Alex Kosowicz slammed a three-run double for Connecticut Gators 14U Blue.
By Rich Bevensee
The NXT 14U Titans have slugged their way through the start of summer ball and they arrived at Diamond Nation with the steam still coming off their bats.
Seven of their 11 batters recorded a base hit, six knocked in a run and the Titans won their ninth straight ball game via a 13-5, five-inning pool play victory over Connecticut Gators 14U Blue in the Independence Weekend Firecracker on Saturday at Diamond Nation in Flemington.
The Titans swept their Saturday doubleheader with a 10-2 victory over the CPH Gators. In winning their 10th straight and improving to 20-3, it was the fifth time in the last six games in which the Titans have scored double digit runs.
The Titans, based in Brookfield, Connecticut, have scored 200 runs over 23 games for a clip of 8.7 runs per game.
“We’ve been seeing the ball well at the plate and we’ve been hitting the ball,” Titans coach Cody Waterbury said. “With some of the guys we have to cut down their swings. They tend to swing for the fences instead of understanding a ground ball does the job. But as a team it’s been really good.”
Conlan Albert led the team by going 2-for-3 with a double, a walk and three RBI. Justin Ritacco had a two-run single, and Mario Brito Trinidad, Emilio Mazal and James Trubiano each had an RBI single.
All 11 batters reached at least once and nine scored a run.
“The team has been doing great, hitting-wise,” Brito said. “We had players who were struggling in the beginning of the season and they were adjusting, adjusting and now they’re putting it all together.”
Waterbury commended Brito, primarily an outfielder, for his versatility in coming in to pitch in relief.
Brito pitched three innings in relief of starter Rylan Lasser and allowed four runs on five hits and three walks with one strikeout.
Peter Farquharson leads off first for NXT Titans during the 14U Firecracker at Diamond Nation.
“I do come in relief if needed – I do like pitching – but it’s difficult when you’re giving up runs. It’s all a mental game,” said Brito, who employed a fastball with an occasional changeup and curveball. “I think I need to work on hitting my spots, and definitely when I’m going for the corners.”
The Titans certainly know how to score runs in bunches. They opened the game with a four-spot in the bottom of the first inning.
After the Gators scored three in the third, the Titans came back with five runs in the third and four more in the sixth to close out the game via the mercy rule.
The biggest highlight for the Gators was Alex Kosowicz’ three-run double in the top of the third which brought the Gators back to within a run at 4-3. Aidan Valentin added an RBI single in the fifth, and Max Yeater scored on a wild pitch in the sixth.
For the Titans, Lasser pitched two scoreless innings while allowing one hit and no walks with two strikeouts. Brito pitched the middle three innings before Justin Ritacco threw the final two frames, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks with one strikeout.
For the Gators, starting righty Quinn Davies threw two innings and allowed four runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Max Yeater, who singled and doubled, pitched one-third of an inning and allowed four runs on two hits and two walks. A.J. Parillo threw two-thirds of an inning and yielded a run on two hits with one strikeout. And Kosowicz pitched three innings and allowed four runs on two hits and four walks with one strikeout.
On Sunday, the Titans will face 5-Star National NY-Canale/Schor, and Gators Blue again.
The Gators stand at 1-1 after bowing to GBG Northeast Black, 13-2, earlier on Saturday. On Sunday, they will face Maine Prospects Baseball Club, and the Titans again.