HAMPTON, Va. — The Peninsula Pilots these days are playing like a championship caliber team, and they do so in a year that's been an impressive bench mark. Currently they have the best record throughout the league with a 28-10 record and it leads the East Division of the Coastal Plain League.
"I really like how we all just jelled", says Suffolk native and Pilots infielder Grayson Fitzwater (VMI). "We just kind of got along with each other in a snap and I think that helped our success early".
Fellow infielder Darnell Parker, Jr. (Wichita State/Nansemond River) added, "We play like our hair is on fire", he joked. "We go out there and have fun and we don't take the game for granted. We play pitch by pitch and live in the moment".
Another Suffolk native, Zac Morris, who plays at Duke felt their success starts at the top.
"Its been awesome. Hank really breeds having fun and playing baseball". The Hank he's talking about is head coach Hank Morgan who has been apart the Pilots program throughout its entire 25 years of existence.
He sees a team that has eyes on a Coastal Plain League title for the first time in ten years.
"There's going to be a cluster of teams that are capable of winning it", he says. "The team that actually wins it is going to have to get some breaks too. So we haven't figured out whether or not we're going to have the charm for it. I'm hoping for it. I'm doing all the dancing I can do".
Joining him will be his son Trey who recently finished up at Virginia Military Institute. He's happy to share one last time ride together with his Dad.
"It's definitely been an awesome experience", he says. "Since I was a little boy and being around it with my father and grandfather".
Wednesday night, the Pilots held off Wilson 5-4. They've now won 9 of their last 11 games.