Paints Homer Four Times in 40th Win

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, slugged their way to a 14-7 win over the Champion City Kings Friday night at Carleton Davidson Stadium, homering four times in a seven-batter stretch at one point and grabbing their Prospect League-best 40th win of the season.

Down 1-0 in the top of the third, Chillicothe (40-17) loaded the bases on a walk to Nate Dorinsky and back-to-back singles by CJ Carmichael and Tyler Shaneyfelt. Cameron Bowen followed, driving in two with a long single and giving the Paints the lead. Tim Orr walked two batter later, scoring from first on a two-run single by Victor Figueroa, making it 4-1.

The Paints made it 7-1 with three more on Cole Kwiatkowski's three-run home run in the top of the fourth. It was Kwiatkowski's first home run of the season.

Two batters later, Figueroa led off the top of the fifth with a solo home run. After a one-out double two batters later by CJ Dean, Nate Dorinsky followed with a home run and the next batter, Carmichael, also hit a home run, his first of the season, and Chillicothe led 11-1.

Orr walked with one out in the top of the sixth, scoring later on an RBI single by Dean, restoring the 10-run lead at 12-1.

Champion City (29-29) got a leadoff home run from Tyler Cox in the bottom of the sixth, cutting it to a ten-run game at 12-2, but it didn't stay that way long.

The Paints added two more in the top of the seventh, scoring on a dropped infield fly and an RBI hit by Jimmy Nugent, putting the visitors in front 14-2.

Max Whitesell (2-0) started for Chillicothe, surrendering just two runs on three hits heading into the bottom of the seventh. He retired the Kings' leadoff hitter and then allowed a single by Nate Manley. It appeared Whitesell would get Hilario De La Paz III on a flyout to center field for the second out, putting the Paints one out from a mercy-rule win, but Tyler Shaneyfelt slipped on the grass, allowing the ball to drop for a double, sparking a three-run inning that would send the game to the scheduled distance. Whitesell finished 6 1/3 innings while allowing five runs on six hits, walking three and striking out four.

The Kings would score two more in the eighth, but Mikey Olivieri continued his impressive run out of the bullpen, shutting down Champion City in the ninth and sealing the Paints' 14-7 victory.

Chillicothe returns home to VA Memorial Stadium Saturday night, hosting the Johnstown Mill Rats at 7:05 p.m. for the regular-season finale. The first 500 fans will receive a free replica 2022 Prospect League Championship Ring, courtesy of CohenOrthopedic. 

The Paints host Champion City in the first round of the Prospect League playoffs, the Ohio River Valley Division Championship, Sunday at 6:05 p.m. Tickets are available at ChillicothePaints.com.