Thomson, Gibson, Lanoue, and Bernardo Named Top 18U Titans for 2022

18U and US College Players Nolan Thomson, Kirk Gibson, Eric Lanoue, and Giancarlo Bernardo headlined a group of 19 award winners for the 2022 season announced by the Titans Baseball Club on Tuesday.  Thomson and Gibson—a potent middle infield combination featuring productive hitting and stellar defense-- shared the 18U Most Valuable Player Award given to “the best overall players on the team who accrued impressive statistics, contributed to the winning culture of the ball club, and earned the first star of many games.”  Thomson is a returning 18U player who has committed to the Rend Lake Warriors in Illinois for 2023 while Gibson is in his first season with the University of Rio Grande Red Storm in Ohio. Lanoue –who captured the 18U’s Pitcher of the Year Award after a stellar season in 2022—was clearly “the best pitcher on this year’s staff who compiled the most impressive stats, and had the best presence on the mound.”  The resident of Toronto is also returning to the Titans and has committed to the Wells College Express in Aurora, New York.  The award for Most Improved 18U Player was earned by Bernardo whose catching and hitting ability caught the eye of the D1 Rend Lake Warriors to which he is committed for the 2023 season. The resident of Vaughan satisfied the performance criteria of the award by demonstrating the “best improvement in terms of offence and/or defense, showed the greatest degree of development, as well as improvement in mental toughness with an impressive jump in numbers.” 

In addition to the MVP, POY, and MIP trophies to be given to all five teams, awards of merit and distinction will be given to the following Titans:  Tyler Pridham whose “excellence on  the field and gritty, self-starting attitude combined with a consistently excellent and independent effort”  earned him The Charlie Hustle Award;  Chris McDonald earned the Student-Athlete Performance Award given to “an Honor Roll student who makes an excellent commitment to practice, and makes an exemplary effort on the field and in academics”; and Myles Hazen who captured the “Team Over Me” Leadership Award given to the Titan who best exemplifies the following performance criteria:  “excellence on the field; a season of selflessness; made sacrifices for the team; and was a leader of men both on and off the field.” 

The award-winning accomplishments of all 19 Titans will be acknowledged and applauded at a Breakfast Banquet on Sunday, January 22 at Donnelly’s Family Restaurant (17915 Leslie Street, Newmarket) starting at 9:30 AM.  Director of Baseball Operations Lawrence Vera offered his heartfelt congratulations to all the award winners:  “It’s great to see the performances of our best players acknowledged after a much-improved season in the CPBL and our renewed travels to the USA both in tournaments and the Fall College Trip.  As an organization, it’s heartening to see our players striving and achieving on these big stages both provincially and internationally. Congratulations to Nolan T, Kirk, Eric L, Giancarlo, Nolan K, Cameron, Gabe, Nate W, Kairon, Coby, Ty V, Luke, Austin M, James, Adam, Nathan, Tyler P, Chris, and Myles for wearing the blue and orange proudly. ”

The Titans Baseball Club extents its congratulations to all our 2022 Award winners, including these younger Titans on our 17U, 16U, 15U, and 14U teams: 

17U 

MVP:  Nolan Keating

POY:  Cameron Byers

MIP:  Gabe Cheddie

16U

MVP:  Nate Windle

POY:  Kairon Hernandez

MIP:  Coby Ritter

15U:

MVP:  Ty Vecchio

POY:  Luke Adams

MIP:  Austin Maxwell

14U:

MVP:  James Colella

POY:  Adam Visram

MIP:  Nathan O’Neill