Ethan S. Smith 07/26/24
The Lafayette Aviators offense saw every starter reach base safely en route to collecting 19 hits
as the Aviators defeated the Johnstown Mill Rats 13-6 at Sargent’s Stadium at The Point on
Friday night.
Johnstown center fielder Colton Ayres opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first, scoring
center fielder Max Humphrey with an RBI-single. Humphrey made a web gem play in center in
the top of the sixth and was removed from the game following a facial injury after colliding with
the wall. He was replaced by Peyton Starr.
Lafayette answered back in the top of the second, thanks to an RBI-double from catcher Blake
Sailors that scored designated hitter Shane Lewis. Sailors ended the evening with two hits in
five plate appearances.
Despite collecting 10 hits off of Lafayette starter Eric Tenery, Tenery allowed just one earned
run and collected four strikeouts in his six innings of work, collecting a win for his efforts.
Johnstown right-fielder Cael Magill had a stellar game despite the loss, collecting four base hits
in five plate appearances.
The fourth and fifth inning were massive for Lafayette as the Aviators collected five runs in the
two frames off Johnstown starter Graeme Rios. Rios ended the evening allowing six earned
runs in four innings of work, while Duckworth pitched two scoreless innings of work.
Things got out of hand for the Mill Rats in the eighth inning, as Johnstown relievers William
Oczkowski and Zach Dellerman surrendered five runs to the Lafayette offense as the Aviators
batted around and pushed their advantage to seven runs. Oczkowski exited in the eighth inning
after allowing five runs with just one being earned.
Johnstown third baseman Randy Carlo IV hit a solo home run off Lafayette reliever Elliott
Rossell in the bottom of the ninth to continue his strong 2024 Prospect League campaign, but it
wasn’t enough to spark a historic comeback for the Mill Rats. Second baseman Logan Myers
added an RBI as well.
The loss moved Johnstown to 10-12 in the Prospect League second half as their pursuit for their
second playoff appearance in team history continues. The win brought Lafayette to 10-14, tying
the three-game series with Johnstown and forcing a crucial rubber match in the third game of
the series.
Johnstown will play their final home game of the 2024 Prospect League season versus
Lafayette on Saturday at Sargent’s Stadium at The Point on Saturday.