Titans’ Coaches Triumph 6-4 over Players in First Annual Movember Charity Game

The First Annual Movember Foundation Fundraiser game was a success for the Titans Baseball Club community on and off the semi-frozen tundra of Tottenham Park on Saturday afternoon. Titans Pitching Coordinator Eddie McKiernan struck out thirteen over six innings to earn the win and 16U Head Coach Jesse Barker earned the save by striking out six over three innings to lead the Coaches to a 6-4 win over the 22-man Titans Players’ Team.  The nine-man rotation of Graham Sim, Jayden Bailey, Aiden Gelhard, Justin Shin, DJ McMaster, Antony Cressatti, Ryan Smith, Gabriel Scarlato, and Fasil Al-Ajeel pitched effectively for the Players’ squad which led 4-2 going into the sixth inning.  Sim, Bailey, and Gelhard opened the game with three consecutive 1-2-3 innings to support their opportunistic offence that held a 1-0 lead into the fourth inning. However, the turning point of the game took place at the top of the sixth when the Coaches plated three runs, spurred by a 2-RBI double by 18U Coach Jeremy Uylenbroek who put the grizzled veterans on top 5-3.  It was a lead they would not relinquish.  The Titans Coaches earned bragging rights over the winter with their big win in Tottenham, but it wasn’t without a spirited fight by the Titans’ players who closed the deficit to 5-4 in the seventh inning on a big RBI double by Nolan Thomson that plated Tarek Emara. Thomson earned Player of the Game honors by driving in two runs with a timely single and double in three plate appearances.  The 17U shortstop also started two double plays with second baseman Eric Rutherford and first baseman Johnny Mantia.  The 6-4-3 DP combo from the Titans 17U team was smooth as silk on a chilled, damp infield. Mantia added an RBI double to the Players’ 6-hit attack. Emara scored two runs and played an excellent game in a soggy outfield. Sam Puttock and Matt Brandt scored one run each. 

In addition to all the fun, accolades, and community-building on the diamond, the real winner of the afternoon was the Movember Foundation.  At press time, the Titans Baseball Club community had raised $1875—well on its way to surpassing its $2000 goal by the end of October.  Thanks to all the intrepid coaches, players, and parents who braved the late-October elements and contributed mightily to the success of this charity game. 

Donations to the Titans Charity Fundraiser may be made via the following link:  https://movember.com/t/titans-baseball-club?mc=1