Paints Ready To Begin Playoff Run At Home Sunday

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by Adena Health System, begin their 10th playoff run in 13 seasons as a member of the Prospect League. They'll host the Johnstown Mill Rats, making their first ever playoff appearance, at 6:05 p.m. Sunday at VA Memorial Stadium.

The Paints finished the regualar season Saturday night with a 17-9 win at Champion City, putting the finishing touches on a 38-22 record, including 21-10 in the first half and 17-12 in the second half.

Chillicothe went 20-10 at home this season and 18-12 on the road. In the Ohio River Valley Division, the Paints won 31 games, losing only 15. They finished 7-7 against Wabash River Division opponents, the only 14 games this season outside the division.

The Paints won series against all three divisional rivals, going 12-4 vs Johnstown, 8-6 against Champion City and 11-5 versus West Virginia.

After a 3-3 start, the Paints won eight in a row and 11 of 13 to take a stranglehold of the division's first-half standings. They became the first Prospect League team to punch their playoff ticket on June 28 in a 10-3 win over West Virginia.

By owning the tiebreaker (head-to-head wins) over Johnstown, the Paints also won the second half, finishing nine games ahead in the division in the overall standings.

VA Memorial Stadium gates open at 5:05 p.m. for the 6:05 p.m. matchup. It's a one-and-done, winner-take-all format in the divisional and conference rounds. The Prospect League Championship Series is a best-of-three. The winner of Sunday's game will take on the winner of Danville and Illinois Valley in the Eastern Conference Championship Tuesday August 9.