Chillicothe Gazette from Chillicothe, Ohio • B1

Chillicothe Gazette THURSDAY, AUGUST 15, 2019 1B Sports CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. The Chilli- cothe Paints had not won a Prospect League title in almost a decade but not the case anymore. For the time since 2010, the Chil- licothe Paints are Prospect League champions as they defeated the Cape 5-2 in a winner-take-all game three in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on Tuesday. doing this for a long time and I was actually not around in 2010 when they said Paints head coach Brian Bigam. year this is what we shoot for, Chad being a player and now coaching and been grinding and doing this for a long time and very rewarding to be able to bring a championship to Coming a 9-4 win in game two on the road on Monday tying the series at 1-1 after falling behind 1-0 the Paints got on the scoreboard on Tuesday.

With neither team scoring through the three innings, Chris Eisel got someone on the scoreboard as he hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth to give Chillicothe a 1-0 lead. That lead did not last long, however, as the tied it up in the bottom of After Cody Orr hit a one-out single in the top of the sixth for Chillicothe, Eisel was hit by a pitch and then Cole An- drews drew a two-out walk to load to the bases. Then Trey Smith came to the plate. Smith, who hit a grand slam in June against the Terre Haute Rex, came up big with the bases loaded again, hitting a two-out grand slam to give the Paints a 5-2 lead. I hit it I thought it was a pop up, I know it was going Smith said.

once I rounded I saw the left hit the wall and then I knew it went over. I know what to do once it went over I just freaked out. Once I rounded third all my friends where there waiting on me and it was just Smith went to high school near the Cape Giradeau, Missouri area at Sikes- ton Senior High School as the game was a homecoming for him. had quite a few family and friends there so it was neat for him to be able to do that in this Bigam said. Then following solid pitching perfor- mances by Austin Calopietro and Cal McAninch through the six innings, Paints closer Nate Haugh came in and was lights out in the last three innings.

the fourth 1-1, and they then took the lead in the bottom of the inning when Cape Andrew Stone hit a solo home run to make the score 2-1. Despite trailing in the sixth inning, one swing of the bat in the sixth changed the ball game and played a big role in the Paints winning the championship on Tuesday. Chris Eisel celebrates scoring a run against the Terre Haute Rex on June 29 at VA Memorial Stadium. Eisel hit a solo home run in the Paints 5-2 game three win in the Prospect League Championship series on Tuesday. ROBERT Paints win 2019 Championship David Wysong Chillicothe Gazette USA TODAY NETWORK Gavin Homer celebrates after hitting a home run in a 10-1 win over West Virginia on July 10 at VA Memorial Stadium.

Homer was vital in the Paints' Championship run. DAVID See PAINTS, Page 2B ble The Chicago Cubs, refusing to let their window close without another World Series run, making a of last- minute acquisitions while their compet- itors stood idly by, deserve to pull away from the St. Louis Cardinals and Mil- waukee Brewers and win the NL Central. If the baseball gods want to be noble The Atlanta Braves, who the idea they compete with the Los An- geles Dodgers for the pennant, re-mak- ing their bullpen by acquiring a trio of re- lievers, will win the NL East. In six weeks when the postseason starts, out if the baseball gods were ever paying attention.

be honest, it will take divine in- tervention for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Astros not to have a 2017 World Se- ries sequel. The Dodgers have shown since open- ing day they clearly are the best team in the National League, and really no one else is close. The Astros have demonstrated since How the MLB races will shake out Astros starting pitcher Zack Greinke delivers against the White Sox on Tuesday in Chicago. PATRICK TODAY SPORTS Bob Nightengale Columnist USA TODAY If the baseball gods truly want to be honorable The Houston Astros, who had the guts to trade away four prized prospects and the stomach to add $54 million worth of payroll for starter Zack Greinke, will become World Series champions. If the baseball gods want to be re- spectable The New York Mets, who had the bra- vado to stand by their beliefs, refusing to listen to the outside world when they ac- quired Marcus Stroman, will earn a play- berth.

If the baseball gods want to be righ- teous The Cleveland Indians, who made the daring move of trading away controver- sial ace Trevor Bauer while the Minne- sota Twins opted to play it cautious will win the AL Central. If the baseball gods want to be sensi- See MLB, Page 2B ANN ARBOR, Mich. Jim Harbaugh lashed out Tuesday night at Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell, who said Michigan did not support a attempt to immediately play for the Bearcats. Harbaugh said he told Fickell months ago he lie about what he knew regarding the transfer of James Hudson. Fickell told The Athletic that Michi- gan support waiver re- quest.

can say they under- mine it, but they work to help the kid Fickell said in the story pub- lished Tuesday. the power is in the hands of the school a player is leaving. If they want to help, they can help them become Harbaugh said simply not true. did not block the said Harbaugh, adding it was the decision to deny re- quest. The NCAA does not comment on waiver cases and rarely do schools, even when an athlete waives protection under federal privacy laws.

Hudson, a seldom-used lineman, transferred to Cincinnati last year. The NCAA denied his waiver request in the spring to be eligible this season. Hudson posted on Twitter that mental health prompted his transfer, but his request was denied because he did not reveal the issues at Michigan. Hudson, who is from Toledo, Ohio, signed to play at Michigan in 2017 and he redshirted as a freshman and played sparingly as a sophomore. Harbaugh said Fickell called him in March, trying to coach him what to say about the events leading up to Hud- transfer.

told him, not going to Harbaugh recalled telling Fickell said. Harbaugh said he talked to Fickell about Hudson switching from sive to defensive line. As Harbaugh has often said this summer, he believes all college athletes should be able to transfer once without sitting out the following season. how I personally feel about this he said. Harbaugh: Michigan block transfer Larry Lage ASSOCIATED PRESS Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh walks out with players during the spring game April 13.

CARLOS.