The Giants went undefeated in the provincials until the final game where they faced the Melrose Mudhens who they had defeated earlier in the tournament. Unfortunately, they did not have the same result in the finals as they fell 6-5 to the Mudhens. Pitchers Christian Banken and Jeremy Receno pitched admirably, but some clutch Mudhen hitting allowed them to playe 4 runs in the bottom of the 6th to take a 3 run lead. The Giants fought back with two inning, but could not claw all the way back.
The strikeout was the downfall of the Giants as they went down on strikes 16 times in the final game. Braden Wojcik had the notable offensive performance as he went 2-3 with an rbi. The Giants had defeated the Mudhens in 3 close games earlier in the season but in the biggest game of the year they came up just short.
Despite ending on a disappointing note, the Giants still had an impressive year with two tournament victories, a pennant win, a city championship, and finishing as provincial finalists. The Giants now look to improve next year when they face tougher competition as a minor team in the Bantam division.
The Giants are currently having tryouts for next year's team. The next tryout is Tuesday, September 29 at Fleetwood at 6:30pm. Call Matt Klas at (416) 970-9252 if you have any questions regarding tryouts.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Practice and Provincials
Just a reminder that the team will practice this Wednesday, September 2 at 5:45pm at Fleetwood.
Also, a provincial schedule has been released. All details can be found at the SOBA website.
Our first game is Friday at 6pm. That means we ask all players to be at the park no later than 5:15. A complete schedule can be found by clicking here.
And finally, directions to the diamond can be found by clicking here.
Also, a provincial schedule has been released. All details can be found at the SOBA website.
Our first game is Friday at 6pm. That means we ask all players to be at the park no later than 5:15. A complete schedule can be found by clicking here.
And finally, directions to the diamond can be found by clicking here.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Giants Win City Championship!!!
The Giants went undefeated through 4 games in the playoffs beating a tough Majors Red squad on Saturday to win the Mississauga City Championship.
The playoffs started smoothly with 2 stress free victories (15-0 and 13-3)against MSBA Twins Grey and Majors Red respectively. The path got a little rockier in the third game when they faced an emerging Mississauga North Tigers Team.
The Giants jumped out to an early 2-1 lead after the 2nd inning. In the 4th inning they would stretch their lead to 4-1 on a Daniel Nikitovic 2-run shot to center field. The Tigers team would fight back though and scored 3 in the top of the 5th to go up 5-4. The Giants answered in the bottom of the 6th scoring 3 runs with base hits by Dylan Connoly-Downey, Nikitovic, and Braden Wojcik. With only 5 minutes left to finish the last inning, play was suspended and would resume the next day.
Mitch Fiacco was on the mound to close out the 2 run lead the next day but the Giants defense didn't show up, and the scrappy tigers squad managed to plate 3 runs to go ahead 8-7. With only one at bat left, the Giants backs were against the wall. The bottom of the order answered the call with Austin Kean, Aidan Morris, and Troy Jaroslawski all reaching base. Jaroslawski would end up scoring the winning run on a Lucas Suppa sac fly to send the Giants to the championship.
In the championship, things would not get easier as the Giants were matched up against a Majors Red squad that doesn't make mistakes. Christian Banken got the start and showed his best control of the year getting ahead of batters and throwing all of his pitches for strikes. The result was 3 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts and a 1-0 lead after 3. The run scored on a Anastasi Grigoriou single up the middle that scored Sean Cochrane from second.
The Giants would add 2 more runs in the 4th inning when Mitch Fiacco singled, followed later by a Daniel Nikitovic rbi double. Nikitovic would also score on a passed ball, giving the Giants a 3-0 lead after 4.
The Majors would not give up though, as they managed to scrape 2 runs across against Jeremy Receno in his third inning of work. Going into the bottom of the 6th, the Giants led 3-2 and were in dire need of an insurance run.
As has often happened, the bottom of the order answered the call when Aidan Morris lined a single to right field to lead off the inning. He would steal second and then Troy Jaroslawski sacrificed him over to third. Morris would score on a Receno ground out giving the Giants a 4-2 lead.
Fiacco would be given the ball once again with the task of getting the save. The Majors Red team led off with 2 singles putting the tying run on base with nobody out. Fiacco would bear down and strike out the 2 next batters, and with runners on 2nd and 3rd he induced a ground out that sealed the Giants victory.
The City Championship gets added to an impressive (and hopefully incomplete) list of accomplishments for the Giants. In addition to the hardware received, the championship also qualifies the Giants for the provincials which will be held labour day weekend in Bolton.
The coaches would like to congratulate the players on a good playoff run and we hope to carry the momentum into the provincials.
Details about the provincials and a mid-week practice will follow shortly.
The playoffs started smoothly with 2 stress free victories (15-0 and 13-3)against MSBA Twins Grey and Majors Red respectively. The path got a little rockier in the third game when they faced an emerging Mississauga North Tigers Team.
The Giants jumped out to an early 2-1 lead after the 2nd inning. In the 4th inning they would stretch their lead to 4-1 on a Daniel Nikitovic 2-run shot to center field. The Tigers team would fight back though and scored 3 in the top of the 5th to go up 5-4. The Giants answered in the bottom of the 6th scoring 3 runs with base hits by Dylan Connoly-Downey, Nikitovic, and Braden Wojcik. With only 5 minutes left to finish the last inning, play was suspended and would resume the next day.
Mitch Fiacco was on the mound to close out the 2 run lead the next day but the Giants defense didn't show up, and the scrappy tigers squad managed to plate 3 runs to go ahead 8-7. With only one at bat left, the Giants backs were against the wall. The bottom of the order answered the call with Austin Kean, Aidan Morris, and Troy Jaroslawski all reaching base. Jaroslawski would end up scoring the winning run on a Lucas Suppa sac fly to send the Giants to the championship.
In the championship, things would not get easier as the Giants were matched up against a Majors Red squad that doesn't make mistakes. Christian Banken got the start and showed his best control of the year getting ahead of batters and throwing all of his pitches for strikes. The result was 3 scoreless innings with 5 strikeouts and a 1-0 lead after 3. The run scored on a Anastasi Grigoriou single up the middle that scored Sean Cochrane from second.
The Giants would add 2 more runs in the 4th inning when Mitch Fiacco singled, followed later by a Daniel Nikitovic rbi double. Nikitovic would also score on a passed ball, giving the Giants a 3-0 lead after 4.
The Majors would not give up though, as they managed to scrape 2 runs across against Jeremy Receno in his third inning of work. Going into the bottom of the 6th, the Giants led 3-2 and were in dire need of an insurance run.
As has often happened, the bottom of the order answered the call when Aidan Morris lined a single to right field to lead off the inning. He would steal second and then Troy Jaroslawski sacrificed him over to third. Morris would score on a Receno ground out giving the Giants a 4-2 lead.
Fiacco would be given the ball once again with the task of getting the save. The Majors Red team led off with 2 singles putting the tying run on base with nobody out. Fiacco would bear down and strike out the 2 next batters, and with runners on 2nd and 3rd he induced a ground out that sealed the Giants victory.
The City Championship gets added to an impressive (and hopefully incomplete) list of accomplishments for the Giants. In addition to the hardware received, the championship also qualifies the Giants for the provincials which will be held labour day weekend in Bolton.
The coaches would like to congratulate the players on a good playoff run and we hope to carry the momentum into the provincials.
Details about the provincials and a mid-week practice will follow shortly.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Game Recap: August 19th
The Giants suffered their first defeat of the regular season Wednesday night at the hands of MSBA Twins White. The Giants pitching staff and defense allowed a season high 11 runs in the loss. The Giants offense fared no better, managing only 3 hits in 7 innings against the Twins pitching staff. The Giants final record for the regular season is 20-1.
Braden Wojcik started for the Giants and struggled allowing 5 runs over 3 innings pitched. Mitch Fiacco had success in relief, throwing 2 scoreless innings. The Giants then turned to reliable arm Jeremy Receno for the last 2 innigns with the game tied. Receno had some uncharacteristic struggles allowing 6 runs over the last 2 innings, although the defense did not help him in the disastrous top of the 7th.
Offensively, the Giants could not get anything going. Receno at the top of the lineup did a good job setting the table getting on base 3 out of 4 times and scoring 2 of the teams runs. Mitch Fiacco and Braden Wojcik were the only other 2 Giants who managed hits.
The Giants finish first in the division and will play the 8th seed on Saturday morning at 8:30am at Q-Park. It is expected that all players will be there at 7:45am. The coaches hope this is the wake-up call the team needed to play strong through the playoffs. The toughness of the team will be tested moving forward and how they respond will determine how successful this year will be.
Braden Wojcik started for the Giants and struggled allowing 5 runs over 3 innings pitched. Mitch Fiacco had success in relief, throwing 2 scoreless innings. The Giants then turned to reliable arm Jeremy Receno for the last 2 innigns with the game tied. Receno had some uncharacteristic struggles allowing 6 runs over the last 2 innings, although the defense did not help him in the disastrous top of the 7th.
Offensively, the Giants could not get anything going. Receno at the top of the lineup did a good job setting the table getting on base 3 out of 4 times and scoring 2 of the teams runs. Mitch Fiacco and Braden Wojcik were the only other 2 Giants who managed hits.
The Giants finish first in the division and will play the 8th seed on Saturday morning at 8:30am at Q-Park. It is expected that all players will be there at 7:45am. The coaches hope this is the wake-up call the team needed to play strong through the playoffs. The toughness of the team will be tested moving forward and how they respond will determine how successful this year will be.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
August 10th and 11th Game Recaps
The Giants emerged victorious from the contests on Monday and Tuesday nights by scores of 13-3 and 16-2 respectively. The two wins clinch first place for the team meaning that the first playoff game will be played against the 8th seed on Saturday, August 22nd at 8:30am.
In Game 1 versus the Tigers, Jeremy Receno got the start allowing one run over 2 innings to record the victory. Daniel Nikitovic pitched for just the second time allowing no runs over 2 innings while recording three strikeouts. Mitch Fiacco came in to mop up the victory pitching the last 2 innings and allowing 2 runs.
Offensively, Christian Banken led the charge with 4 hits. Unfortunately, the last single which he dropped with backspin behind the pitcher led to the end of his night. He rolled his ankle once passing first base and could not continue in the game. The Giants offense didn't let up though scoring 5 runs in the 6th inning to secure the victory.
In Game 2, the Giants beat the Mississauga Majors Red. The Majors team was shorthanded with only 9 players including a call-up, and the Giants took advantage.
On the mound, Dylan Connoly-Downey pounded the strike zone pitching 3 innings and allowing one run. Braden Wojcik came in second and also threw strikes, allowing only one run over the last 2 innings. Defensively, Troy Jaroslawski made his season debut behind the plate and did an excellent job. His hard work in practice was evident as he received the ball well and blocked balls allowing nothing to get to the backstop.
Offensively the Giants attack was well balanced with everyone contributing. Lucas Suppa led the way going 3 for 3. Austin Keane also contributed a hard hit line drive single down the third base line for an RBI.
The Giants don't get much of a break as they play a makeup game this Thursday, August 13th at Tom Chater at 6:15pm. MSBA Twins White are currently sitting in 2nd place, so this should be a good test for the Giants.
As a side note, here are some pictures from the tournament that Al and Lily Fiacco shared with me.
In Game 1 versus the Tigers, Jeremy Receno got the start allowing one run over 2 innings to record the victory. Daniel Nikitovic pitched for just the second time allowing no runs over 2 innings while recording three strikeouts. Mitch Fiacco came in to mop up the victory pitching the last 2 innings and allowing 2 runs.
Offensively, Christian Banken led the charge with 4 hits. Unfortunately, the last single which he dropped with backspin behind the pitcher led to the end of his night. He rolled his ankle once passing first base and could not continue in the game. The Giants offense didn't let up though scoring 5 runs in the 6th inning to secure the victory.
In Game 2, the Giants beat the Mississauga Majors Red. The Majors team was shorthanded with only 9 players including a call-up, and the Giants took advantage.
On the mound, Dylan Connoly-Downey pounded the strike zone pitching 3 innings and allowing one run. Braden Wojcik came in second and also threw strikes, allowing only one run over the last 2 innings. Defensively, Troy Jaroslawski made his season debut behind the plate and did an excellent job. His hard work in practice was evident as he received the ball well and blocked balls allowing nothing to get to the backstop.
Offensively the Giants attack was well balanced with everyone contributing. Lucas Suppa led the way going 3 for 3. Austin Keane also contributed a hard hit line drive single down the third base line for an RBI.
The Giants don't get much of a break as they play a makeup game this Thursday, August 13th at Tom Chater at 6:15pm. MSBA Twins White are currently sitting in 2nd place, so this should be a good test for the Giants.
As a side note, here are some pictures from the tournament that Al and Lily Fiacco shared with me.
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