By Lee W. Mowen

SPRINGFIELD, OH – Timely hitting and a strong relief core helped Champion City snap their four-game losing streak and Chillicothe’s thirteen game winning streak in a 6-2 win over the Paints. A Chillicothe win would have set the Prospect League record for the longest winning streak, but the Kings came out strong in the first inning.

Chillicothe threatened in the first inning, as the first three batters reached on two base hits and an error with zero outs. Jake Miller (Chester, NY; Valparaiso) would then strike out the next two and coax an inning-ending flyout to get out of the jam. This would be a theme for Chillicothe’s offense, as the Paints would strand thirteen baserunners on the day against four Champion City pitchers.

The Kings would plate the first three runs in their opening frame, as Brent Widder (Sheboygan, WI; Evansville) blasted his second home run of the year to also score Ben Ross (Springfield, OH; Notre Dame College.) Lukas Galdoni (Hawthorn Woods, IL; Butler) would follow up with a no-doubter home run over the right field fence, and the Kings led 3-0 after one. Galdoni’s home run as his seventh and the last run the Kings would need.

The Paints chipped away at the lead with a run in their second and third inning. Jake Miller’s day would end after the fourth, as the left-hander’s pitch count was in the eighties. While he couldn’t pick up the win by only going four innings, Miller held the Paints to two runs, seven hits, three walks, and three strikeouts.

Gage Voorhees (Springfield, OH; Flagler College) would appear in relief for the second straight home game. In Friday’s game, Voorhees gave up three earned runs in two innings. The right-hander would rebound sharply, as the former Northwestern H.S. Warrior threw three complete frames, with just two hits and one walk issued.

In the sixth inning, the Kings chased the Paints’ starter Drew Wilson, with a pair of walks to Gladoni and Bo Seccombe (Tallahassee, FL; Faulkner.) Ethan Krizen (North Port, FL; Thomas) would load the bases up against reliever Dane Armbrustmacher with a one-out single. Then, Brady Emerson (Cambridge, OH; Ohio State) collected a 2-RBI single, followed by a JJ Wetherholt (Gibsonia, PA; West Virginia) RBI single. The Kings led 6-2 after six, a score that would hold until the final out.

Caden Kline (Defiance, OH; Ohio State) threw a 1-2-3 eighth inning, striking out a pair of batters. Galdoni would take the mound on the ninth, with the Paints trailing by four runs and a chance to make Prospect League history fading away. A leadoff single and a one-out walk would not haunt Galdoni, as the right-hander buckled down to strike out two and coax a foul popup to close the Sunday game.

The Kings improved to 1-3 in the second half and 18-15 overall. Chillicothe fell to 20-13 and 3-1 in the half, but still leads the Ohio River Valley division with a game up on West Virginia and Johnstown both at 2-2.

Champion City will continue the homestand with three more games, hosting West Virginia on Tuesday evening. Visit championcitykings.com for more information on tickets and how to watch the next games on PL TV.