Chillicothe Sweeps DH vs Lafayette, Retakes First Place

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, swept the Lafayette Aviators Sunday night at VA Memorial Stadium, winning both ends of a doubleheader 9-4 and 5-4.

In game one, Chillicothe (33-15, 11-6) scored three runs in the bottom of the first and never trailed. Mason Eckelmen tripled, driving in CJ Dean and Tyler Shaneyfelt. Victor Figueroa hit a sacrifice fly, bringing home Eckelman, making it 3-0.

Lafayette (23-23, 7-13) made things interesting in the top of the third, scoring two runs on a pair of hits and a Paints error, bringing the Aviators to within one at 3-2, but the Paints answered immediately.

In the bottom of the third, a wild pitch allowed Figueroa to score and, when the throw to the plate went wide, Gavin Ganun also scored. Shaneyfelt made it 6-2, singling to senter field and scoring Owen Wilson.

The Paints made it 8-2 in the bottom of the fourth with Tim Orr and Dean scoring on a triple by Figueroa.

Brandon Daniels hit a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning, bringing Lafayette a bit closer at 8-4, but the Paints scored on an error in the bottom of the sixth to finish the scoring at 9-4.

Jared Adams (3-0) got the win. The Paints starter allowed three earned runs on five hits over five innings while walking two and striking out three. Caden Kline and Bryson Brown each threw a scoreless inning to finish the night.

Lafayette starter Tyler Papenbrock (1-3) took the loss, allowing eight runs on 10 hits, walking three and striking out six over 3 1/3 innings. Joey Wilmoth finished the game for the Aviators, giving up an unearned run in his 2 2/3 innings.

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In game two, Daniels gave Lafayette an early lead with a two-out, solo home run in the top of the first inning, his second on the night.

The Paints tied the game in the bottom of the second with Nate Dorinsky signling home Gavin Ganun with two outs.

Chillicothe took its first lead of the night in the bottom of the third, Cole Kwiatkowski singled, later scoring on Victor Figueroa's double and making it 2-1.

Lafayette regained the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. James Jett singled home Evan Liddie and Mason Kelley brought home Jett with a double, putting the Aviators back in front 3-2.

With two on and one out in the bottom of the fourth, Shaneyfelt singled, scoring Ganun and tying the game at 3-3, but Kolenich was thrown out at the plate trying to score the go-ahead run.

The Aviators took their third lead of the night in the top of the sixth, scoring on a John Hoskyn single that plated Brandon Daniels, making it 4-3.

The Paints got a lead off single by Ganun to start the bottom of the sixth and Kolenich doubled down the right field line, putting runners at second and third with no outs. Dorinsky brought home one on a groundout and Stoner hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring the other and giving the Paints the lead once more at 5-4.

Luke Walter started for the Paints, allowing three runs on five hits, walking none and striking out two over five. Scotty Adelman (2-0) got the win in relief after surrendering a run on two hits and walking one in the sixth. Mikey Olivieri earned his first win of the season, working a scoreless seventh. He allowed one hit, walked one and struck out two.

Kendall Anthes (1-3) took the loss for Lafayette, allowing two runs on two hits over his two innings of work.

The Paints now own a 33-15 record, tied with the Cape Catfish for the best in Prospect League. Chillicothe, the first-half winner in the Ohio River Valley Division, now leads in the second half with a record of 11-6. 

Chillicothe is off Monday, returning to action Tuesday at Champion City at 6:35 p.m.