Paints Complete Comeback, Beat CornBelters 10-6

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, erased a 6-0 first-inning deficit Friday night at VA Memorial Stadium, beating the Normal CornBelters 10-6 in front of more than 4,000 fans on Veterans Appreciation Night.

The CornBelters (9-6) wasted no time putting runs on the board, scoring six times on seven hits, taking a 6-0 lead after one half-inning.

Chillicothe (9-7) starting pitcher Will Rettig then rattled off four innings of scoreless, two-hit baseball, allowing the Paints to get back into the game.

In the bottom of the fourth, Sean Kolenich and Jack Gidcumb each singled with two outs, setting the stage for the Paints' first big hit of the night. Gavin Ganun launched a three-run home run, cutting the Normal lead in half at 6-3 with one swing. 

Tyler Mendez (1-0) took over on the mound in the top of the sixth, eventually throwin three shutout innings and striking out four.

The Paints got a run in the fifth on a single by Arturo Disla, amking it 6-4.

He knocked home another in the seventh, making it a one-run ballgame at 6-5. Jack Didcumb gave the Paints the lead, tripling down the right field line, scoring Disla and Tim Orr, making it 7-6. Ganun added another, driving home Gudcumb, extedning the Paints' lead to 8-6.

Chillicothe tacked on two more in the eighth, scoring on singles from Drew Donaldson and Kolenich, capping the scoring at 10-6.

Cole Pauley pitched the ninth for the Paints, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Chillicothe pitching allowed just four hits and no more than one in an inning over the final eight innings of the game.

The Paints host the Clinton LumberKings Saturday night at 7:05 p.m. After the game, Dixon Jewelers will give away a diamond to a lucky fan.