Pilot Mill Baseball was established in 2012 as an independent high school team. We offer a unique opportunity for athletes whose schools do not offer baseball, along with players looking for additional experience.
Players who commit to hard work, team ethics, and love the game of baseball are welcomed at Pilot Mill. Pilot Mill Baseball is a 501.C3 nonprofit listed as Pilot Mill Foundation LTD.

FAQ

Why play for Pilot Mill?

We offer a unique opportunity for players whose high school does not offer varsity baseball. We wish to create an environment for players to learn and grow after every game and practice. The coaching staff strives to help all players develop to their fullest potential.

Who can try out?

Tryouts are open to all high school students. Tryouts will be held at 3:30 pm on February 14, 2024, at Lions Park Field 4. More information about Pilot Mill tryouts can be found on our Tryouts page.

Are you part of North Carolina High School Athletic Association? Why not and what does this mean?

We are not part of the NCHSAA.  As such, we are not in any league, or conference or fall under the rules of NCHSAA.  We are an independent club team.  We play various organizations and schools year after year and have developed healthy rivalries.

Who do you play?

We play 4A, 3A, and 2A high school teams in the Raleigh/Durham area. In addition, we play homeschool and independent teams as well.

Where are your home games played?

All our home games are currently played at Lions Park Field 4 in Raleigh.

I tried out for my high school team and was cut. Can I still try out for Pilot Mill?

Yes, you can. Many HS teams are loaded with talent and don’t have room due to depth. We often obtain players who fall into this category. We would enjoy the opportunity to evaluate and view your talent at tryouts.

How many kids make your roster?

From year to year, we usually maintain a 14 -16 player roster.

Is this a Varsity or JV team?

This is a varsity team.

What time are your games and practices?

Practices start at 3:30 or 4 pm at Lions Park Field 4  in Raleigh.   Away games vary based on the opponent.

Are there tryout fees?

At this time there are no fees to try out for Pilot Mill Baseball.

How many games do you play in a season?

On average, we play 18-20 games a season. Our season starts in March and ends in May. Check the schedule for details.

I am transferring and cannot play at my new high school due to NCHSAA rules. Can I  play for Pilot Mill?

Yes, you can without penalties. We are an independent club team that does not fall under NCHSAA guidance. We have had several players join our team due to transfer rules.

I see there is an alumni game on the schedule…what is that?

Annually, we gather all former players to participate in an intrasquad baseball game with current team members. After the game coach buys everyone pizza. This is a tradition that has always been part of Pilot Mill Baseball.

Have More Questions?

Email Coach Fortunato

History

The History

Pilot Mill Baseball was formed in 2012 as an independent high school baseball team.

Head Coach Scott Fristoe originally founded the team for kids who attended Raleigh Charter High School. Since then, players from various schools have joined Pilot Mill. With the gracious kindness of the local baseball community, dedicated parents and partners we were able to field a team each season since 2012.

Some players still come from Raleigh Charter, however, we have been fortunate to have kids from many area schools play for Pilot Mill.

The Name

Many people also ask about the name Pilot Mill Baseball. At the time of team’s founding, we worked closely with the administration of Raleigh Charter. They were very helpful in this endeavor, however, they asked that we not use the Raleigh Charter name for the team, since we were not officially affiliated with the school.

We decided that since the original location of Raleigh Charter was in the old Pilot Mill building that Pilot Mill Baseball would be the perfect name for the team. This also continues a long Raleigh tradition of baseball and softball teams with this name.

Pilot Mill Roster


James Klas (C)


DAVIS GREEN (C)


IAN GUZA


ZACH LANDESMAN


Ben Marshburn


CHARLIE STACEY


CAMDEN CRAIG


ANDREW LAWRENCE


SAM MAJMUNDAR


JOSH HOWARD


JONATHAN NOYES


AIDEN PADDACK

Winter Workouts | 2024 Tryouts

Winter Workouts

  WHEN
Every Sunday in November, December, and January. Please contact Coach Fortunato to be placed on the email list for location and time.

  INFO
All players interested in Pilot Mill are welcome to attend. We will hold these workouts each Sunday (weather permitting) until tryouts on February 14th. The two-hour workouts will focus on arm strength, fundamentals, baseball IQ, speed, and conditioning.

2024 Tryouts 

We suggest players attend our Winter Workouts prior to the tryout date on February 14th. The workouts help our coaches better evaluate the athlete playing in various positions. Attending the Winter Workouts potentially could give the player an edge up on making the team.

WHERE
Lions Park Field 4 – located at 516 Dennis Ave, Raleigh, NC 27604 in Raleigh.

  WHEN
Tuesday, February 14th   _ In the event of rain, tryouts will be moved to February 15th 

  TIME
Plan to arrive at 3:00 pm to check in. Tryouts will begin at 3:30 pm with warmups & stretches in preparation for the 60.

  INFO
Players will be evaluated on their hitting, fielding, and speed.

What to Expect at Tryouts

60-Yard Dash – A good time is anything below 7 seconds.

Outfield – Each player will receive a mixture of 3 to 5 grounders/fly balls and will throw to a base designated by the head coach. When throwing from the outfield we are looking for arm strength and accuracy.

Infield – Each infielder will receive between 3 to 5 ground balls which they will field and throw to first. We will be looking at mechanics, agility, along with quick hands delivering an accurate throw.

Catchers – Catchers will be delivered a pitch to record a pop time. Each catcher will go through the line about 3 times or will be given 3 to 5 throws. We will be evaluating catching mechanics and recording pop times.

Hitting / BP – Each player will hit 10-16 balls. Switch hitters will be allowed to hit 10-20. We are looking for line drives and hits in the gap which translates to extra bases for the team.

Pitching – Players will throw a variety of pitches for evaluation.  We will start with fastballs, then move over to changeups, curveballs/sliders, and ending with fastballs. We will be looking for velocity, pitch control, and mechanics.

WANT TO TRYOUT?

Email Coach Fortunato

Schedule

Coaches & Contact

The Mission:

Through support for Pilot Mill Baseball, we offer players with limited or no opportunity to play high school baseball, the chance to compete. Through competition, we foster positive character development, self-discipline, a strong sense of responsibility, accountability, teamwork, and self-confidence.

 

Head Coach:
Lou Fortunato
Email: coach@pilotmillbaseball.org
Athletic Director:
Scott Fristoe
Assistant Coaches:
Christobal Perez
Glenn Rathje
Chris Perez

Alumni Game

The Alumni Game is a reunion of past players that play a 7 inning game against the current Pilot Mill team. At the end of each season, we invite our Alumni back for a game to reconnect, reminisce old times with one another and take the field for a couple hours of good fun & competitive baseball. 

Pilot Mill Baseball is about community and it is amazing to witness how players new and old seamlessly come together to have a great time. It’s a game marked on everyone’s calender and we look forward to seeing you there.