Your Fort Collins Pilots played one of their most competitive games of the season last night at Larry Walker Field – 6 runs on 9 hits, 3 walks vs just 4 ks, nary a single hit allowed to the outfield – but were on the wrong side of baseball juju again and again in falling to the PawSox for the 3rd time this season, 13 to 6.  The inability to make routine plays in the field (infield pop ups) and not focusing on making the plays required by position (infield grounders) continue to be the Pilot’s kryptonite.  Super encouraging work at the plate and on the bases kept us in the game – but the error iceberg was struck too many times to stay afloat and the SS Pilot went down in 4.

All that said … we’re not going to focus on the losses.  We either WIN or we LEARN.  As individuals, as coaches, as fans, and as Pilots.  Your recap … and see most of you in about 2 hours for warm ups!  

Pilot Bats:  Going by the box score, the FCP outhit the PawSox 9 to 5.  Jayden led the way with a 3 for 3 performance – taking one poor pitch to the fence in right center for a triple.  Kevin R and his violent swing destroyed a ball to deep left for a stand up RBI double.  Wyatt, Nate, and Kevin C all chipped in run scoring base knocks, and newcomers Bradyn and Carson both found themselves on 1st via their bats.  And even some of our outs were impressive.  Both Jack and Eli had a few hits on the screws that just did not find daylight.  Tip of the cap to the PawSox 2B and CF who made the plays in front of them and kept these Pilots off the pillows.

Pilot Arms:  The Pilot pitching staff surrendered only 5 hits on the evening – which is awesome.  A small strike zone and errors in the field forced an unnecessarily high pitch during Jack and Jayden’s first two innings, and our guys just put too many batters on the bases via the walk.  KC twirled a brilliant 3rd inning throwing 20 pitches and 14 for strikes.  And Nate was able to test out a new pitch that resulted in one baffled hitter getting wrung up looking.

Pilot Gloves:  KR is just fun to watch out there.  He played a perfect SS and hoovered up back to back put outs to Wyatt at 1st.  We missed a few grounders to the left side as we were getting used to the grassy infield at Walker Field – and then had multiple breakdowns on the right side of the infield where we just are unable to convert easy outs.  At this point in the season all 9 guys on the diamond need to put themselves and their teammates in a position to execute the plays in front of them.  In order to execute those plays you must have effort.  Errors are not going to put any Pilot on the bench for the next two games, but a lack of effort absolutely will.  What are you going to do with your final 3.5+ hours left of baseball this season?  Hey Pilot – talking to you – make Larry Walker proud tonight.

Pilots on the Bases:  Nearly perfect baserunning all game.  Jayden, Wyatt, Carson, Bradyn, and Kevin R were tearing it up and scoring either runs or extra bases.  Way to keep that foot on the gas lads.

Next Up:  Back2Back games as the Pilots are set to take on the Ajax this evening – same time / same field / same commitment to playing our best game as a team.  We had great warm ups last night – let’s do that again starting at 4:45.  The Ajax are a fundamentally sound and talented team, and as baseball savvy as the travel ball clubs we played exhibition games against earlier this season.  Any current Pilot who wants to play baseball at the next level – be it high school / travel ball / Intermediate 2022 – take notes at how these guys operate and then ask yourself, why not me.  Catching infield pop ups, fielding grounders, running bases, playing thru the whistle (so thankful umps do not have whistles by the way).  Why not me?

See you this evening.  Let’s wrap up the regular season leaving it all out on the field.  WIN and LEARN.

Go Pilots!

Coach Chris