Johnstown right-hander Zach Sharshel was well, painting, during this one, tossing six
innings of one-run baseball with eight strikeouts and allowing only two baserunners as the
Johnstown Mill Rats defeated the Chillicothe Paints 9-3 on Saturday evening at Sargent’s
Stadium.
For the second consecutive evening, Johnstown posted seven-plus runs, finding
success against Chillicothe right-hander Jack Rollo, who allowed five earned runs on five
Johnstown hits and 4 free passes.
First baseman Peyton Starr continued his hot play after a 4-for-5 night on Friday,
collecting two hits with a RBI for the Mill Rats. Left fielder Austin Stalker collected three-RBIs,
two coming from a double in a three-run bottom of the sixth inning for Johnstown. Catcher
Garrett Pancione was impressive, posting two hits with a run and a RBI.
Mill Rats center field Colton Ayres and second baseman Landon Meyer were plusses on
the base paths, managing a combined four runs scored while right fielder Cael Mcgill stole two
bags on the evening.
Chillicothe’s offense couldn’t find much success, but second baseman Jhors Gomez did
as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, collecting a two-RBI single in Chillicothe’s only multi-run
inning of the evening. Shortstop Cameron Bowen, third baseman Felix Polanco, left fielder Alex
Monile and center fielder Eric Colaco were the only other Paints hitters with a base hit on the
evening.
Johnstown pitchers Matthew Benton, Charlie Sindahl and Owen Wilfong contributed to a
solid evening for the Mill Rats, helping Sharshel secure the victory while allowing only three hits
combined between the trio.
The win was the ninth of the season for the Mill Rats, matching Chillicothe’s win total,
handing the Paints their fifth loss of the season.
Johnstown and Chillicothe do battle in a Father’s Day double-header on Sunday, with
Johnstown looking for a series victory and a chance to enter the double-digits for wins in the
2024 Prospect League campaign.