Titans’ Centerfielder Nate O’Neill selected to play for Team Ireland
Nate O’Neill’s excitement about being selected to Team Ireland for the European Baseball Championships in July was palpable. The talented Titans’ centerfielder is looking forward to pulling on the Team Ireland jersey and representing The Emerald Isle this summer: “I’m privileged to represent Ireland in sport. I’m looking forward to being part of a great team and making the most of this unique opportunity.”
O’Neill also recognizes that there will be pressure connected to making such an international commitment: “Playing for a national team in a high stakes environment will be a challenge, and meeting that challenge will help me grow as a player and as a teammate.”
The veteran Titan noted that the Team Ireland coaching staff could be deploying him in all three outfield positions: “I’m going to be moving around the outfield as needed, but my primary position will be in centerfield.”
Titans’ 17U Head Coach and Director of College Placement Denis Bailey offered insights into O’Neill’s prospective defensive and offensive contributions to Team Ireland: “Nate is a player who can most definitely be a sparkplug at the top of the order. He has the range and speed to play CF, but also possesses a strong enough arm to play RF. Nate doesn't get cheated during his at-bats and has enough ‘juice’ with the bat to live gap-to-gap with power. As a teammate, Nate is a silent leader who goes about his work with a "business-like” demeanor.”
Titans’ President Adam Stevenson reinforced Coach Bailey’s compliments and congratulated the 18U outfielder for his inspirational accomplishment: “Nate O’Neill’s selection to Team Ireland for the European Championships is an incredible achievement and a proud moment for the Titans Baseball Club. It’s a testament to his dedication, hard work, and the development opportunities we strive to provide within our program. Seeing one of our own compete on the international stage not only validates the caliber of players we develop, but also reinforces our mission of preparing athletes for success at the highest levels. Nate’s accomplishment is an inspiration to his teammates and the entire Titans community, proving that with the right combination of talent, work ethic, and opportunity, our players can make an impact at the next level."
O’Neill elaborated on his next level opportunity by providing an itinerary for his European Baseball Adventure: “I’ll be training with the team in Dublin from July 2-4 and then playing in the European qualifiers from July 5-12. In our pool, we’ll be competing against Turkey, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia and Poland, among others.”
The Titans Baseball Club extends its congratulations to Nate O’Neill--an exemplary student-athlete on and off the field. The organization wishes Nate all the best at the European Baseball Championships with Team Ireland in July.