The Thornhill Reds captured the 2022 Greater Toronto Baseball League Playoff Title after they ran the table during their playoff weekend going a perfect 3-0. The title is the 5th in the last 8 years for the club as they have won in 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2018 before taking the championship again this year.
They kicked off their weekend against the Newmarket Hawks who made their way into the Final Four weekend after winning a tough three game series against the Ajax Spartans. The Reds attacked the ball early and often in this game as they won by a score of 11-1 over the Hawks in six innings.
Max Dieks went the distance for Thornhill on the mound tossing six innings and allowing one run (earned) on three hits. He walked one batter while striking out four in picking up the victory. SS Argenis Paz had a good game offensively going 2-for-3 with a triple, a double, 3 RBIs, a pair of runs and a stolen base
With the win, the Reds were now into the winner vs winner game which would see them match-up against the GTBL pennant winning Kendal Eagles. This was a pitchers duel and a very tightly contested game as the Eagles took a 1-0 lead into the 6th inning. Thornhill, however, would finally strike with three runs in that frame and hang on for a 3-2 victory.
The Reds got another complete game effort as Mack Major went the distance to pick up the win throwing seven innings allowing two runs (both earned) on seven hits. He walked three batters while striking out four. Warren Kember had a big 2-run single to lead the way offensively while Jr call-up Jonah Brotman had the other RBI which turned out to be the game winner.
The win put the Reds directly into the championship game where they would face the upstart East York Bulldogs. The Bulldogs entered the weekend as the lowest seed but played some solid baseball to reach the final with the daunting task of having to beat the Reds twice to win the championship.
This game, like their previous one, was another great battle on the mound as the Reds once again found themselves trailing 2-1 after five innings of play. The Thornhill bats came alive in the 6th to the tune of five runs and then the Reds held the Bulldogs off just enough to preserve a 6-4 win and capture the 2022 GTBL Playoff Crown.
Veteran righty Chadwick Cameron was the winning pitcher for the Reds while Adam Garner took the loss for the Bulldogs who also had a great playoff run. Argenis Paz was named the playoff MVP for the 2nd time in his career based his solid performance over the course of his three games. A big congrats goes out to head coach Nolan Revin and the whole Reds squad on their great playoff run this year.