Baseball / PROSPECT LEAGUE PROSPECT(US) - PAINTS WIN 2019 CHAMPIONSHIP

PROSPECT LEAGUE PROSPECT(US) - PAINTS WIN 2019 CHAMPIONSHIP

Date:  Source: Prospect Collegiate Baseball LLC

THE PROSPECT LEAGUE PROSPECT(US)

For the Love of the Game since 1963

 

CHILLICOTHE PAINTS

2019 PROSPECT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

 

 

GAME DAY – Tuesday, August 13, 2019

by Ray Mileur, raymileur@prospectleague.com

 

CHILLICOTHE, 5  CAPE, 2 – After dropping Game One of the Prospect League Championship Series, (PLCS), at home at the VA Memorial Stadium, the Chillicothe Paints pulled off back to back road wins against the Cape Girardeau Catfish at Capaha Field to win their second Prospect League Championship in franchise history.

The Paints turned to Austin Calopietro, (*W, 2-0, 2.61 ERA), from Maumee, OH, a junior at the University of Toledo, the 2019 Prospect League Strikeout King to make just his third start this season, to start Game 3 of the PLCS. Calopietro posted a 6-1 record with a 2.47 ERA in 21 games during the regular season, including one start, striking out 73 batters in just 47.1 innings pitched. In the postseason he made his first start in the East Division Championship Game against the Danville Dans, pitching 5.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits and a walk, while striking out eight of the 19 batters he faced. Tuesday night, Calopietro, scattered eight hits over 5.0 innings pitched, did not walk anyone and struck out five of the 22 batters he faced, for his second postseason win, a 5-2 victory over Cape and the Prospect League Championship.

The Chillicothe bullpen kept the Catfish off the board, with reliever Cal McAninch, (*0-0, 2.70 ERA), from Columbus, OH, a sophomore from Northern Kentucky University, making his third playoff appearance, pitching one shutout inning to get the ball to Nate Haugh, (*0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 SVs) the Paints All-Star closer and arguably the Prospect League Fireman of the Year who pitched three, no-hit, shutout innings, striking out seven of the nine batters he faced for the save.

Offensively, the Paints scored the first run of the game with a solo home run by left-fielder Chris Eisel, from Pittsburgh, PA, a junior at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, who had a 2-for-3 day at the plate,  with the home run, two RBI and reached base once after being hit by a pitch. Local prospect, Trey Smith, from Sikeston, MO, a sophomore at the University of Indianapolis, in front of his family and friends from the boot heels, hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to give the Paints a 5-2 lead over the Catfish.

Cape Catfish starter Bryan McNeely, (*L, 1-1, 3.46 ERA) from Scott City, MO, a freshman at Southeast Missouri State University, the Prospect(us) Pitcher of the Year, was on his game, giving up only one run, the solo homer to Chris Eisel, in the fourth, before surrendering the grand slam to Trey Smith in the sixth.

The Catfish scored two runs on nine hits, outhitting the Paints 9-7, with leadoff man, All-Star right-fielder, Andrew Stone, from Cross Lanes, WV, a sophomore at West Virginia State University, going deep in the bottom of the fifth, to give Cape a brief 2-1 lead over the Paints. Stone finished the night, going 2-for-4 with the home. First baseman Brady Cottom, from Matthews, NC, a junior at Marietta College, had a base hit and scored a run. Cottom led the Catfish with a .333 batting average in the playoffs.

* Postseason Stats

 

 

PLAYER OF THE DAY – Local prospect, Trey Smith, from Sikeston, MO, a sophomore at the University of Indianapolis, in front of his family and friends from the bootheel, hit a grand slam in the sixth inning to give the Paints a 5-2 lead and eventually the win over the Catfish.

PITCHER OF THE DAY – Chillicothe’s Nate Haugh, (*0-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 SVs) the Paints All-Star closer and arguably the Prospect League Fireman of the Year, who pitched three, no-hit, shutout innings, striking out seven of the nine batters he faced to earn his second postseason save.

 

PHOTO CREDIT - Ray Mileur

 

NEWS TIP – Do you have a news tip, story or photo you would like to share with the Prospect League? Please contact, Historian & Media Representative, Ray Mileur at raymileur@prospectleague.com