The Pickering Red Sox ended their 2019 season capturing the GTBL crown for the second time in three years. Congratulations goes out to the entire Red Sox team on a great ending to the 2019 season.
The Red Sox started their playoff journey with a series against the Leaside Leafs. After dropping the opening game of the series 7-5 the Red Sox came back to win the next two winning 14-9 in Leaside that saw the Red Sox fall behind 8-3 before a huge comeback led by a Mike Rodriguez grand slam home run onto Ellington Ave. In the third the Red Sox once again found themselves trailing early but led by a strong pitching performance by rookie Ryan Clark, they prevailed 8-4, eliminating the Leafs from post season play.
Qualifying for the GTBL league final tournament, the Red Sox opened against the Thornhill Reds. Falling behind 2-0 after 1, Peter Nash held the fort in pitching a 3 hitter and the Sox scored 4 runs in the 6th ignited by a Jesse Dynes 2 run homerun to win the game 4-2.
In the second round the Sox faced the East York Bulldogs. After falling behind once again early by 3, the Red Sox scored 8 unanswered runs on route to an 8-3 win sending them to the finals. Shaun Slemko pitched all 7 innings for the win.
That set up a date with the Reds once again in the finals. Rookie Ryan Clark got the nod and pitched 5 innings to get the win in a 9-2 final that was close until the top of the 5th. Trailing 2-1, Sean Molony led off with a single and once again Mike Rodriguez ignited the offence with a 2 run home run off the scoreboard in left field. The Red Sox then tacked on another 6 runs to put the game away.
Congratulations to the entire Red Sox team.