Paints Clinch 2024 Prospect League Playoff Berth

Article Presented By Hanes Total Healthcare Center…

(Chillicothe) – The Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, got back into the win column Friday night, beating the Dubois County Bombers 18-8 in seven innings, securing a playoff spot in the process.

After trading leads a couple times, the Paints’ (18-9) bats started rolling in the bottom of the fourth. Chillicothe got five-consecutive one-out hits, including four for extra-bases. Ty Hatfield doubled, scoring on an Alex Monile triple. Monile would score on a double by Eric Colaco. Felic Polanco singled, scoring Colaco. Sam Fabian doubled, scoring Polanco and making it a four-run inning. The Paints led 7-4.

The Bombers (11-16) got it back to within one, scoring twice in the top of the fifth.

The Paints answered, scored a season-high 11 runs in a single inning and taking an 18-6 lead after the bottom of the fifth. The first hit of the inning came on the eighth batter of the inning – a Tim Orr grand slam, making it 14-6. A wild pitch, Monile’s sacrifice fly and Polanco’s double plated four additional four runs in the inning. The Paints sent 16 batters to the plate, eight of the Chillicothe batters scored at least one run in the inning while Cole Raile, Hatfield and Clay Burdette each scored twice in the inning.

Dubois County scored twice in the top of the sixth, but Brock Blanton held them scoreless in the seventh, securing the run-rule win.

Chillicothe clinches a playoff berth for the 12th time in 15 Prospect League seasons and will host the Northeast Division Championship game Thursday, August 1 at VA Memorial Stadium at 7:05 p.m.

The Paints play the Bombers in Chillicothe again Saturday at 7:05 p.m. The first 500 fans will receive a Paints tote bag, courtesy of Homeland Credit Union. It’s also the first Party With The Paints of the season, sponsored by Budweiser, with live music on the deck after the game by Jamie Baxter.