Smooth Sailing at Pullman

Chillicothe 11, Butler 1

We're still at the home stretch of the regular season. We're still at the nitty gritty of it all, and these games at the end of the season are still important, and this game was no different. The Butler Blue Sox didn't appear to show up for this game as they didn't put in any dents against the Paints. This game was so very well played by the Paints, and the timing for a performance like this was great. This was what the team needed going into the last two games of the regular season.

Tony Bertucci had not made a start in about 12 days, so he had something to prove here when it came to shaking off the rust. Bertucci had a very good start here, giving up no runs at all in 6 innings pitched. He would give up 6 hits and a pair of walks, but he would come back and strike out two guys along the way. Bertucci pitched really well considering the situation with Butler's pitching mound acting up lately. What I mean by that is Pullman Park's pitching mound hasn't had strong rubber for the pitchers to throw off of. A block of wood was put in to soften the blow, so to speak. This isn't a huge issue, at least not for Bertucci, who managed the game quite well.

Crist Linster pitched one inning of relief. He wouldn't give up any hits, but he would plunk two batters and an error by the infield would cause him to give up a run. That run was the only run the Blue Sox would score in this game. Linster recorded a K for good measure. Brad Schnitzer would once again seal the deal for the Paints from the mound, as he pitched two innings of relief, and he gave up just two hits while recording a strikeout.

For the offense, shortstop Ben Allen had two singles. Third baseman Kyle Gendron had two singles and an RBI. Zach Leonard got an RBI off a bases loaded walk. Zach Frentsos had a pinch hit RBI single. Left fielder Andy Brouse had a single and an RBI. Brandon White got an RBI off a bases loaded walk. Right fielder Eian Banks had an infield single. First baseman Cory maguire had a single and 3 RBI's. He broke the game early on in the first inning to give the Paints a 2-0 lead at the time.

Catcher Kris McDonough had a 3-RBI double in the fourth inning. Center fielder Steven Mirizzi had a single. Second baseman Tim Krofcheck had two singles. Overall, this offensive display was very, very impressive, and the team just didn't stop when they were ahead. Thye casually tacked on some runs just to further their lead. I liked what I saw, and this is definitely a good sign considering the Paints are coming back home to V.A. Memorial Stadium to face the North Coast Knights in what's guaranteed to be a must win game for the Knights. A win by the Paints at home tomorrow will clinch the Eastern Division for the "Southern Ohio Stampede", and it will assure them to face the Western Division winner, most likely the Quincy Gems.