FORT MYERS, Fla.- Thirty-four years ago today, before FGCU's Lily Borders was a proverbial twinkle in her father Pat's eye, he was not only winning his first World Series Championship with the Toronto Blue Jays, but he was being named the Fall Classic's Most Valuable Player. Tomorrow, Borders will have a chance to continue the family's championship legacy when she takes the pitch for the Eagles with her second ASUN regular season championship within reach as FGCU takes on North Florida in Jacksonville.

Born less than a month after her father Pat's final Major League Baseball appearance in 2005, Lily Borders grew up not really understanding the impact her dad once had on the game. "I was probably in middle school or maybe even high school before I saw any highlights or anything of my dad playing" Lily said. "My brothers and I would pull it up on YouTube and watch the highlights every once in a while." Lily was in high school when the Borders were heading to a family vacation and traveling through the airport when a fan stopped to talk to, and take a picture with her dad, making her realize he might have been a little bit more than just her dad.

Pat was certainly more than that. A 17-year big leaguer, Borders strapped on the gear and caught more than 1,000 games for nine different MLB teams during his career, but it was what he did in October that immortalized him to Toronto Blue Jay fans. Borders, along with future Hall of Famers Dave Winfield, Roberto Alomar, and Jack Morris helped lead the Blue Jays to their first American League pennant in 1992 before squaring off with the dynasty that was the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. The Jays and Braves battled it out in a hard fought six game series with four of the six games decided by just one run before Toronto outlasted Atlanta 4-3 in game six to raise their first World Series Championship trophy in franchise history. When the Most Valuable Player was announced during the trophy presentation, it wasn't one of the five Hall of Famers that played in the series that had their name called, but Pat Borders, the blue-collar backstop that hit .450 during the series to lead all Jays, while catching every single pitch for Canada's newest champions. Toronto would do it again the next season in 1993 with Borders behind the plate for another 130 games, becoming the first team since the Big Red Machine in the mid-70s to win back-to-back titles.

Today Pat, along with his wife Kathy, are busy with their nine children, Lily being the sixth college athlete in the family. Levi and Luke both played baseball at South Florida. Laura was a three-sport athlete at Webber International, participating in softball, soccer, and also track. Leah played soccer at both Florida Southern and Webber International while Lily has found a home at FGCU after helping Auburn to the NCAA Tournament as a freshman. And Lily said she doesn't expect to be the last, as both Livia and Landry, the babies of the family, are likely to make their mark as college athletes as well someday.

As Pat travels around the Sunshine State to watch his children play these days, he isn't the type of dad you will find in the stands, yelling at referees or second guessing the coaches. "I don't have too much of a heartbeat during games" Pat said. "Kathy and I really just sit back and enjoy the games, enjoy watching the kids compete and just out there being athletes." Lily said Pat always knows just what to say after games, win or lose. "He has been through it all, he knows what I am going through" Lily said. "He knows I am hard on myself and that I have high expectations, so he is very uplifting and really focuses on the positives."

Lily and Pat share a lot of traits on the field, despite playing vastly different sports. Lily has been on the field for all but four of the 1,350 minutes the Eagles have played this season. Pat caught more games than any other catcher in the American League during the 1992 season, while never coming off the field during the Jays Fall Classic run. When asked how he passed his toughness onto his children, Pat shared the credit with Kathy saying "we have always raised the kids to push through things that may be uncomfortable" Pat said. "But you have to live that as well and the kids saw Kathy working hard, doing everything for them while I was out playing, and that leaves a big impression on them" he continued.  

Lily was named team captain for the Eagles this spring. "When I told my dad, he just told me I am a natural born leader" Lily said. "I think that comes from both my mom and dad. They have always taught us to keep being who we are." The message must have gotten through because Pat's recollection of that conversation was nearly identical, saying "leadership starts a long time before the game. You have to be genuine, be selfless, and care about everyone. That's how you earn respect" he said.

The Eagles head into Sunday's ASUN matchup with North Florida with a chance to clinch their second straight regular season title with Lily on the backline. When asked what she could bring from her father's championship experience to help the Eagles win another crown she said "just play with confidence, stay out of your own head."

Pat's message for the Eagles was similar "leave it all on the field, your time is always limited" he said. "Just slow the game down, know your strengths, and be the person that helps the hero, you usually don't become the hero by trying to be."

Lily's strengths are many on the pitch, leading the ASUN's sturdiest back line that has pitched seven shutouts this season. Borders has played the full 90 minutes in each of the Eagles past 13 contests and has been off the pitch for just four total minutes this season. She scored the game winning goal for FGCU in their victory over High Point earlier this year and had the primary assist on Lexie Bennett's 79th minute game winner the Eagles last time out against Jacksonville.
After helping the Eagles secure the 2025 ASUN Graphite Division Championship, Lily will try to join Pat as a back-to-back champ when FGCU takes the field Sunday against North Florida at 1 p.m. in Jacksonville, needing a result to secure the 2026 ASUN Regular Season Championship for the Eagles.

While one did it north of the border and one is doing it in South Florida, one thing is clear; championships run in Borders bloodline.

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