Titans look to young talent for boost this season

By Jacob Marrocco
Posted 4/12/16

The Toll Gate baseball team only lost three players off its roster from 2015, but they may have been the most integral pieces to its success.

The Titans (4-14 in 2015) will be without the services …

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Titans look to young talent for boost this season

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The Toll Gate baseball team only lost three players off its roster from 2015, but they may have been the most integral pieces to its success.

The Titans (4-14 in 2015) will be without the services of pitchers Steve Foster and James Meizoso, as well as the speed, defense and leadoff power of outfielder Elvis Pimentel. It will be difficult for Toll Gate to replace their leadership and skill sets, but the young core it has in place could be up to the task.

Sophomore left-handed pitcher Nick Cehelsky is the staff’s ace this year, as well as one of the Titans’ most valuable hitters. He struck out three on the losing end of a 3-1 decision in Toll Gate’s season opener against East Providence on Saturday.

“Nick threw pretty well for us [Saturday], he’s a tricky little lefty,” Toll Gate head coach Nick Durand said. “He keeps kids off balance. So I’m excited about what he’s going to do this season.”

Junior Josh Coleman will slot in behind Cehelsky to form a 1-2 punch that the Titans hope will silence bats all season. They will have some help from their senior captain behind the plate, Ryan Viti, as well.

Pitching was not the main problem for Toll Gate last season, though. The Titans did allow the third-most runs in Division I-B, but their bats could never heat up. Their 62 runs scored was the third-lowest total in the entire subdivision.

“We have a couple sophomores [Dylan Palmiotti and Cehelsky] who are hitting the ball,” Durand said. “Kyle McGuire had a couple hits [Saturday] as a senior, which is nice to see. We only had five hits all day [Saturday].”

Despite some upperclassmen leadership on the diamond, the Titans will be led predominantly be their sophomore class. Three of the four Opening Day Toll Gate infielders were second-year players, with fellow classmate Cehelsky toeing the rubber.

“Just their talent level,” Durand said of what makes the sophomore class stand out. “They’re all baseball players. They’re just a talented group.”

Junior Nick Kazandjian will handle first base duties, with Matt Martinez lining up to his right at second base. Shortstop Damien Mendoza and third baseman Palmiotti will guard the left side of the infield.

Compounding the loss of Pimentel was Austin Giard, the senior outfielder who chose not to return to the Titans this season. However, an experienced group will be filling the holes in the outfield. Senior captain Kyle McGuire will take over in left, Josh Coleman will inhabit Pimentel’s old stomping grounds in center and Joe Gasbarro will be in right.

“Elvis was a sparkplug,” Durand said. “It’s tough to replace Elvis [and his leadership], but this sophomore group is very tight. We have two senior captains, Ryan Viti and Kyle McGuire, who are good leaders. They really stepped up in the offseason, [have] done a lot of work.”

The Titans will have some additional hitting off the bench as junior infielder Manny Bjorklund recovers from an injury. Durand said he will be used in pinch-hit situations to start the season.

Toll Gate will need young players to step up if it wants to finish with a winning record for the first time since going 10-8 in Class A-South during the 2004 season. It could be its best chance, too, as Division I should level out after several top teams lost key members. Reigning champ Bishop Hendricken and runner-up Cumberland, along with South Kingstown, La Salle and North Kingstown, are among a few squads that took hits.

“I feel like we’ll be right in the mix this year,” Durand said. “We have a young group of kids, but I’m really excited about how these kids are gonna perform.”

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