday.

Player of the Week

Congratulations to our KTBA player of the week Mateo Perrone. He is captain of his Phil's Motors bantam house league team and it is easy to see why. He is a leader both on an off the diamond, and his pitching, fielding and hitting is a big reason why the bantam team has started out their season as an undefeated team.

The KTBA player of last week was Emily Brinovec of the Tile Source team. This junior rookie player started off the season in winning fashion and as a returning player will be looked to by her fellow players to continue to lead her team.

Sponsor of the Week

Our Sponsor of the Week is Schomberg IGA. Thank - you for your continued support of baseball in King Township.

Last week's Sponsor of the Week was Phil's Motor, the sponsor for our bantam house league team.