After two straight league titles for Titan baseball, optimism surrounded the program was at the highest point it had been at in years. Sports writers around the San Gabriel Valley, such as James Escarcega, have spent large amounts of time covering the Titans in the weeks and months leading up to the season, projecting the Titans to take their consecutive Rio Hondo League crown. Led by a starting pitching duo in Tomas Bilvado, 12, and JJ Wilson, 12, that both can swing the bat well, along with returning varsity starters Chase Mena, 10, Parker Wilson, 10, and Jamie Bercaw, 12, the Titans retained five of their nine starting bats, with the final four spots being filled by members of last years’ JV team that also claimed a league title.
On opening day, the Titans trounced on a lackluster Providence team, winning 8-2 before beginning pool play in the Dave Moore tournament. In this tournament, the Titans would play group matches against Flintridge Prep, Marshall, and Verdugo Hills, and the Titans cruised in these three games, winning their group. “We came into those games knowing we were going to do great things,” said Bercaw. Now in the top part of the bracket, the Cathedral Phantoms awaited the Titans, but this once highly anticipated game did not live up to the hype, with a 13-1 San Marino victory, powered by a home run off the bat of Mena. This meant the Titans would play an extra game against a hated league opponent, Monrovia. In his first career varsity start on the mound, Colin Wildeman, 10, pitched incredibly, but the Titan bats went quiet, with the Wildcats handing the Titans their first loss of the season. “I tried to just avoid the pressure and focus on throwing strikes and what I could control,” Wildeman said.
After this loss, a string of four difficult non-league games awaited the Titans, and in these four games, the Titans went 3-1, losing to the seemingly weakest of these three opponents, Foothill Tech. “Right now, I think that our biggest competition is ourselves,” Bercaw said. “In our two losses, I think we came not ready to compete and ended up beating ourselves.” However, just two days after this loss, Division One opponent South Hills came to McNamee Field on a rainy day, and the Titans did the impossible. Bilvado shined on the mound, battling the horrendous conditions, and at the plate, the Titans managed to put together six runs to the four South Hills scored. Although South Hills tied the game in the top of the sixth, due to the game being called before San Marino could get to the plate in the inning, the score reverted back to the end of the fifth inning: 6-4, San Marino.
In these games, Aldo Cali, 11, has stood out as a rising star in the program. Putting together a quietly good season, Cali started off the season cold, but has quickly recovered, moving up in the lineup. “My confidence has really gained throughout the year,” Cali said. “My approach in the batter’s box has really gotten better, and that’s helped my confidence at the plate.”
In their first two league games, the Titans shattered Monrovia 8-1, but fell on a walk-off sacrifice fly in a pitchers duel at La Cañada. Wilson delivered on the bump, but the bats went cold as the Titans fell 1-0. Despite this loss, Bercaw still has a great sense of optimism about this team. “We have a culture that we are all a family, and I think everyone buys into it,” he said. As of March 19, the Titans were 9-3 overall, and 1-1 in league, having yet to play South Pasadena and Temple City. “Going into the main parts of league, I feel incredibly confident,” Bercaw added.
Over the next month, the Titans struggled in non-league games, losing to Royal and La Salle, but thriving in league play, picking up three more wins against Temple City, South Pasadena, and La Cañada. Currently, the Titans stand at 15-5 overall, with a 4-1 record in Rio Hondo League play.
