Your FC Pilots ran out of runway last night at Spring Park West, falling to a near perfect defensive Jet Hawks team 15-9 and ending their run at the 2020 12U championship title.  And while there were many sad post-game faces, each and every Pilot needs to be proud of the effort and the belief and the execution they gave to themselves and their teammates all season long.

Every baseball season ends too soon.  This baseball season ended way too soon.  And the last game - win or lose - always comes way too fast.  It sneaks up on you like the end of summer and before you know it POOF, you're writing and you're reading the last Pilot game recap ... yeah this Coach is sad.

Pilot Bats:  The FCP picked up right where we left off vs the Spartans, with Ollie smashing the first of his 3 hits on the evening and coming around to score on a signature Jayden poke to LF.  Ollie finished up the season leading the Pilots with a .744 average, 32 hits, and 30 runs scored.  Those are baseball card numbers Ollie!  We saw some great production from the middle of the Pilot's lineup - with Jack R, Ben, Henry, and Kevin smoking hit after hit to open up a 4 run 2nd inning.  We saw Cooper dial up 2 situational walks when we needed baserunners, and needed them badly.  These Pilots were all hit and run and score to bring the Pilots back to within 3 runs after 2 innings.  Heart and grit gentlemen - the Pilot way.  There were many a Pilot who hit the ball on the screws only to see a solid defense send them back to our first base dugout.  Tip of the cap to the Jet Hawks 3B and SS who played their hearts out with sound, fundemental baseball and a fearsome foursome of fireballers on the mound. 

Pilot Arms:  Pitching is hard, right?  Yeah, pitching is hard.  The Pilots struggled early on the bump last night giving up a snowman in the first via 4 walks and a lack of full trust and belief.  Jack T was unable to consistently find an at-times questionable strike zone and the J-Hawks played a solid game of hit-em-where-they-aint.  Ben got us thru 1 2/3rds to keep the FCP close, striking out 2 while battling thru a 44 pitch effort.  Henry put sprinkles on the top of his superb season with 2 innings of 1 hit, 1 run ball.  And Oliver closed out the game with an emotionally charged performance in the final frame to give the Pilots another turn at scoring runs.

Pilot Gloves:  Back to back Jack!  For the second game in a row Jack R gave a clinic on how to wrangle a deep fly ball to LF.  This time Jack R had to range to his left and just like a pro took a glance at the fence before turning a 215 foot drive into a loud out.  We saw some solid defense on the left side of the field - Kevin and Ben at 3B, Henry and Carson at SS - all four taking care of business when the ball was hit their way.

Pilots on the Bases:  It was go-go Pilots around the bags.  Every Pilot who muscled their way aboard was on their horse and on to second.  Oliver led the way with 3 - which included a(nother) sweet steal of home.  This gave Ollie a team leading 28 SBs on the season.  Corte, Kevin, Jayden and Cooper all got their run on with straight steals - with Ben, Henry and Jack R taking extra bases on hit & runs.  And let's mention the hustle down the line to 1st.  From the 3rd base coaching box I saw some giddyup out of the box en route to first.  Corte willed his way aboard via his speed - and Ben, Jack T, and Jack R were within a step of infield singles due to their down the line hustle.  Awesome baserunning lads!

Next Up:  This is where every Pilot gets to decide for themselves what is next up.  What does baseball have in store for me?  Or maybe more accurately, what do I have in store for baseball?  I wish you the best as you and your families navigate the next step in your baseball career, and I hope you take the things you learned on this flight with the Pilots with you.  And I have to ask ... why not you?!

I can't thank you parents and families and coaches enough for such an amazing two months of baseball.  This Pilot season was easily the most normal part of the Covid Summer of 2020.  Once the boys got within those chalked lines on the diamond it was back to living and playing by the same laws of baseball I have always known and loved.    Thank you!

Go Pilots - each one of you - go and be awesome!

Coach Chris