“You Remember That Time….?” Paying Tribute to My Final Chattahoochee Valley Baseball Team: The JUCO World Series 4th Edition, The 2018 Pirates

A lot has transpired since closer, Chris Brown, closed out the 2014 ACCC Championship with a dog pile-inducing pop up to James Cunningham to send Chattahoochee Valley to its first of four NJCAA JUCO World Series in a five year span.  There was a repeat in 2015 with an injury laden pitching staff that saw a core group of freshman arms lead the Pirates to a 3rd place World Series finish.  Then there was the 3-peat with all of those sophomores grown up and taking the Pirates to the Championship Series Finals of the May Classic in Grand Junction, Colorado.  And after a stellar 2017 season that included another Southern Division title, the 2018 team came back bringing the thunder, completely dominating the ACCC, as Sawyer Steele emphatically fist pumped and chest flexed with an ACCC Tournament Championship game ending strikeout to send the Pirates on a fourth trip to the JUCO World Series in five years.

Pirates Poised to Make Another Championship Run in 2018

After winning the 2014, 2015, and 2016 ACCC championships and claiming a 3rd place finish in the 2016 and 2016 NJCAA Alpine Bank JUCO World Series, the Pirates fell short of a four-peat in 2017 after climbing as high as #4 in the NJCAA poll. However, the Pirates return a stout pitching staff and are poised to make another run at the ACCC Title.  The key for the pre-season # 12 Pirates (according to Collegiate Baseball Newspaper) this year is the continued focus on the process of becoming a champion, looking past the high expectations that come with the success the program has achieved, as well as counting on a basically an entire new pitching staff.  With continued hard work, dedication, and the “Dirty Pirate” mentality, the 2018 season hopes to be another year of significance for the Chattahoochee Valley Pirates.

Perfect Game USA Tabs Pirates as the # 36 team in America

After a pre-season ranking of 12 from Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, Perfect Game USA released their pre-season JUCO poll on Wednesday and had the Pirates slated 24 spots lower at # 36 in the country.  Although a far shot from their perennial top 10 spot, Chattahoochee Valley still garnered enough recognition to be in the publications annual top 50.

2017 Fall Baseball Awards Presented at Conclusion of Iron Pirate Games

This Pirate baseball tradition is in its 14th year, in which the winners of the Black & Blue Series eat steak, while the losing team enjoys hot dogs.  However, for the first time in 14 years, the dinner will be held in January of 2018 before the season opener, as a scheduling conflict occurred with former Pirate, Tim Hudson, and the availability of his farm for a day of good food, fun and fellowship.

Pirates Ranked #12 in First of Three Pre-Season JUCO Polls

As has become the norm around Chattahoochee Valley Baseball, the Pirates are, once again, one of the national favorites to return to Grand Junction for the Alpine Bank JUCO World Series.  In the first of the three pre-season JUCO polls, Collegiate Baseball News has tabbed the Pirates as the number 12 team in America.