Not In Sync

NorthCoast 3, Chillicothe 2

It's amazing, isn't it?

I find it amazing that the Chillicothe Paints did many things that just weren't working for them in this game, and yet in spite of all the miscues, the Paints still found themselves with a chance of leaving the Pipe Yard in Lorain, Ohio with a win. Nonetheless, the Paints were just not into this game when it came to overall execution. There was a great lack of execution by the team, and understandably so, the Knights took advantage of the Paints' miscues here. It's just one of these games where the ball just didn't bounce right for the Paints, and I guess that you can always go back to drawing board and fix something else up for the next game.

Officially, it may look like that Paints starting picther Tony Davey gave up two runs, but in reality, Davey could only watch as he saw one bloop hit that never really should've hit the outfield turf. There was a great miscommunication between outfielders Andy Brouse and Zach Frentsos on this bloop single. The confusion allowed the ball to drop in and continue the inning for the Knights, and just like I mentioned, the Knights took full advantage and got in two runs after that miscue. For Davey, he would pitch six innings deep into his start and would give up seven hits along with a walk. On the side of this dish, he was called for a balk. He recorded four strikeouts in this game.

Blake Mascarello was the only other pitcher who saw action for the Paints on the mound. He would pitch the other two innings in relief of Davey and would give up the game-winning run to the Knights in the bottom of the eighth inning, He gave up three walks and two hits. Things just got tough for the pitching here. I can't really explain it well enough because road games have most likely been this way for the Paints. You're just not on your familiar turf, and suddenly, for some reason, you find yourself having to come back in an environment that favors the other team. This organization has been there a whole lot of times, and I can't even count how many.

For the offense, the hits did come for the Paints, but once again, there just weren't enough timely hits for the Paints. There weren't enough hits that counted. Shortstop Ben Allen had a great game considering everything that happened. Allen had four singles. He was so consistent with his approach here. Ever since he's been put into the top of the batting order, Ben has made some noise as a leadoff hitter, and it's surprising for some because keep in mind that Ben Allen had started the season batting as low as ninth in the order, so he's come a long way.

Third baseman Zach Leonard had two singles. Left fielder Andy Brouse had three singles. First baseman Cory Maguire had a 2-RBI single. Right fielder Eian Banks had a double. Catcher Brandon White had a single. Second baseman Tim Krofcheck had a single. Don't get me wrong, I know that the Paints have been hitting many balls past the infield, and they have been getting guys on, but the main problem here is that they have been unable to get those guys in. That has been a reoccuring problem for some time now, off and on. There's a thing to be said about consistancy, but the Paints didn't have that here, unfortunately.

We had an off night, but we played a very tough team that plays just upstate in Northern Ohio. This was the same team that were going after us in the standings not too long ago, as they challenged us for the top spot in the Eastern Division back at the V.A. I don't look past the NorthCoast Knights at all because they're much like the Slippery Rock Sliders, a team that can put the hurt on us whenever they can. We just have to be prepared to step up and stand up to these guys because they are taking it to us, giving us their best shot, and well, the Knights do have my attention right now.