Titans Top Ten CPBL Performances for Week #6

The solar-powered bats of the Titans Baseball Club were blazing during the sunny sixth weekend of the CPBL season. Dingers were launched by players across the organization, including two in one game by the 18U Titans.  First baseman Noah Gibbons hit a 3-run blast that was the turning point versus Team Ontario and outfielder Owen Shepherd followed two innings later with a 2-run shot that mercied the Astros 14-4 at St. Andrew’s College on Saturday. Perhaps it was the ceremonial first pitch by Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas that inspired the Titans. Mayor Mrakas—a youth sports advocate-- threw a two-seam sinker to Titans’ third baseman Mitchell Crowley to kick off the doubleheader. Three 18U Titans—Nolan Thomson, Tarek Emara, and Crowley— and Head Coach Denis Bailey presented Titans gear and an autographed baseball to the Mayor in a pre-game infield ceremony. Crowley, in turn, responded to the meeting with stellar offensive production on the weekend that included 5 hits, 6 RBI, and 7 runs scored.  Perhaps there was a little Mayor Magic in the air. 

Equally magical was the production of the 17U Titans “Terrifying Twosome” Tyler Pridham and Lucas Seto.  The Dynamic Duo combined to go 10 for 19, with 9 RBI, 11 runs scored, and 7 walks earned.  Pridham also stole home and Seto hit a home run as punctuation marks, respectively, to their prodigious dual display of offensive fireworks.

In addition to the outstanding offensive production, two mid-season pitching performances caught our attention. 14U Titans Pitcher Emmett Doyle not only picked up his third win of the CPBL season, but also notched a save on the same day in his team’s doubleheader sweep of the Toronto Mets. 18U Titan Jacob Sim gave his team a quality start by hurling five shutout innings and racking up four strikeouts versus the Ontario Astros.

Finally, two dual players performed well both on the pitching rubber and in the batters’ box.  17U Titan Kai Hernandez earned the win on Saturday in a 3-inning, 1-hit appearance and hit a 3-run homer on Sunday. 16U Titan Austin Maxwell presented another dual threat as he gave his team a quality start and racked up two hits, two RBI, and a walk.

Here are our Top Ten Titans for the weekend of June 10 and 11:

Lucas Seto (17U)—Seto continued his torrid offensive pace this season by going 4 for 9, including a double and a home run. He showed off his power and speed by driving in 4 runs, scoring 7 runs, drawing 4 walks, and stealing 4 bases.

Tyler Pridham (17U) – Pridham batted .600 (6-10), collected 5 RBI, scored 4 runs, earned 3 walks, and stole home in another outstanding weekend of work at the dish for the 17U Titan.

Kai Hernandez (17U)—Hernandez showed off his skills as a dual player over the weekend by pitching 3 innings, giving up 1 hit, and collecting the W on Saturday. He also contributed with his stick by going 1 for 3 at the plate, including a 3-run homer on Sunday. The veteran Titan was Ohtani-esque with his demonstration of power on the mound and at the plate.

Emmett Doyle (14U)—The reliable starter and closer gave the 14U Titans both a quality start and a quality finish versus the Mets. In Game 1, Doyle earned the Save. In Game 2, Doyle earned the W by pitching 5 innings, scattering 3 hits, yielding just 2 earned runs, and collecting 6 K’s to help impel the Titans to a doubleheader sweep of Toronto.

Mitchell Crowley (18U)—The gritty 18U third baseman welcomed the Mayor of Aurora in a pregame ceremony on Saturday at SAC.  After the meet and greet, Crowley was all-business as he batted .417 (5/12), accrued 6 RBI, and scored 7 runs.

Matteo Sersta (15U)—Sersta soldiered through some nagging injuries to hit .556 on the weekend (5 for 9) and accrued an on-base percentage of .636. Sersta’s timely production included 3 RBIs and a .750 average with RISP.  He also showed off his speed by stealing 2 bases. 

James Ratcliffe (14U)—Ratcliffe batted .500, scored 2 runs, collected 3 RBI, drew 2 walks, and stole 2 bases in a doubleheader sweep of the Mets.

Jacob Sim (18U)—The powerful relief pitcher earned his first start of the season and provided the 18U Titans with a quality performance in Game 2 of the doubleheader versus the Ontario Astros. In five innings, Sim yielded only 2 hits, zero earned runs, and struck out 4.   

Aryan Persaud (15U)—Persaud batted .444 on the weekend (4-9) and collected some timely, productive hits with runners in scoring position. According to Head Coach Lawrence Vera, “Persaud got half his hits at those times! He also had all 3 of his RBIs when there were 2 outs in the inning!”  

Austin Maxwell (16U)—Maxwell provided a much-needed lift for the 16U Titans by pitching effectively and supporting his own cause offensively by going 2 for 2, scoring a run, collecting 2 RBI, and drawing a walk--a fine dual performance on the mound and at the dish.

Honorable Mention:

Blake Da Silva (16U)—DaSilva caught fire offensively in Game 2 by going 2 for 6 with 4 RBI, including a big bases-clearing, go-ahead double.

Mark Gregato (15U)—Gregato gave the 15U Titans a key, shut-down performance out of the bullpen. In long relief, he pitched 3 effective and efficient innings, surrendering only 1 run,  inducing a big double play, and doing it all on only 35 pitches. 

Sam Hess (14U)—Hess accrued a .667 BA, scored 2 runs and earned two walks. He raised his season batting average to .400 with his offensive production versus the Mets.