Paints Take Opener In Lafayette 7-3

LAFAYETTE, Ind. - After jumping out to an early lead, the Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, opened the 2024 season Tuesday night with a 7-3 win over the Lafayette Aviators.

The first four batters of the game reached base. Back-to-back-to-back singles from Alex Richter, Alex Bemis and Felix Polanco loaded the bases and an RBI walk from Sam Fabian gave the Paints the first run of the ballgame. Graham Solak grounded out to third, scoring Bemis and Clay Burdette hit a sacrifice fly to deep right field, scoring Polanco and making it 3-0.

Paints starter Scotty Adelman threw three scoreless innings for Chillicothe, allowing just two hits and striking out one.

The Paints made it 5-0 with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning, scoring on RBI singles from Richter and Polanco.

Landen Vance took over on the mound for Chillicothe in the bottom of the fourth, eventually tossing a pair of scoreless innings and recording a strikeout. Cayden Robinson followed with two scoress innings, striking out three and walking two. 

Cole Raile hit an opposite-field, two-run home run in the top of the eighth, making it 8-0 Chillicothe.

Braden Shepherd came on to pitch for the Paints in the bottom of the eight, surrendering three runs on two hits, walking one and hitting two batters. The Aviators got an RBI double from Tucker Platt and a two-run double from pinch hitter Frederick Ragsdale III, cutting the Paints' lead to 7-3, the eventual final.

Carter White pitched the ninth for the Paints, working a one-two-three inning that included striking out the final batter of the game.

The Paints and Aviators play again at 7 p.m. Wednesday night in Lafayette. Fan can listen to the game on HANK FM 100.9 WXIZ, ChillicothePaints.com and the free Total Media Radio App.