SPRINGFIELD, OH – The Champion City Kings swept a doubleheader at home against the Danville Dans, who entered Saturday with the best record in the Prospect League. The Kings used the art of the walk-offs, with Champion City winning 6-5 in nine innings in the first game, followed with an 8-5 win in the nightcap with seven runs in the sixth.
In Game One, Kyler Archual (Columbus, OH; Tiffin Univ.) got the start, and held Danville to four earned runs on five hits, two walks, and six strikeouts. Both starters in the first game went 4.2 innings, with neither starter factoring in the decision.
The Kings struck first in their third inning, as Alex Scoular (Whitby, Ontario, Canada; Rio Grande) came home on a wild pitch during Evan Lorey’s (Howell, MI; Spring Arbor Univ.) After Scoular scooted home, Lorey unleased his first home run as a Champion City King; the first of four home runs hit by the home team this Saturday. The King led 2-0 after four. Trailing 4-2 in their fifth inning, the Kings tied the game back up with Evan Lorey grounding out to bring the Kings within one. Tying the game up and bringing home the first of six RBI on the night, Edrick Padilla (Salinas, Puerto Rico; Ohio Wesleyan) singled in the fourth King run.
Danville went ahead 5-4 in the Top of the 7th, with an unearned run against Tyler Wynkoop (Huber Heights, OH; Toledo.) The lefty threw two innings, with the one unearned run on no hits, three walks, and two strikeouts. However, the Kings weren’t done. Stepping in to the box in the Bottom of the 7th, Padilla homered to send the game into extra innings. On his next at-bat, Padilla struck again with a home run over the left-center field fence for a walk-off Kings win in Game One. Pitching 2.1 innings of scoreless ball, it was Kyle Mahon (Centerville, OH; Wittenberg) taking his first win, walking one and striking out two with no hits or runs allowed.
In the second game, the Dans struck quickly against the starter Jake Woolf (Beavercreek, OH; Cal. Univ. of Penn.) for four runs, three in the second inning. Trailing 4-0 in the fourth inning, it was Trey Carter (Wheelersburg, OH; Rio Grande) singling in the first Kings run to score Evan Lorey. Danville would get the run back, setting up for a Kings comeback in the sixth inning.
With ten batters batting in the Bottom of the Sixth, the action got underway with one out. A walk to Joel Gardner (Poca, WV; West Virginia Univ.) and Cole Brennan (Cincinnati, OH; Rio Grande) put the first two on, followed by a single from Ben Stuart (Mason, OH; Evansville) loaded the bases up. Connor Lockwood (Libertyville, IL; Valparaiso) got the start in center field, and picked up his RBI with a bases-loaded walk. Alex Scoular laced a Sac Fly out to left to score Brennan. Stuart would score on an error, followed with Evan Lorey scoring the tying run with a base hit. Then, Edrick Padilla hit a three-run home run for his tenth homer and third of the night, putting the Kings up 8-5. Noah Penney (Fort Murray, Alberta, Canada; Tiffin Univ.) slammed the door on the Dans, as the home team swept the doubleheader. With his two innings of two walks, no hits or runs, and one strikeout, it was Penney securing his first win to improve to 1-2.
Padilla hit three home runs, combining for six RBI and 4-for-9 against Danville. Joel Gardner finished 4-for-5 with two walks and one run scored. Champion City combined for eighteen hits against the Dans.
With the doubleheader sweep, the Kings now sit at 10-11 in the second half, trailing Johnstown by 1.5 games. The Kings now host the Lafayette Aviators on Sunday Afternoon at 4:05. For tickets, PLTV information, and more, keep it here to championcitykings.com!