Paints Bash Rats for 41st Win

CHILLCIOTHE, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, wrapped up the regular season Saturday night in front of more than 3,700 fans at VA Memorial Stadium, beating the Johnstown Mill Rats 13-7 and securing a 41st regular-season win for the first time in the Prospect League era. The Paints' 41-17 record tops the Prospect League.

Johnstown (24-34) took the early lead, scoring three times in the top of the first.

Chillicothe answered with two in the bottom of the inning, scoring on a Victor Figueroa sacrifice fly and Mason Eckelman's RBI single, cutting it to a one-run game at 3-2.

The Paints took the lead in the bottom of the second. Jimmy Nugent scored on a wild pitch after reaching on a single. After a base hit, Nate Dorinsky made it 4-3 Chillicothe, scoring on a two-out single by Cameron Bowen.

After Johnstown tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the third, the Paints regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth, this time for good. Figueroa led off the inning, reaching on an error and scoring on a two-out hit by Nugent and the Paints were in front 5-4.

Cole Kwiatkowski homered with two outs in the fifth, making it 6-4.

Eckelman singled to lead off the fifth, Brayden White reached after being hit by a pitch and, after a the first out was recorded, Nugent loaded the bases with a walk. Sammy Stoner hit a ground ball to second that was misplayed, allowing Eckelmand and White to score. Later on that same play, the Johnstown second baseman made a second error, this time on a throw, allowing Nugent to score, giving Chillicothe a 9-4 lead.

Johnstown battled back in the top of the sixth, scoring three times on a pair of hits, cutting it to a two-run game at 9-7, but Chillicothe answered immediately in the bottom of the inning.

Kwiatkowski was hit by a pitch, scoring on a double by Figueroa. Figueroa scored on a double by Mason Eckelman, who recorded his fourth hit of the night. Two batters later, CJ Dean hit a two-run home run over the wall in left field, making it 13-7, the eventual final. 

The Paints now open the Prospect League Playoffs with a Sunday, win-or-go-home matchup with the Champion City Kings for the Ohio River Valley Division Championship. The VA Memorial Stadium gates open at 5:05 p.m. and first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Tickets are available at ChillicothePaints.com.