SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – To open the second half of the 2024 season, the Champion City Kings (1-1, 8-23) hosted the Lafayette Aviators (1-2, 15-15) in a doubleheader on Tuesday (July 2) to make up a rainout last week at Carleton Davidson Stadium.
Lafayette kicked off the twinbill with a 12-7 win before the Kings snapped their slide in a 9-3 nightcap win.
GAME ONE
Lafayette scored multiple runs in four of the first five innings, leading 11-0 after the fifth frame. Champion City’s rally started in the sixth inning with four runs crossing the plate. Joe Ricchio (Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin / Southern Indiana) doubled home Ben Bach (Waconia, Minnesota / University of Sciences & Art in Oklahoma), who reached on a fielder’s choice. Following a pitching change after a Evan Houseman (Springfield, Ohio / Bluffton) walk, Ray Hawkins (Miamisburg, Ohio / Palm Beach Atlantic) doubled home Ricchio. Johnny Costella (Cleveland, Ohio / Notre Dame College) singled home two runs as the lead shrunk to 11-4.
The Aviators scored one run in the top of the seventh inning but then the Kings continued to cut away the Aviators lead. Justin Maurer (Springfield, Ohio / Bluffton) drilled a solo home run to left center field with one out. A single, hit by pitch and walk loaded the bases for the Kings. Hawkins brought in a run with a bases loaded walk. Costella capped his game of three hits and three RBI with a RBI knock. Lafayette won 12-7 in the first game of the doubleheader.
Seven different players had hits in the game. Costella tallied three hits with Ricchio ending with two hits in the opener. Bach and Ricchio scored twice while Hawkins and Houseman managed two walks against the Aviators.
GAME TWO
The Kings drew first blood with two runs in the second inning. Two singles by Lucas Day (Dayton, Ohio / Oakland) and Salvador Diaz (Norwalk, California / Gallaudet) along with a Quintin Reep (Bridgeport, West Virginia / Fairmont State) walk allowed the Kings to load the bases. Will Balgo (St. Clairsville, Ohio / West Liberty) walked in a run, scoring Day. Blake Buzzeo (Stow, Ohio / Miami (Ohio)) grounded into a fielder’s choice for a RBI chance, beating out a double play.
Three more runs in the third inning gave the Kings a 5-0 lead over the Aviators. Louis Florida (Wilmette, Illinois / DePauw) led off with a walk and ended up scoring on a Day RBI single. Day came around to score off a Reep fielder’s choice and an error. Balgo drove in his second run in as many innings with a RBI single to right field.
Lafayette put three runs on the board in the fourth inning, getting within 5-3. Two long balls in the Champion City fourth answered the Aviators inning. James Salvatori (Wheeling, West Virginia / West Liberty) homered down the left field line for a two-run shot. Two batters later, Bach went deep to right center field. Champion City led 8-3 with three innings to go.
Bach’s baserunning in the sixth inning led to the final run of the game. He reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. A wild pitch scored Bach to make the score 9-3 as the Kings won the nightcap.
Day was the leader with two hits and teamed with Bach to score four runs collectively.
Billy Nowakowski (Swanton, Ohio / Bluffton) made his Kings debut with three runs allowed in four innings for his first win of the season. Nate Miller (Port St. Lucie, Florida / Notre Dame College) pitched the final three innings for a scoreless save, his second of the year.
Champion City will head to Johnstown for a two-game series starting on Wednesday (July 3) before ending the road trip on Friday (July 5) at REX Baseball. The Kings return home on Saturday (July 6) against Chillicothe on Military Appreciation Night at 6:35 PM.