By Lee W. Mowen

SPRINGFIELD, OH – After a stellar 6-2 road trip featuring trips to Johnstown, Chillicothe, Lafayette, and Danville, the Kings returned home to Carleton Davidson Stadium to face the Rex from Terre Haute. Jake Miller got the start, but the Rex sent eight batters to face the left-hander from Chester, NY and scored four en route to a 5-3 win over the host Kings.

Miller (Valparaiso) started off well in the first at-bat before Alec Atkinson reached on a base hit, followed by a hit-by-pitch to Kaleb Hannahs. Rob Weissheier, the current Prospect League leader in Home Runs, loaded the bases up with another base hit. While Miller coaxed the first out on a fielder’s choice that kept the Rex off the board, Kyle Harbison delivered an RBI Single to bring home the first run. Tyler Nelson then walked with the bases loaded, followed with a run-producing fielder’s choice from Jack Levernez. Dylan Janke added the last run of the inning to make it 4-0 Rex after eight batters faced Miller in the first.

Things started off well for Champion City in their part of the first inning, as Chase Carney (Cincinnati, OH; Flagler College) reached first on a four-pitch walk then stole second. Ben Ross (Springfield, OH; Notre Dame College) fouled out to first, and a diamond-cutter throw got Carney advanced to third to squash the rally attempt.

In the second, Lukas Galdoni (Hawthorn Woods, IL; Butler) picked up the first hit for the home team, but a 6-4-3 double play erased another chance to dent the scoreboard. Treyben Funderburg (Beavercreek, OH; Ohio) singled with one out in the third and stole second, but couldn’t come home with the next two batters.

Terre Haute got one more run in the fourth inning, as Janke reached first on a strikeout, eventually brought home on a Sacrifice Fly by Weissheier. The Rex led 5-0 for a brief while, until the Kings came back up to bat.

Ross led off the fourth by taking a full-count pitch by starter Brayton Reed over the centerfield fence for his sixth home run of the season. Brent Widder (Sheboygan, WI; Evansville) and Galdoni would reach to put runners on first and second, but neither could score.

Two more runs came home in the fifth inning for Champion City, as Carney doubled home Funderburg and Ross singled in the third and last run of the game. The Kings were in striking distance, but couldn’t muster any more runs for the rest of the game.

Miller went four innings, giving up four earned runs and five total on seven hits, two walks and four strikeouts. Joe Toth (Stow, OH; Adrian College) threw two strong innings of one hit, one strikeout ball. Trey Carter (Wheelersburg, OH; Rio Grande) also threw two innings, escaping out of two jams to keep the Rex off the board. Chase Carney closed the pitching down with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

Ross would finish 2-for-4 with two RBI and a home run.

Champion City returns home this Friday against the Terre Haute Rex, followed with two weekend games against the Lafayette Aviators on Saturday and the Chillicothe Paints on Sunday. Visit championcitykings.com for more information on tickets and how to watch the next games on PL TV.