By Lee W. Mowen

CHILLICOTHE, OH – A 6-0 lead for the Champion City Kings after two innings batting proved to be a surmountable deficit for the host Chillicothe Paints, as the Kings fell for the fourth straight time 7-6. Chillicothe tied the league record with the longest winning streak at thirteen straight.

Things began well for the Kings, as Brent Widder (Sheboygan, WI; Evansville) began the three-run first inning affair with a one-out single. Ben Ross (Springfield, OH; Notre Dame College) followed up with another base hit, and Lukas Galdoni (Hawthorn Woods, IL; Butler) brought both runners home on a double. Champion City led 2-0 quickly in the contest, but Bo Seccombe (Tallahassee, FL; Faulkner) added another run for the visiting crew with a two-out single to score Galdoni. Champion City starter Nash Mose (Mount Zion, IL; Land Lake College) also had a great start, sitting the Paints down 1-2-3 in the first.

The Kings got three more runs in the second inning off, all with two outs against reliever Justin Diefenbach. Treyben Funderburg (Beavercreek, OH; Ohio) drew a walk, as did Widder. Ben Ross brought home a run with a single to left field, but the triple hit by Galdoni added the bulk of the offense, and the Kings led 6-0. The Paints did get a run in their second, but Champion City sat with a cushiony 6-1 lead after two complete.

The Paints would outscore the Kings 6-0 the rest of the way. Most of the Chillicothe runs were scored with a four-run fifth frame. Mose would go 4.1 innings, giving up five earned runs on five hits, walking four and striking out four in his second start. Trey Meade (Seaman, OH; Rio Grande) would close out the fifth, but would put the eventual go-ahead runs on for the Paints scored in the sixth. Noah Short (Teays Valley, WV; West Virginia) would pitch the rest of the game, throwing three innings and only allowing the inherited runs to score against Meade. Chillicothe would win 7-6 and pick their thirteenth straight victory.

Galdoni, Ross, and Funderburg each had two hits in the ten hit effort. Galdoni also had a 4 RBI night.

Champion City returns home to start a four game homestand Sunday Afternoon for the Fourth of July, where Active Military members and Veterans get through the gate absolutely free. Visit championcitykings.com for more information on tickets and how to watch the next games on PL TV.