By Lee W. Mowen

SPRINGFIELD, OH – Garrett Peters (Springfield, OH; Ohio State), Joe Toth (Stow, OH; Adrian College), and Gabe Phipps (Yorktown, IN; Butler) combine to hold the West Virginia Miners scoreless and just two hits, with the Kings offense getting timely hitting once again in the 5-0 victory.

West Virginia loaded the bases with two outs in the first inning against Peters, but a groundout back to the pitcher extinguished the threat. A leadoff single would be the only hit for a while for the Miners.

The Kings struck first in the second inning, as Alex Finney (Oxford, MI; Ohio) singled with two outs. Tyberius Correa (Riverview, FL; Faulkner), starting at first base, drew a walk against Andrew Talkington. Alex Ryan (Lake Mills, WI; Valparaiso) would then double home both runs, with Champion City leading 2-0 after two. These would be the only runs needed, but the Kings got more later in the game.

Peters, after having a bases-loaded jam with two gone in the opening frame, would settle down nicely, only allowing one baserunner in the fourth and fifth inning. The final line for the Springfield Southpaw was five innings, one hit, three walks, one hit batsman, eight strikeouts, and zero runs.

Toth would enter in the sixth inning with the Kings still leading 2-0 from the Ryan 2-RBI Double. The first inning from the right-hander was smooth with just a two-out walk issued. That’s when the Kings tacked on another run in their share of the sixth.

Treyben Funderburg (Beavercreek, OH; Ohio) led off with a base hit. Later in the inning, Funderburg advanced to third on a wild pitch and an error on the Miners’ catcher. Dallen Leach (Tallahassee, FL; Gulf Coast State College) drew a two-out walk. Chase Swain, in his first inning, would be drawn to Leach dancing on the base pads. Leach was halfway between first and second, drawing the West Virginia reliever off the mound. As Swain tossed the ball to the covering infielder, Funderburg took off and would score on a wide throw with Leach returning to first base. It was 3-0 Champion City after six.

The Miners loaded the bases up for the second time of the night, but Toth kept West Virginia scoreless after two frames of relief. Champion City added another 2 RBI Double, this time by Brandon Emery (Troy, OH; Findlay.) Emery’s double scored Finney and Ryan. The Kings led 5-0 after seven.

Gabe Phipps took the mound for the eighth inning, looking to rebound from two starts where the Chillicothe Paints sent a pair of losses to the right-hander. The inning began with a hit-by-pitch and a five-pitch walk. After a meeting on the mound, Phipps struck out his first batter and coaxed a double play ball right to Funderburg at shortstop. The momentum wouldn’t stop for Phipps, as he sat down the Miners in the ninth and striking out the side. Champion City picked up their second shutout win at Carleton Davidson Stadium, as the Kings won 5-0.

Between Peters, Toth, and Phipps, just two hits were allowed with seven walks and two hit batsman were the only baserunners allowed. The trio of pitchers struck out fifteen on the night, with Peters picking up his first win of the year.

Champion City will continue the homestand with two more games, hosting Danville on Wednesday and Terre Haute on Thursday. Visit championcitykings.com for more information on tickets and how to watch the next games on PL TV.