Your FC Pilots closed out a competitive week of baseball falling to an impressive first place Spartans team 12-4 last night at Spring Park.  With just two more regular season games to play, the FCP look as dialed as ever on the mound and in the box, and are just a few more defensive plays from getting back into the win column.  To quote the Spartans Coach midway thru our 3 run second inning, ' ... I sure do not want to face this team in the playoffs'.

Let's get into some Pilot highlights and heros with a quick morning recap ...  

Pilot Bats:  Your FC Pilots really do have a line up of who's who in the zoo.  Any given baseball evening, a different Pilot is ready to step up and do some damage with a bat in their hands.  Jack T led the attack going 2 for 2, with 2 RBIs, 2 SBs and a run scored.  In the home team's final frame Jack and Henry ripped back to back line drives to LF to keep the Pilots on the bases and the boards until the very end.  Batting clean up co-Pilot of the game Oliver was swinging a dangerous bat.  He bombed a triple to deep left in his first at bat, and was robbed by a highlight reel Spartans catch of a ball he absolutely demolished to deep center in the 3rd.  Even Ollie's foul balls were hit with abandon.  Kevin, Jayden and Ben all chipped in with base knocks - and every Pilot had great, active at bats at the plate.  There were no easy outs last night at Spring.

Pilot Arms:  Baseball is a team sport where we win and we lose as a team.  But one thing it provides in spades is the opportunity for our boys to shine via their individual stand out performances.  Co-Pilot of the Game Ben did just that last night on the mound, giving his team 3 full innings of hard knocks trail blazing punch-em-in-the-mouth pitching and the ability to win this ballgame.  And while the box score is impressive - 45 strikes, 5 strikeouts, 4 earned runs - it was his 3rd and final inning that deserves a shout out.  Ben entered the 3rd at about 60 pitches and on a short leash.  With his team down 4-3 Ben worked around a walk and a single and a few stolen bases to strike out the side - the last out recorded on the loudest swinging strike in the history of Spring Park.  It was an epic performance.  Thanks for digging deep Ben!  Co-Pilot of the game Jayden jumped in and recorded two quick impressive outs in the top of 4, and Jack T closed out our diamond side of the game by nailing down the 12th out on 4 pitches.  The Pilots have the pitching moxie to compete.  Period.  Well done lads.

Pilot Gloves:  The Pilots had a few stand out plays last night that we need to celebrate.  Jack T started the ole 8-4-2 double play to close out the 1st inning with an exclamation point.  After a textbook catch in CF, Jack fired the ball to the cutoff Luke at 2B who then crow hopped and threw an absolute dart to Ollie at C who applied the tag to a sliding Spartan.  The only way we make that play - the only way - is by that trio of Pilots playing real, basic, efficient baseball like we practice.  The Jack-Luke-Ollie tandem is the result of opportunity, believe in yourself, and flat out execution.  Awesome job.  Henry and Carson polished a few gems at SS and 3B respectively by fielding grounders cleanly and making the throw over to 1B with precision.  And Jack R and Jayden both anchored down the IF by playing a solid 1B.  The box score does have a crooked number under the error column, however, and until we make more baseball plays we just put too much pressure on our pitchers.  Ben, Jayden and Jack recorded 7 of our 12 outs at pitcher.  The Pilots left 5+ outs on the field that should have been, and allowed the Spartans to circle the bases due to lack of focus on the infield.  With more belief and execution we win this game.  

Next Up:  With just one more week of the regular 12U season, your FC Pilots look to right this ship vs the Lightning next Monday the 27th @ Twin Silo Park.  This Lightning team sits at 7-5, with one of their wins being a week 3 12-9 defeat of the good guys.  First pitch is at 5:15pm - with warms ups kicking off no later than 4:30pm.  Please look for a practice(s) either Friday and/or over the weekend once we can nail down a field.

Huge Thanks:  Tip of the cap to Coach Mike Bisson for an awesome season.  Our own Pitcher Whisperer has been instrumental in setting up our boys to succeed on the mound and across the diamond.  I appreciate Coach Mike's passion for the game and appreciate him bringing a positive attitude to every practice, game, and Pilots planning session over the past 6+ months.  You have made us better ball players and a much better team Coach Mike!

It was great seeing our Pilots get back to playing competitive baseball this week.  We were witness to some gritty performances on the mound and I continue to be so proud of the way our lads attack every at bat in the box.  With more focused glove work and execution we can compete with any team we face.  The windshield is way bigger than the rearview mirror for a reason.  Let's close out this regular season playing a brand of Pilots baseball we can be proud of for years to come.  Why not you Pilots?!

Thanks parents and Pilot families - and Go Pilots!

Coach Chris