The Pilot Mound Pilots are off to a great start to their season in the Border Baseball League and player Clint Maxwell believes the best is still to come.
"We're definitely happy with how things have started off for us," Maxwell says after his team has come out of the gate with a 4-1 record. "We're hoping we can keep it up for the rest of the year. So far, things have been rolling, we've been hitting the ball wall, pitching well, playing defense well and running the bases. All that stuff adds up to wins."
As a long time baseball player, Maxwell says it's always great to be back around the diamond with his teammates. "It's always nice to be back out with everybody. We have a lot of familiarity on this team, a lot of guys playing have been playing for a decade or more now. We're all pretty comfortable with each other, we all know what to expect out of each other. It makes playing the game just that much easier, it's good to get out there and get rolling. Things are working right now and we're looking to continue that."
The 2025 Pilots are group that Maxwell says has been really great to go into battle with. "We've been a team with a lot of familiarity for the better part of ten years, so getting back with those guys and do what we do is great. We're mixing in some younger guys from the U18 system who have joined us, it's great to get them out and show them what Pilots ball and senior baseball looks like. It's great to get them involved."
Maxwell jokes that he blinked and went from the young guy to the old veteran that's teaching the younger guys the way, but it's something he values greatly. "It's pretty special, to be honest, to be playing in my mid-thirties, to have the opportunity to help the next generation, show them the ins and outs out of the league and the team, I'm pretty proud to be able to do it."
Another point of pride for Maxwell is representing Pilot Mound, something he's always loved. "We take a lot of pride in it. Over the fifteen years I've been involved with the program, we've had our ups and downs, we've had successful years and some not so successful years. We've always had the support of the town the whole way. They root for us through the highs and lows. We are very lucky to have been around as long as we have."
Throughout the years, Maxwell says building rivalries has also been something he's quite enjoyed. "We play teams and rivalries build. They change over time, you build relationships and understanding of the other guys you're playing against, and the longer you play, the more you're competitive and want to beat the other guys. It's a fun thing."
Friday marks the first home game for the Pilots and Maxwell says having a lot of fans come out would be huge for the team. "It would mean a lot, especially against Clearwater, they're only fifteen minutes down the road. When we go there, we get support, which is great and we know they'll be cheering their team on here. It's a special thing when both sides have fans cheering on their team."
More home games are on the horizon and a bonus for Maxwell and the team is they don't have to drive that far, "it's about time," he says with a laugh. "We won't be complaining about that."