For the third straight season, the Titan baseball team captured the Rio Hondo League title, marking the first time a team in the Rio Hondo League three-peated since the 1990s. Led by seniors Tomas Bilvado and JJ Wilson, the Titans’ season somehow improved upon an incredible campaign just one year ago. In the regular season, the Titans went 21-6 overall, with a 10-2 record in league play. This record included wins over powerhouse opponents such as South Hills and dominant wins over supposedly similar level competition, like California and Cerritos. However, despite winning a league title, the Titans were forced to travel to Temecula for an opening round duel against Great Oak.
Conquering the Wolfpack was not going to be a small task, led by projected first-round draft pick Gavin Fien and ace pitcher Reagan Ricken. The duo are committed to Texas and LSU respectively, two of the strongest baseball programs in the nation, though Fien is expected to forgo college to pursue professional baseball. Ricken, the starter in the CIF opening game, has a lively, 97 mph fastball which is touted as among the best for high school pitchers in the nation. It would be difficult, but the Titans felt they could compete. “We know we can beat anybody,” said utility man Aldo Cali, 11. “If we play our game the right way, nobody can beat us.”
Unfortunately, the Titans did not play their game the right way. Dominant pitching from Ricken coupled with sloppy defense from the Titans meant Great Oak cruised their way to a 7-0 shutout win, which was a rough way for this season to end. However, this season was nothing to frown about. Over the last three seasons, only two teams in the San Gabriel Valley have had 20 or more wins each year: Arcadia, known to be the most dominant team in the region, and San Marino. In Coach John Franklin’s first four seasons as head coach of the Titan baseball program, he has turned the team around from a last place league finish in his first year to becoming the three-time defending league champions. San Marino baseball is now being regarded as one of the premier programs from the San Gabriel Valley and even in the Los Angeles area, and the upwards trajectory of the program has built immense enthusiasm within the team. However, the roster next year will see some major overhaul.
Without Rio Hondo League Co-MVPs Wilson and Bilvado returning, there will be a couple of major gaps to fill in the pitching rotation, likely to be filled by JT Lu-Morris, 11, and Colin Wildeman, 10. The Titans also had five first team all-league players, being JJ Wilson, Bilvado, Parker Wilson, 10, Chase Mena, 10, and Miles Morning, 11. Three players were selected for second team all-league too, being Jamie Bercaw, 12, Cali, and Lu-Morris. “I’m super proud of everything this team has accomplished, and I’m gonna miss playing with these boys,” said Bilvado. It truly was a remarkable season for the Titans, and with plenty of talent returning, they hope to defend their title in the final season of the Rio Hondo League as we know it, due to the upcoming realignment of leagues in the area.
