Titans’ Alex Kok Signs Letter of Intent to Rockingham CC in North Carolina

2020 College signings have started for the Titans High Performance 18U baseball team, despite the challenges presented by the COVID19 pandemic and its impact on all aspects of community life.  The Titans are pleased to announce that First Baseman Alex Kok has signed his letter of intent with Rockingham Community College in Wentworth, North Carolina. The men’s baseball team at RCC plays in the National Junior College Athletic Association versus teams from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The RCC Eagles have made back-to-back D3 NJCAA World Series appearances in 2018 and 2019 when they were Region X and District Champions.  Alex finds it “very exciting’ to “be joining a team of this caliber”. He added that “They work hard to stay at the level and I can’t wait to join to be a part of that.”  Alex also had kind words for his new Head Coach Reece Honeycutt:   “Coach Honeycutt was very nice when meeting with him; he seems like a players’ coach making sure he makes a connection with all his players and gets to know them.  He liked to joke around, but when situations had to be serious, he focused in and made sure everyone was as well.”   The Titans 18U First Baseman is keenly aware of the challenging aspect of playing US College Baseball and acknowledged that “the hardest part would be competing for a spot as well as knowing the competition will be better” with “skilled teams and ball players.”  

Alex was very specific with respect to his academic and vocational goals at Rockingham CC:  “I will be majoring in Electrical Systems Technology to become an electrician.” In addition to his academic aspirations, Alex is also “looking forward to meeting new people and going into a new environment, learning all new things from life to school.  Living in North Carolina with also be an awesome experience as it does not get as cold as Canada.” 

Alex’s memories about playing for the Titans are connected to the short cold seasons in Canada;  he noted that he enjoyed “doing indoor conditioning and training as I got to know my teammates better and built a better connection.”  Alex also acknowledged Titans 18U Head Coach Lawrence Vera who taught him about how the recruiting “process works and what has to be done.  He helped me the past couple years with talking to schools and getting in contact with coaches.  Coach Vera has been also coaching me for the past 5 years and has taught me and helped me improve a lot of the skills I have today.”

Coach Vera noted the skill sets that Alex will bring to the Rockingham Community College Eagles to make him a successful US College player:  “Alex will bring lots of power from the right side to Rockingham CC as most First Baseman will. Alex also brings an honest hard-working skill set of someone who is always working either on swings, hitting off a tee, or in gym getting stronger.”  The coach-player relationship is evident in Coach Vera’s personal assessment of his graduating first baseman: “I have had the pleasure of coaching Alex for the past five years. He is still as quiet as the first day I met him, but that’s because he is what you would call a silent leader. Alex is one of the first to show up and last to leave, making sure everything is cleaned up. One of the most coachable kids I have ever coached and a true student of the game. Alex was always looking to tips on ways to improve as all he wanted to do is help the team win.”  Coach Vera’s advice to Alex and all his departing players was concise:   “Don’t forget what got you here. College placement is the end goal, but it’s just the beginning of the next chapter. Continue to work and continue to always want more.” The Titans Director of Player Development and Baseball Operations is “extremely excited for Alex to be our first of many graduating athletes to move onto post-secondary school while having an opportunity to play baseball. Knowing that Alex has a dream to play at UNC, he is going to Rockingham to give himself that opportunity. With the Titans, your dream is our dream and we will help guide you and push you to your dream.” 

Alex’s closing advice that he offered to our young Titans players regarding the US College recruiting process was very personal:  “In my experience, email as many schools that have your academic program, even if you have the slightest interest in some of the schools, because a lot of schools will rarely take out-of-state players.  Also annoy the coach with constant emails and calls because eventually they will answer.”  Alex’s persistence clearly paid off as he has signed his letter of intent to be a Rockingham CC Eagle for the 2020-21 US College Baseball season.  Congratulations, Alex, on behalf of the Titans High Performance Baseball Club!