Paints Back in Playoffs
July 31, 2018 - Prospect League (Prospect)
Chillicothe Paints News Release
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by Adena Health System, return to the Prospect League Playoffs after missing the postseason the past two years. It's the seventh playoff berth for the Paints in the ten-year history of the Prospect League, of which the Paints are a founding member.
The Paints defeated the Butler BlueSox 7-4 Sunday night at VA Memorial Stadium and West Virginia lost both ends of a doubleheader at Champion City to secure Chillicothe's spot in this year's postseason. The Paints last reached the playoffs in 2015, where they were eliminated by the Miners two games to one. Chillicothe won its only league championship in 2010.
Chillicothe has been present at or near the top of the East Division Standings nearly all season, partly the result of a pitching staff and defense that has ranked at the top of the league in ERA and fielding percentage nearly all season. Heading into Tuesday, the Paints own the best ERA in the league (3.37) and the top fielding percentage (.973, 55 errors in 55 games).
The offense, which struggled early on has found its way in July, hitting .283 in 27 games this month. The team average for the entire season is up to .261, which ranks fifth in the Prospect League entering Tuesday's games. The Paints lead the league in doubles (114), are tied for third in home runs (28), rank third in hits (482), fourth in walks (266) and fifth in RBIs (273).
Individually on offense, the Paints have been led by Andrew Czech and Chad Roberts all season. Czech's 54 games played ties him for the most of any player in the league, he leads the league with 50 RBIs and 20 doubles, is tied for second in hits (68), ranks fourth in at bats (204), sixth in walks (34), seventh in runs scored (39), tied for seventh in home runs (7), and is eighth in the league with a .333 batting average. Roberts sits just outside the top ten with a .313 batting average and ranks first in at bats (214), tied for third in runs scored (44), is fourth in hits (67), fourth with 53 games played, sixth in home runs with 8, seventh in RBIs (39), tied for eighth with 12 doubles, and tenth in walks (28). Outfielder/catcher Dillon Dingler doesn't have enough plate appearances to qualify as a league leader, but he is hitting .366 in 32 games with a home run, 27 RBIs and 12 doubles, which ties him with teammate Roberts for eighth in the league for two-baggers.
On the mound, left-hander Chris Modrzynski's 2.49 ERA ranks second among qualifying pitchers in the Prospect League. Michael Jacob has struck out 55 batters, which ranks fourth in the league. Zach Harvey has five wins, tied for third-most. Jack Raines, typically the Paints closer, has an ERA of 1.11 in 17 appearances and has the second-most saves in the league with nine. Ben Bulchik has an ERA of 1.46 in 18 appearances and ranks third (tied) with five saves.
The Paints will play the Kokomo Jackrabbits in the divisional round of the playoffs, they clinched with the first West Virginia loss Sunday. Kokomo currently leads the division by 2 1/2 games over Chillicothe heading into Tuesday. Both teams have five games remaining, meaning the regular-season division title and home field in the playoffs are still up for grabs. Game one of the East Division Championship Series will be Sunday, August 5, at the two seed. Game two and, if necessary, game three will be hosted by the regular-season division winner August 6 and 7.
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