Previous Season Review

Steady, consistent improvements are the words to describe the first three seasons of the Adam Thomas regime at Chattahoochee Valley Community College. However, from the onset of the 2002 season the Pirates regained their position as one of the state’s elite programs. The 2008 sophomore class posted the best class record in the program’s history, amassing 82 wins during the 2007-2008 campaigns, claiming back-to-back playoff appearances and winning three of the most memorable post-season games in recent history during the 2007 and 2008 ACCC Conference Tournament to post consecutive third place finishes during the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

The Pirates finished the 2008 season with a 41-18 record, going 19-11 in conference play. Their 41 wins put the Pirates over the 30 win plateau for the 6th consecutive year, as well as posting consecutive 40 plus win seasons, and furthermore, tying the school record set during the 2003 and 2007 campaigns. The Pirates led the ACCC in triples for the second consecutive season with 22, while the pitching staff lead the Southern Division in innings pitched (477.2) and strikeouts (405), with the offense leading the division in at bats (1925).

Chattahoochee Valley began their season with their typical hot start, winning 20 of their first 30 games. After a 7-5 start in conference play, the Pirates traveled to Monroeville for a matchup of the top two teams in the Southern Division with Alabama Southern. The Eagles walked away with a lopsided 3 game sweep of the Pirates, putting CVCC in uncharted waters of a sub-.500 record at the half way point of the conference season. However, that weekend series was a foreshadowing of revenge for the Pirates, that set the stage for yet another tournament thriller in the weeks to come. In typical Pirate fashion, the mates of Chatt Valley righted the ship, posting a 21-4 record to finish the regular season, including a 12-3 conference record in the second half. During this stretch, the Pirates outscored their opponents by nearly 150 runs and averaged nearly 10 runs per game, as well as tossing 7 shutouts in the process, while solidifying a third place regular season finish in the daunting Southern Division of the ACCC.

Although the war known as ACCC Southern Division schedule was memorable in and of itself, two of the most unforgettable games of the 2008 season came against nationally ranked non-conference powerhouses. On February 12th, the Pirates traveled down to the Florida Gulf Coast to take on the top ranked team in the country, Pensacola Junior College. The Pirates of Chatt Valley wasted no time in scoring, smacking 5 consecutive hits to begin the game to go on top of PJC’s All American starter 3-0. The Pirates of Pensacola tied the game the bottom of the 1st, and freshman lefty Matt Hill was nothing short of dominant for the next 6 innings, striking out 7 and surrendering only 2 hits. When the smoked cleared, CVCC walked out of Pensacola, Florida with a 7-3 win over the # 1 ranked team in the land.

One month later, Middle Georgia came to town and Howard Lake Field saw an offensive explosion of epic proportions, as the Warriors and Pirates combined for 37 runs on the day. Middle began the slugfest by posting 4 runs in the 1st inning. The Pirates answered back in the 2nd and 4th innings with 3 runs to bring the score to 4-3. However, the Pirates couldn't weather the strong Warrior offense and MGC put 3 more runs up in the 5th. The gritty Pirates again answered back with 2 runs of their own to close the score to 7-5. Keeping in cue, the Warriors banged out 4 more runs to stretch the lead to 11-5. Incredibly, the Pirates of Howard Lake would not give up their pursuit, scoring 3 in the bottom of the 6th to keep the Warriors within reach. The 7th and 8th innings saw the Warriors add 5 more, with the biggest blow coming from grand slam extending the Warrior lead to 16-8. The Pirate offense, even in the face of a seemingly insurmountable number, continued to chase MGC by plating 5 runs in the bottom half to once again pull within 3 runs of the lead. With a possible big inning looming, the Pirates turned to closer Wade Dudley with the bases loaded and none out in the 9th inning, and he did not disappoint, pitching brilliantly and allowing just one run to hold the score at 17-13. As if there hadn't been enough heroics in the game already, the Pirates used a walk, an error, and several timely hits to pick up four runs in the bottom of the 9th inning, tying the score and forcing extra frames. Dudley stymied the Warrior hitters in the 10th to give his shipmates a chance to win the game, and the Pirate offense did not let him down. With 2 on, 2 out, and 2 strikes, 3rd baseman, Stephen Pittard launched a majestic 3 run homer over the left field wall for a walk off, 20-17 win in a slugfest for the ages. In all, the Pirates scored an amazing twenty runs on twenty hits, stole six bases, blasted four home runs, took eight walks, and collected eighteen RBI's.

After finishing the regular season as perhaps the hottest team in the ACCC, as well as one of the tournament favorites, the Pirates headed north to Hanceville, Alabama for the 2008 ACCC tournament as the number three seed from the Southern Division. In the tournament opener, the Pirates faced a rematch with Calhoun, whom CVCC had beat handily 14-0 only two weeks earlier. Unfortunately, a rejuvenated Warhawk team knocked the Pirates off 9-4. Obviously the Pirates would be facing elimination the rest of the way, and in true Chatt Valley resiliency, the Pirates tightened their belts and went on a memorable 3 day run of crowd pleasing wins, the first of which saw the Pirates rebound in game 2, finishing off old rival, L.B. Wallace in a 7-2 victory, that completed a 4 game season sweep of the Saints, in which the Pirates outscored them 35-4.

As has been the recent tournament tradition, the Pirates were due to play a classic game that will be talked about for years. The Pirates squared off against Alabama Southern in a loser goes home grudge match. After being swept by the Eagles in the regular season, the Pirates were looking to serve the birds of Monroeville a little slice of humble pie. What they got was that and more. Freshman Matt Hill once again delivered, giving the Pirates an outstanding performance as the CVCC starter. In a tight game that saw the Pirates go on top with Wes Adkins 18th homer of the season, CV took a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the 9th. Unfortunately, Pirate ace, David Head could not hold the lead as the Eagles tied the score at 4. This set the stage for perhaps the single greatest, grittiest, and most competitive individual effort the tournament has ever seen, as Bo Foster, the Pirate catcher for the first 9 innings, came in to pitch the final 6 innings of the 15 inning marathon. In the top of the 15th, David Buchanan drove in the go ahead run with 2 outs to put the Pirates ahead. Clinging to a 2 run lead with 2 on and 2 out and Foster running on fumes and pitching his heart out, he gave up what appeared to be a game tying double, when out of no where, outfielder Antonio Callaway makes a game sealing and diving catch for the ages to seal a 6-4 revenge and tournament advancing win for the Pirates.

The Pirates went on to beat Jefferson State 12-8 the next morning, but the magic ended there, as the Pirates fell to eventual conference champion, Shelton State that same night in a game that concluded at 3:00 the following morning, which garnered the Pirates a third place overall finish.

Leading the charge in 2008 was the amazing outfield of the Pirates, led by sophomore centerfielder, Alex Montes. Alex Montes had arguably the greatest career in school history, as he became the all time at bats, hits, runs, and walks leader at CVCC. On the year, Alex hit .411 with a school record and league leading 92 hits, a league leading 66 runs, 7 doubles, 4 triples, 1 homer, 35 RBI’s and 25 stolen bases. Alex also earned himself a spot on the first team All-Southern Division team, second team All ACCC, as well as on the All-Tournament team. Joining Montes in the offensive onslaught were his outfield mates, Wes Adkins and Antonio Callaway. Adkins led the league in homers and set a school record with 19, to complement his .325 average, 12 doubles, 4 triples and 68 RBI’s, which was also a school record. Adkins earned First-team All Southern division status. Callaway quite simply was a model of consistency for the Pirate offense for is career and certainly during the 2008 season, as he finished with a .357 average, 48 runs, 80 hits, 14 doubles, 4 triples, 3 homers, and 51 RBI’s. Additionally, Callaway became CVCC’s career RBI king with 100.