Titans’ Top 10 CPBL Performances—Week 2

by Jim Stewart

Fine starting pitching performances and prodigious power hitting were displayed by all five Titans teams during their mid-May games.  Here are the Top Ten Titans’ CPBL Performances for Week Two (May 14-15, 2022):

 

  • Nolan Keating (17U)—The Peterborough resident went 4 for 9, which included a double and his first CPBL home run. Keating collected 6 RBI, drew 2 walks, and delivered a sacrifice fly.  According to 17U Titans Head Coach Lawrence Vera, “Nolan was a general behind the plate and contributed significantly at the plate by hitting his first home run. His OPS at the end of the week was an impressive 1.389.”

 

  • Nathan O'Neill (14U)—Nathan earned a spot on the Titans’ Top Ten list for a second consecutive week by going 4-11 for a .363 AVG. He hit two doubles, scored three runs, and stole a base. 14U Titans Head Coach Johnny Bethune assessed his top hitter’s second CPBL weekend:  “Nathan keeps rolling with another 4 hits on Saturday and Sunday, including two doubles. His consistent and aggressive plate approach has led to hard contact through 8 games this season. Nathan's OBP after our first 8 games sits at .571.”


  • Eric Lanoue (18U)—The veteran Titans hurler picked up the win during a mid-week game versus the Oakville Royals by going 3 innings and yielding 1 earned run.  He struck out five Royals and walked none.  On Saturday versus the Nationals, Lanoue gave the 18U Titans another quality start by pitching 6 innings, giving up 3 earned runs, striking out 5, and walking 2. 18U Titans Head Coach Denis Bailey critiqued his starter’s Week 2 performances:  “Eric continued to keep hitters off balance and mixed his pitches well. He had a very effective week on the bump.”


  • Liam Dupuis-Cundy (15U)—Dupuis-Cundy kicked off the 15U Titans’ 2022 season with a bang by going 6 for 8 (.750 AVE), including a home run and a double. 15U Titans Head Coach Nick Dimpfel was pleased with his top hitter and his team’s efforts:  “Like Liam, the entire team showed great resilience through the 4 games.  We were extremely competitive in our first regular season games of the CPBL season.  We were a couple bounces away from being at least 2-2 on the weekend.”


  • Brennan Hedrick (17U)—Hedrick cracks the Titans’ Top Ten list for the second consecutive week by batting .500 (6 for 12) which included three doubles and three runs scored.  Head Coach Vera praised Hedrick’s hot start and his productive work at the dish:  “Brennan found the gaps in 3 of 4 games and was on the bases what seemed like every other AB. He finished the weekend with 1.288 OPS.”


  • Zach Tomlinson (16U)—Batting .400 over the weekend will catch any coach’s attention and 16U Titans Head Coach Eddie McKiernan was full of praise for Tomlinson:  “Zach had a great weekend at the plate. He went 4 for 10, hit a double, collected 3 RBIs, and stole a base.”


  • Chris McDonald (17U)—The Titans pitcher delivered a quality start for the 17U Titans.  McDonald went 6+ innings and scattered 5 hits while striking out 5.  Head Coach Lawrence Vera was impressed with his starter’s performance: “Chris McDonald pressed the early season limits by going into the 7th and giving us a shot to win the game.  He was very effective on the mound; it was unfortunate that the game ended in a tie because C-Mac deserved a W on his birthday.”


  • James Ratcliffe (14U)—Ratcliffe had a very productive weekend for the 14U Titans by going 4 for 7 (.571 AVG). He had a double and a run scored.  14U Head Coach Johnny Bethune was impressed with Ratcliffe’s offence and defence during Week 2:  “James had an impressive weekend at the plate hitting .571 with a double and run scored. He helped anchor the OF, playing all 3 outfield positions throughout the weekend. James's OBP sits at an impressive .645 on the season.”


  • Kirk Gibson (18U)—Gibson came off the Injured List and collected three extra-base hits including two doubles and a triple. Gibson, who has committed to the NAIA’s University of Rio Grande Red Storm in Ohio, accrued a .308 average and scored 3 runs in his first weekend of work.  Head Coach Denis Bailey was pleased to have Gibson back in his lineup:  “Kirk gave us a spark coming back for his first games of the CPBL season. He was all over the field, making plays defensively and offensively.”


  • Kai Hernandez (16U)--Hernandez “pitched great,” according to his Head Coach Eddie McKiernan, and made his way on to the Titans Top 10 List for a second consecutive week.  The Titans’ starter turned in a quality start during which he went 5 innings and struck out 8 batters. McKiernan added that “Kai attacked the zone and gave us a chance to win.”

Honourable Mentions:

  • Nick Carnovale (14U) – Carnovale went 3 for 8 to accrue a .375 AVG and scored three runs. His Head Coach Johnny Bethune was pleased with Carnovale’s approaches and results:  “Nick collected 3 hits this weekend along with 3 runs scored. He collected 2 walks to go along with 4 HBP. Nick's patient approach has led to high OBP so far this season with an impressive .714 OBP.”

  • Zach Selina (16U)-- According to Head Coach Eddie McKiernan, Selina “Came up clutch!” as he went  2-4 with 3 RBIs including  a bases-clearing  double and  2 stolen bases.

  • George Medrano (18U)—Medrano turned in the Titans’ best relief performance of the weekend which featured 4.1 IP, 2ER, 6K, and 2BB. Head Coach Denis Bailey’s assessment of his reliever was glowing:  “Coming in relief, George kept opposing hitters off-balance. George’s first outing on the mound this year showed he is someone who can come in and eat innings when needed.”

  • Riccardo Lora and Liam Beninati (15U)—Both Titans caught Head Coach Nick Dimpfel’s eye during their first slate of CPBL games for 2022.  Lora caught 3 out of 4 games.  Coach Dimpfel , who was a catcher when he played his US College Baseball in Colorado, noted that “Riccardo handled the pitchers extremely well with zero errors through the 3 games while hitting in the middle of the order.”  Dimpfel also had praise for his Game One Starter:  “Liam Beninati started our first game of the CPBL season and pitched strong into the 4th. Liam only allowed 1 earned run and kept the Astros hitters off balance all game.”


Congratulations to all fifteen Titans for their productive performances on the field during Week Two of the CPBL season.