Titans Top Ten CPBL Performances for Week #5

by Jim Stewart

On a June weekend that featured satisfying doubleheader sweeps, thrilling walk-off wins, masterful pitching performances, clutch hitting, and some home run power across the organization, this week’s list of on-field heroics by the Titans is extensive.  The 17U Titans put it all together at St. Andrew’s College on Sunday, sweeping a doubleheader from the Terriers with a pair of comeback wins spurred by the timely hitting of Lucas Seto and Luc Gelinas and secured by two superb saves by closer Graham Marshall.  The 17U closer continued his dominance over CPBL teams by striking out 7 Terriers in his 2 1/3 innings of high leverage work and lowered his ERA to 1.07. 


Caiden Moncada and Nate Graham were the walk-off heroes for the 14U and 17U squads, respectively. Moncada sunk the Toronto Mets with a ringing 2-RBI double off the centerfield fence at SAC and Graham belted a walk-off home run versus the Ontario Blue Jays.  Graham hit two home runs versus Blue Jays’ pitching to kick off the month of June. 18U Titan Tarek Emara pounded a home run and four RBI out of the two-spot versus the Fieldhouse Pirates. Outstanding pitching performances were delivered by Sam Hess for the 14U Titans versus the Mets, Nick Halcovitch and Adam Visram for the 15U Titans versus the Blue Jays, and Jacob Sim in long relief for the 18U Titans against the Pirates. 


Here are our “Top Ten” Titans for the weekend of June 3-4: 


Nate Graham (15U)—The 15U Titan was a formidable presence offensively and defensively versus the Ontario Blue Jays.  Graham hit 2 home runs, including a walk-off tater to take down the OBJ’s. His homer barrage contributed to a 7-RBI weekend.  Not to be outdone on the defensive side of the ledger, Graham threw out three OBJ baserunners to add to his masterful display of baseball skills. Behind the plate and in the batter’s box, Graham demonstrated his value to the 15U Titans. 


Graham Marshall (17U)—The 17U Titans’ closer earned 2 saves in  2.1 innings of work, yielding 1 hit, and striking out seven Terriers. He struck out the side twice in successive appearances to secure his team’s doubleheader sweep. Graham has pitched 13 innings this season and has put up sparkling numbers:  2 wins, 3 saves, and 20 strikeouts. CPBL hitters are struggling against the right-hander, cobbling together a meagre .130 batting average. His performance versus the Terriers on the weekend lowered his ERA to 1.07.


Caiden Moncada (14U)—Moncada’s magical season continued with his game-winning hitting heroics versus the Mets. The 14U shortstop’s 2-run double plated the winning runs to punctuate a weekend performance that featured 4 hits including 2 doubles, 2 runs scored and  2 stolen bases. Moncada raised his batting average to a lofty .571 on the year. 


Lucas Seto (17U)—Seto’s timely hitting keyed a 17U rally in the lid lifter of the Titans-Terriers doubleheader en route to a 5 for 8 weekend. Seto’s double turned the tide in his team’s comeback win; he also walked 4 times and was HBP once, thus putting him on the base paths ten times versus the Terriers!


Sam Hess (14U) – Hess turned in his fourth quality start of the CPBL season for the 14U Titans. He went 6 innings, yielded 2 ER, and struck out 6 Mets in a no-decision. Hess held the Mets in check until the Titans bats woke up in the seventh, making possible Moncada’s walk-off heroics. 


Adam Visram (15U)—Although Visram’s CPBL win streak was snapped on the weekend in a tough loss to the Ontario Blue Jays, the 15U ace gave his team another quality start by yielding just 2 earned runs over 6.2 innings of work and striking out 6. 


Luc Gelinas (17U)--Gelinas’s booming RBI double in Game 2 of the doubleheader versus the Terriers was central to his team’s four-run eruption that keyed a second consecutive comeback win at SAC on Sunday.  Gelinas had a productive weekend, going 4-9 with 2 RBI for the 17U Titans.


Nick Halcovitch (15U)—Halcovitch led all Titans pitchers on the weekend with 12 strikeouts through six innings of work.  He earned a no-decision in his team’s walk-off win.


Tarek Emara (18U)—The swift 18U Titans outfielder—who has committed to the NAIA Saint Xavier University Cougars in Chicago-- hit a home run and drove in four runs versus the Fieldhouse Pirates on the weekend.


Dominic Williams (14U)—Williams batted .400 over the weekend versus the Mets. The 14U Titans catcher drove in a run, scored a run, drew three walks, and raised his batting average to .367 on the year. 


Honorable Mention:  


Nolan Thomson (18U)—The productive middle infielder, who has committed to the NJCAA Rend Lake College Warriors in Illinois, went 3 for 5 versus the Pirates.  Thomson scored twice and collected 2 RBI for the 18U Titans. 


Jacob Sim (18U)—Sim provided the 18U Titans with a much-needed 3.1 innings of long relief versus Fieldhouse. He yielded just one earned run and struck out 4 Pirates in a very effective appearance out of the bullpen. 


Saunders Mireault (18U)—Mireault, who has committed to the NJCAA Genesee Community College Cougars in New York,  went 2 for 3 and collected 2 RBI versus the Pirates.