Paints Win to Split Home Series

Chillicothe 4, North Coast 2

The Paints defeated the North Coast Knights to split the home series at one win a piece. The only thing that didn't look so good was the attendance at the ballpark, but we'll only have to give that some time. This game was well played out. It featured a good batch of interesting plays defensively, and the pitching was pretty good here, too.

Let's talk about the weather before this game. I was wondering if there would even be a game for this night because the rain was pouring real bad from where I was at. Thunderstorms pounded the Chillicothe area early on in the day, but it cleared up just in time for baseball to take place. Chillicothe is like that, in all honesty. You can't really tell with all of the swings in the weather, but hey, everything worked out, and Paints fans still got to see their team play, even though it got hot almost right away.

For the pitching, Stephen Shackleford made the start for the Paints. He pitched 5 innings deep, giving up 4 hits and 2 walks, and as a result giving up just a pair of runs. Mark Williams pitched in relief of Shackleford and did a solid job. He pitched 1 and 1/3 innings, giving up a walk, a hit, and he beaned a batter. The good thing is, he didn't give up any runs and held his own out on the mound. Krist Linster put in 1 and 2/3 innings himself, giving up just one hit and he did a good job of getting a runner out of position and taking him off the basepaths.

Chadd Steinborn was a little bit wild in the ninth inning, as he made things interesting, giving up a hit and two walks, but he got a strikeout and he didn't give up any runs in the bases loaded rally that the Knights produced.

The defense is something that I really want to note here. The defense for the Paints was clicking on almost all cylinders here. The defense was simply superb at some points. I can also point out a great defensive play by the Paints in the eighth inning that involved a Knights batter going for third base after he got a hit. The center fielder made a relay throw to the shortstop, and then the next throw came to the third baseman, getting the Knights batter out.

The offense did a great job of getting the runs in. They got in just enough runs to get the win. Kyle Galbraith had a double. Andy Brouse had two singles, but the biggest thing here was that he became the first Prospect League Paint to hit a homerun, so that's something for the Paints faithful to chalk up in the record books. Brouse drove in two runs with that homer to the left field scoreboard.

First baseman Cory Maguire had a triple and an infield single. Kyle Gendron had two singles and an RBI. Eian Banks came off the bench for the Paints and filled in as a pinch hitter. In two plate appearances, Banks had two singles and an RBI. Catcher Brandon White got an RBi off a sacrifice bunt. The bunting was pretty good for this game considering that the new Paints are getting used to the bunting aspect of the game once again. The metal bats don't give you much leverage in bunting, but you can have a much better time bunting with the wooden bats. I noticed that DH Andrew Marshall used a bat that was painted in green. I have never seen a green colored bat before, so that was interesting to see.

This was just another well played game in a season that is getting under way. I am hoping the attendance just had an off night because there was a promotion on hand to have students from surrounding schools get into the ballpark for free. It was kinda disappointing to see the turnout here, but overall, you gotta relax and give things time. The Paints players are having fun out there, and it really is showing. I like how head coach Brian Mannino is just letting the young guys play. That's what you should do. I would like to chat with coach Mannino if I can get the chance. We'll see about that, and I'll let you know what happens there. Anyway, the Paints will be gone for four days, with two off days and two road games ahead of them now.