Overcoming Slippery Rock

Chillicothe 4, Slippery Rock 3

Going into this game, you pretty much had the feeling that the Slippery Rock Sliders weren't going away quietly at all no matter what the result was of this contest, and let's be honest, on our turf, at V.A. Memorial Stadium, throughout the course of 2009, the Slippery Rock Sliders have been the team that's had our number when it comes to playing them on our own field. Simply put, that trend had to be bucked for just one night, and especially at this time, since we're wrapping up the season and we're getting into a big melee with the North Coast Knights for first place in the Eastern Division, so we couldn't deal with any more headaches from the Sliders.

Let's get to the pitching performance. The ball was given to Tony Davey for this game, and he hung in there against a team that looked sharp hitting the ball against him all night. Davey would pitch 8 innings of "bend but don't break baseball", and ultimately, he kept the Paints hanging around. He did give up a bittersweet looking homerun early on to let the Sliders take a 1-0 lead with a shot that went over the Budweiser sign of the scoreboard, and he would give up three runs on five hits overall, but he would record an impressive six strikeouts to combat the hard charging Slippery Rock offense, and most of all, he kept the Paints in it. He did just enough to keep the engine going, as some people would say. (I think)

Stephen Shackleford was the only other pitcher who took the mound for the Paints, but he pitched the last inning of the ballgame, and boy, that last inning was definitely, and I'm not kidding when I say this, a heart-racing inning, but for good reasons really. Stephen only gave up a hit. That was it. He emphatically shut the door on the Sliders for good here.

Now let's get to the offense, and before I begin, let me just say that these guys battled so much throughout this game. It can really get hard and confusing as to why you face a certain team so much, and yet you can't seem to break through that certain team and score some runs. The Paints have had that problem for some reason against Slippery Rock at home with the lumber, and for most of this game, it felt like more of the same, but late in the game, the Paints did break through the Sliders' pitching puzzle with the lumber.

Shortstop Ben Allen had two singles, a double, and an RBI. Third baseman Zach Loenard had two singles and an RBI. Right fielder Eian Banks had a single, a double, and a stolen base. Catcher Andrew Marshall had an infield single. Center fielder Steven Mirizzi had a bunt single. Second baseman Tim Krofcheck had a stolen base. While the hits weren't many for the Paints, the hits that they did get in came at the most opportune times. The hits came when they were so desperately needed.

Remember when I said earlier this year, and I've probably said this for a few times by now, but let me say it again. It doesn't matter how many hits the team gets. What truly matters is that whatever hits the team does get, those hits have to count. Those hits have to mean something, as in they have to lead to runs, they have to lead to getting runners over to other bases, and they have to be placed in great spots in the outfield where the outfielders can't reach it.

Things are just getting more interesting now. The Paints have two games to play over the next two days, while the North Coast Knights have to double that and play four games in the next two days, meaning the Knights have to play two doubleheaders right after this night. Then after all that, the Paints will have their final regular season home game against the North Coast Knights on Friday night, at 7:05 PM...probably the biggest game the Paints organization may have in awhile.