SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – The Champion City Kings (7-16) snapped a seven-game losing streak as they hosted the Johnstown Mill Rats (10-14) at Carleton Davidson Stadium on Monday (June 24) night. Champion City used a two-homer game from Nicholas Weyrich (London, Ohio / Marshall) to win 7-5 over the Mill Rats.
The Mill Rats took a 2-0 lead in the third inning with two runs scored against Kings’ reliever Riley Niggemeyer (South Vienna, Ohio / Schoolcraft). In the bottom half of the inning, Alex Jones (Amherst, Ohio / Notre Dame College) doubled home Justin Maurer (Springfield, Ohio / Bluffton) after he was hit by a pitch.
The game was tied two innings later. Maurer reached on an error in the fifth inning and came home on a RBI single by Braylen Blomquist (St. Clairville, Ohio / Wright State).
Weyrich homered in the sixth inning to make it 3-2 in favor of Champion City. Later in the inning, Johnny Costella (Cleveland, Ohio / Notre Dame College) singled, stole second and advanced to third on a fly out to right field. Drew Gaskins (Sunbury, Ohio / Oakland) singled home Costella for a 4-2 lead.
A double play ball for the Mill Rats in the seventh inning cut the Champion City lead to 4-3. Weyrich struck again in the bottom half with a long fly ball. Jones singled and swiped second base. An throwing error and hit by pitch by Salvador Diaz (Norwalk, California / Gallaudet) put runners on the corners for Weyrich. A three-run shot for Weyrich gave him two homers and four RBI along with a 7-3 lead.
Johnstown rallied with two runs in the top of the ninth and left the tying run at the plate. Champion City won 7-5 with a big strikeout.
Jones, Weyrich and Gaskins all had two hits in the game with Weyrich driving in four runs. Weyrich and Maurer each scored twice.
Joe Tootle (Powell, Ohio / Ohio Northern) got the win with 4.2 innings of relief, allowing three runs on six hits with six strikeouts. Andrew DeWitt (Springfield, Ohio / Indianapolis) started and allowed one run in two innings. Niggemeyer finished with one run given up in his two innings of work. Joe Stone (Waynesville, Ohio / Thomas More) fanned the final batter to earn his second save.
The homestand continues on Wednesday (June 26) as the Kings host the Lafayette Aviators for a two-game series. First pitch is set for 6:35 PM as hot dogs will be buy one get one free.