Pilots baseball team ready to end season on high note at Acadiana Summer Showdown

Chris Ransonet wants to go out with a bang.

Ransonet is the head coach of Pilots Baseball, a team of local players from more than a dozen schools. Most of the players on the 14-and-under team are preparing to enter high school.

The Pilots, who are USA Baseball certified and compete in the prestigious 2D Sports organization, will participate in their final tournament this weekend, the Acadiana Summer Showdown at St. Julien Park in Broussard.

“The competition is tough in Louisiana baseball,” said Ransonet, who co-founded the Pilots four years ago with Dylan Miller, Brooks LeBlanc and Brandon Yates. “Kids are really good at this age. A lot of teams we play are established when the kids are eight and nine years old.”

The Pilots, who played their first game in late April, have participated in several tournaments against opponents from Shreveport, Monroe, DeRidder, Morgan City, Biloxi (Miss.) and elsewhere.

The Pilots finished as runner-up to Biloxi in the Acadiana World Series Warm Up earlier this month. Colton Ransonet, who will be a freshman at Loreauville High, hit .333 with an .889 on-base percentage and ripped a two-run double in the wooden-bat event.

“He’s the ‘Ironman’ of our program,” coach Ransonet said. “Colton has his teammates’ back. He literally took the team on his back for the semifinal game.”

The Pilots defeated the Southern Ripperz 5-4 in the semis. Ransonet went 3-for-3 and pitched 4.2 innings with six strikeouts. Brock Lopez also had a hit. Drew Garner relieved Ransonet and got the final out to record a save.

Talon Harrington, Anthony Broussard, Ransonet and Garner have thrown the most innings. Harrington threw 5.1 innings in the last tournament and was named Pitcher of the Weekend.

“Harrington is a lefty with a good breaking ball,” Ransonet said. “He has been a go-to guy, starting every semifinal or championship game. Nothing fazes him.”

Lopez, who bats leadoff, is hitting a team-high .360. Garner is batting 308. Kaiden Yates (Highland Baptist), who plays every position, was named Defender of the Weekend after he was a perfect 23-for-23 on put-outs. Kane Miller (Comeaux HS) has been stellar at catcher.

“Most teams focus on hitting and throwing hard. They don’t focus on the fundamentals,” Ransonet said. “We teach baseball and prepare them.”

This is the Pilots’ final season.