Pilots open 2014 at defending national champion UCLA Bruins

Don't look now friends but the Portland Pilots just knocked off UCLA in game 1 of their 3-game set at Jackie Robinson stadium. The Pilots got a run in the top of the 1st and made it stand up all the way thanks to some outstanding defense and solid pitching the entire game. UCLA just couldn't get anything going and the Pilots escaped a 1-out bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 8th and then shut the Bruins down in order in the 9th to claim the 1-0 victory to spoil UCLA's 2014 home opener. Great way to start the season for the Pilots.

Come out to Joe Etzel Stadium on February 28th for the Pilots home opener vs. UC Irvine. Game time is Friday at 2:00pm followed by 1:00pm starts on Saturday and Sunday.

Nice! UCLA is ranked anywhere between 9th-15th in the various polls... well done, Pilots!

Travis Radke, the starting pitcher in the opener against UCLA, gets some ink....

http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9450

Pilots stun ranked UCLA, but season won't get any easier.....

From the Portland Tribune:  http://portlandtribune.com/pt/12-sports/211377-68042-pilots-stun-ranked-ucla-but-season-wont-get-any-easier

DoubleDipper wrote:Travis Radke, the starting pitcher in the opener against UCLA, gets some ink....

But that was about the only highlight for the Pilots in 2014 during a season that included only 5 WCC wins in 27 games......until today:

LHP Travis Radke was drafted in the 25th round (the 747th pick) by the San Diego Padres.

(Also drafted by the Padres in the 28th round (#837) was Texas A&M and Cleveland Browns QB Johnny Manziel....he was a shortstop in high school and recently took batting practice and threw out the first pitch at a Padres game.)