Paints Erase 6-1 Deficit, Beat Kings 11-8

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by Adena Health System, erased a 6-1 deficit, scoring 11 runs over the final four innings in an 11-8 win over the Champion City Kings Sunday night at VA Memorial Stadium.

Champion City (4-12) scored first, Nick Dolan reached in the top of the second on a leadoff single, scoring later on a hit by Sean Kolenich. They made it 2-0 in the fourth on another leadoff single by Dolan, this time scoring on a double-steal.

Kings starter Connor Lockwood kept the Paints' offense quiet through four innings, but Chillicothe (14-4) finally broke through in the fifth. Cameron Bowen doubled with one out, scoring two batters later on a two-out single by Jeron Williams, cutting the Kings' lead to 2-1.

Champion City got that run back and more in the next half-inning, scoring four times on three hits - another leadoff hit from Dolan got it started - and one Paints error, pushing their lead to 6-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Ben Gbur got things going for Chillicothe with a one-out single, scoring on a double by the next batter, Mike Sprockett. After Nate Dorisnky was hit by a pitch, Josh McAlister doubled to left field, scoring Sprockett and Dorinsky, cutting the deficit to two at 6-4 after six innings. 

Champion City brought in Manny Reyes to start the bottom of the seventh on the mound. After putting Williams on via a hit-by-pitch, Brett Carson launched a two-run home run, tying the game at 6-6. After a strikeout, the Kings changed pitchers again, bringing in Noah Penney, who struck out another Paints hitter for the second out. Sprockett followed with a single, scoring on a double by by the next batter, Dorinsky, giving the Paints their first lead of the game at 7-6.

Chillicothe got some insurance in the bottom of the eighth, Bowen hit his second double of the game to lead off the inning. Williams hit a ground ball to the Champion City shortstop, who air-mailed the throw to first, sending the ball out of play and allowing Bowen to score and Williams to go to second base. After a lineout for the second out, the Kings brought in Cade Kontny to pitch. Tim Orr singled home Williams and later scored on a double by Gbur. Sprockett singled, scoring Gbur to cap the inning with the Paints up 11-6.

The Kings plated a pair of runs in the ninth, but Chillicothe grabbed its 11th win in 12 games. 

Nick Lallathin (4-0) earned the win for the Paints in relief. The lefthander didn't allow a run on three hits over two innings. Carson earned his first save of the season, throwing the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits, striking out three and walkig one.

Chillicothe wraps up the five-day homestand with a 7:05 p.m. game vs REX Baseball Monday night at VA Memorial Stadium. The first 500 fans receive a free Paints t-shirt from Shine Orthodontics.