Titans Top Ten CPBL Performances for Week #7

All five Titans Baseball Clubs entered the final Spring weekend of 2023 with excellent momentum. Dozens of players are having exceptional seasons heading into the final full weekend of CPBL regular season play and the organization’s three US Tournaments in late-June and early July.  It’s always encouraging to see our teams and players peaking at the right time--just before they showcase their talents in front of American coaches and scouts at high-profile tournaments like The Perfect Game New England Elite Championship being hosted at Lasorda Legacy Park on Long Island from June 30-July 4.  All five of our teams will be competing in this prestigious tournament in Yaphank, New York.  Throwing a no-hitter—as 18U Jack Ferguson did this past weekend—is a terrific way to announce that you are peaking at the right time! 14U Domenic Williams collected 7 hits on the weekend to lead all Titans in this department. Kai Hernandez and Lucas Seto both hit home runs for the 17U Titans and 14U starting pitcher Emmett Doyle collected his fourth W of the season.  Luc Gelinas and Owen Norris combined for eleven hits on the weekend to spur the 17U Titans’ offensive attack.

Here are our Top Ten Titans for the weekend of June 17 and 18th—the second last weekend of CPBL play before our organization’s departure to Long Island:

Jack Ferguson (18U)—The ace of the 18U staff threw a No-hitter against the Ontario Astros on Saturday—the first no-hitter by a Titans pitcher this season. Ferguson, who is heading to Nova Scotia after the CPBL season to study engineering at Dalhousie University in Halifax, will be an asset to the Tigers baseball program.  Ferguson has clearly been an impact player for Coach Denis Bailey’s pitching staff. 

Nate Graham (15U)—Graham batted .625 (5-8)—the highest batting average of any Titan on the weekend-- and accrued an outstanding on-base percentage of .769 by collecting 5 walks on the weekend. He also had 3 RBIs, scored 2 runs, and batted .500 with RISP. Graham’s “clutch hitting” impressed Coach Vera. 

Dominic Williams (14U)—Williams continued his torrid pace at the plate in 2023 by going 7 for 13 (.538) with a double, 2 runs batted in, 3 runs scored, 2 walks earned, and 2 stolen bases as his 14U Titans earned a weekend split with the Ontario Astros.   

Nick Halcovitch (15U)—According to 15U Titans Head Coach Lawrence Vera, Halcovitch “had a big weekend at the plate, and on the mound.”  The 15U dual player hit .333 (3-9) with 2 big doubles and 3 RBIs; 2 of his 3 RBIs were clutch in that they came with 2 outs. Coach Vera noted that “Nick also had a great outing on the mound, striking out 6 on Sunday and giving us every chance to win the ball game!”

Luc Gelinas and Owen Norris (17U)—Aurora residents Gelinas and Norris combined to bang out 11 hits in 23 AB (.478) for the 17U Titans on the weekend. Gelinas (5-10) collected 2 doubles, a triple, 4 RBI and 3 runs scored. His fellow Auroran Norris (6-13) also hit two doubles in drove in 4 runs. Excellent numbers by this pair of sluggers.  

Emmett Doyle (14U)—Doyle’s performance on the bump for the 14U Titans has been as consistent as the day is long. Remarkably, his Complete Game gem on the weekend against the Astros was his fourth W of the 2023 season. The 14U ace scattered five hits, allowed zero earned runs, and struck out 9 Astros in another statement game.  

Owen Shepherd, Nolan Thomson, and Tarek Emara (18U)—The three 18U Titans combined for 8 hits on a “Superb Saturday versus the Mets” before a “Somewhat Silent Sunday” by the entire squad.  It was a Tale of Two Different Days for the organization’s senior ball club, but Saturday showed off Shepherd’s offensive skills (2 for 5 with a triple, one run scored and 2 walks earned), Thomson’s productivity out of the 3-spot (3 for 7 with two doubles, one run scored, and an RBI), and Emara’s productive work out of the 2-spot (also 3 for 7 with a double and one run scored). 

Kai Hernandez and Lucas Seto (17U)—The prodigiously, powerful pair of 17U Titans both homered on the weekend. Hernandez and Seto have 2 big flies each this season with one CPBL weekend to go. 

Tyson Kushnir (14U)—Kushnir gave the 14U Titans a quality start on the weekend by throwing 5 innings, allowing only 2 runs, and striking out 7 in what Head Coach John Bethune referred to as a “Tough no decision.” 

Matt McDonald (15U)—McDonald threw 3.1 innings and struck out 4.  Coach Vera dug deeper into McDonald’s stats to provide a clearer view of this pitching performance: “Over 75% of balls hit were weak contact, giving us time to get the lead.  Matt held opponents to a .250 BA with runners in scoring position!”