What A Run It Was

Florence 5, Chillicothe 3

Where do I begin?

Well, for starters, this was it. This was the last game that the Chillicothe Paints would ever play in the Frontier League. How fitting it was that at the opposing dugout for the Florence Freedom, former Chillicothe Paints player and skipper Jamie Keefe would experience the last few games as well. You see, as he would explain during a ceremony for Marty Dunn, Jamie got to where he was because of the help from Marty, Paints owner Chris Hanners, and the late Roger Hanners. Surely, this was emotional for someone like Jamie.

Now if you talk about the home team, the Paints, well, this was clearly emotional as well, because a good chunk of these guys will not be teammates with each other come next summer, and you have to understand why it's so emotional to begin with. Although last night sure felt like the last night, as I got to say goodbye to Travis for the time being, this night was it, and it hit everybody after the game was over.

Here are the final stats. Mike Rocco made the start for the Paints. He pitched for 7 innings on the mound, giving up just one run on 5 hits allowed, while recording 5 K's. Rocco was in the lineup and had alittle fun. Jeff Michael pitched in relief of Rocco, and pitched an inning, giving up 3 hits and a run. Joe Brown pitched some relief and gave up 3 hits and a run. Jeff Vincent, normally an outfielder, got some work on the mound as a pitcher.

The offense went like this; Josh Blackstock had a single. Jeff Vincent had a single and a stolen base. Drew Saylor had two singles and an RBI. Joe Spiers had two singles and an RBI. Sean Anderson went out with a bang, as he had three singles. Gerardo Verastegui had two doubles and an RBI.

I guess the best way that I could sum up the 16 year run in the Frontier League would be this; people here in Ross County really did enjoy having the team around. The diehard fans are always doing their best to make V.A. Memorial Stadium a fun atmosphere and a reliable place to go to. So what if it's near not too desired facilities? This ballpark is our gem, and I am honored to be calling this ballpark our gem. I'm glad we have it here in Chillicothe. For the people that miss out on this experience, it's their loss.

I can't say it enough, the players that you have seen here are great people to be around with and to hang out with. I said goodbye to the other players on this night; Drew Saylor, Stephen Spragg, Marty Wiesler, Ryan Flanigan and all the others. Flanny did one last breakdance at the ballpark during a belated Chicken Dance segment. Hey, it's just like Flanny to be putting on a show for the fans, right?

In these 16 years, it's amazing how far we come, in more ways than one, watching the hottest game on dirt, and then on FieldTurf for as long as we have. The Paints will be back, they'll just be different from these bunch of guys. For sure, you can see me and other fans being right back at the VA, because that's how we are, rooting for the home team.

This is Steven Vitte, blog correspondent and soon to be newspaper article writer, signing off.