Titans Top Ten CPBL Performances for Week #3

The Titans baseball clubs battled two foes over the three-day weekend: CPBL opponents and persistent Spring rain.  However, as the skies cleared, the solar-powered Titans peppered the opposition when they took the field on Sunday and Monday of the Victoria Day Weekend.  The 14U Titans continued their torrid offensive pace, piling on the Ontario Nationals for twenty-six hits in a doubleheader.  Similarly, the 17U Titans continued their winning ways behind stellar pitching and timely hitting versus the Mets. Finally, the 18U Titans’ offensive prowess was on full display during the third week of the young CPBL season.  The organization’s senior ball club hit eight home runs in two Holiday Weekend games in Ottawa. Nolan Keating, Gabe Cheddie, and Cameron Nemeth hit two dingers each and Nolan Thomson and Owen Shepherd added one apiece to the fireworks show in the Nation’s Capital.  The 18U Titans improved their CPBL record to 4-1 with their 18-5 and 10-5 wins versus Ottawa Watson Elite. Coach Denis Bailey noted that “Everybody contributed to the wins on the weekend.  We played flawless defence.  Not one error in either game. The team had 25 quality at-bats in 40 appearances in Game 1 and 16 quality at-bats in 33 at-bats in Game 2.  The whole team qualified for this week’s Top Ten List collectively.” Coach Bailey also got two fine pitching performances from Cameron Byers in long relief in Game 1 and Game 2 starter Eric Lanoueearned the W to sweep the doubleheader.  Byers and Lanouewere supported by a 20-hit attack (20/40) and a 13-hit attack (13/33), respectively.

Here are our top Top Ten Titans for the weekend of May 20-21:

Nolan Thomson (18U)—Thomson blew the doors off Watson Elite pitching on the weekend. Not only was the Titans shortstop flawless on defence, but he was a one-man wrecking crew in the batters’ box.  The Newmarket resident churned out eight hits, drove in nine runs, accrued an .889 BA (8 for 9) with five singles, two doubles, and a home run.  Thomson also scored 4 runs.

Nolan Keating (18U)—The Titans catcher showed off the pop in his bat by hitting two home runs versus Ottawa and driving in six runs.  The Peterborough resident went 4 for 9 and scored 3 runs to add to the 18U Titans offensive onslaught versus Watson Elite. 

Cameron Nemeth (18U)—The speedy Nemeth contributed significantly to the 18U Titans offensive attack by hitting two home runs, scoring three runs, collecting six RBI, and going 4 for 9 at the dish. 

Kai Hernandez (17U)—The 17U ace and veteran Titan threw 9innings, allowed 1 earned run, and struck out fourteen Mets enroute to the W.

Cam Byers (18U)—Byers provided the 18U Titans with 5 innings of long and effective relief when starter Jack Ferguson had to leave Game 1 versus Ottawa with a lat injury.  The 17U Pitcher of the Year struck out 7 Ottawa batters, stranded 6 baserunners, and yielded just one earned run in this appearance to pick up the W.

Sam Puttock (17U)—Puttock earned the W versus the Toronto Mets by giving the 17U Titans another quality start on the weekend.  The hurler pitched 5.2 innings, allowed only 2 hits, and shared the shutout in his club’s narrow 1-0 win.

Caiden Moncada (14U) –In Week 3, Moncada built on his excellent season by hitting .750 versus St. Mary’s (6-8) including a double. The 14U shortstop scored three runs and drove in one to help light his team’s offensive fireworks against the Ontario Nationals.

Mitchell Crowley (18U)—Crowley showed his value to the 18U Titans as a dual player on the weekend.  The Norwood resident batted .500 (3 for 6), scored four runs, drew a walk, drove in a run, and threw a scoreless inning to close out his team’s 10-5 win in Game 2 in Ottawa. 

Sam Hess (14U) – Hess gave the 14U Titans a quality start by throwing six innings, yielding only 2 earned runs, struck out 2 Nationals, and picked up the W for his team. 

Gabe Cheddie (18U)—Cheddie played in one of his team’s two games versus Ottawa, but he made the most of the start.  The resident of Toronto hit two home runs, drove in three runs, scored two runs, and went 2 for 3.  One of Cheddie’s home runs was a monster shot, according to his Head Coach Denis Bailey, “that hit Highway 174 after it exited the ballpark.”

Honorable Mention:

Tarek Emara (18U)—The Titans’ two-spot hitter set the table for his slugging teammates in both games versus Watson Elite.  The resident of Pickering collected 4 hits in nine plate appearances, scored four runs, hit three doubles, drove in a run, and stole two bases on consecutive pitches to show off his larcenous speed in Ottawa. 

Tysen White (14U)—White batted .500 (3-6) and chipped in extra base hits including a home run and a double.  He drove in three runs and scored three runs to contribute mightily to the 14U Titans’ blitz.

Tysen Kushnir (14U) – Kushnir hit .500 during Week 3 (4-8), including a double. He also scored three runs and stole 3 bases to help impel the 14U’s 26-hit attack versus the Nationals.

Graham Marshall (17U)—Marshall’s stock as a reliable reliever continues to rise. Marshall’s efficacy was evident in his two appearances out of the bullpen; he gave the 17U Titans 3.1 innings of high quality work in which he earned a save, allowed zero hits, and struck out four.

Lucas Seto (17U)—Seto paced the 17U Titans’ offensive attack by batting .333 (3-9), hitting 2 doubles, driving in 3 runs, and accruing an outstanding .455 on base percentage to create traffic on the base paths.

Justin Fenn (18U)—The Titans lead-off hitter collected three hits (3 for 7), two walks, and scored five runs to contribute at the top of the batting order and impel his team’s explosive offence on the weekend in Ottawa. 

Eric Lanoue (18U)—The Game 2 starter—backed by his team’s 13-hit attack-- picked up the W by pitching 5 1/3 innings, striking out 7, walking 2, and scattering 8 hits in the six innings he hurled the horsehide.