SPRINGFIELD, OH – Coming back home after two road games, the Champion City Kings gave their hometown fans two sets of fireworks. With fans patiently waiting for the fireworks show, the Kings provided plenty of pop and booms en route to a 13-7 win over the first-place Lafayette Aviators.
Trailing 1-0 in their first inning, the Kings got to work against the Lafayette starter. Evan Lorey (Howell, MI; Spring Arbor University) scored on a double play to tie the game. Blake Buzzeo (Stow, OH; Miami University) scored on a wild pitch to give Champion City their first lead. Nikolas Pereira (Palmetto Bay, FL; Florida Southwest State College) scored by stealing home with C.J. Richmond (Indianapolis, IN; Iowa Western Community College) stealing second base first. Richmond would eventually come home with a Sam Seeker (Tallmadge, OH; University of Akron) base hit. With those four runs, the Kings chased the starter quickly.
Another two runs scored in the second inning, as Lucas Day (Dayton, OH; Oakland University) crushed a two-run home run, also scoring Calin Smith (Peachtree City, GA; Marshall University.) The Kings had a 6-1 lead after two.
Lafayette eventually took a 7-6 lead, scoring runs against Gabe Phipps (Yorktown, IN; Tallahassee C.C.) and Noah Curi (West Chester, OH; Clark State College.) The offense wasn’t finished, as the booms came back for the Springfield offense. Back-to-back doubles from Eric Fouraker (Bryceville, FL; University of North Florida) and Sam Seeker tied the game up, and Seeker scored the go-ahead run with a wild throw into left field by the Aviators’ catcher. The damage wasn’t done in the sixth, as Lucas Day homered for the second time this night and the third time this season. Day’s third blast scored Lorey and Smith. Not to be outdone, C.J. Richmond hit his second home run of the season, scoring Pereira and capping off a seven-run sixth.
The Kings held on with a 13-7 win, with Noah Curi securing his first win of the season in his home debut, throwing 2.2 innings of relief ball, allowing one earned run on four hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. The starter Phipps went 4.1 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on five walks, six hits, while striking out two. Ben Zink (Clayton, OH; Wright State University) and Cole Agemy (Macomb, MI; Marshall University) threw a scoreless frame, both recording one strikeout. Zink allowed one hit, while Agemy had a 1-2-3 ninth to prepare the fireworks for the 662 folks in attendance.
Champion City stays at home for the next three games, facing the Johnstown Mill Rats for six straight games and nine of the next ten. For tickets and PLTV information, you’re at the right place on championcitykings.com!