Paints Win Home Opener 8-6 Over Kokomo

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - The Chillicothe Paints, presented by CohenOrthopedic, opened the home portion of their 2026 schedule with an 8-6 come-from-behind win over the Kokomo Creek Chubs in front of 4,122 fans at VA Memorial Stadium Thursday night.

After a one-two-three top of the first, Chillicothe (2-1) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Alex Bemis drove in the game's first two runs with a triple, scoring himself one batter later on am RBI groundout by Tannar Patterson.

It stayed 3-0 until the top of the fourth. Kokomo (1-2) loaded the bases with no outs on an infield single, a walk and a hit batter. Brayden Hibler knocked home one on an infield single and Jedvier Garcia's sacrifice fly plated another, cutting the Paints' lead to 3-2.

The Creek Chubs tied it in the top of the fifth on an RBI single by Drew Helton, making it 3-3. 

Collin Osenbaugh led off the sixth with a double and, after a Chillicothe pitching change, scored one batter later on Hibler's triple, putting the visitors in the lead for the first time at 4-3. Kokomo made it 5-3 one batter later on Garcia's RBI single.

The Paints answered in the bottom of the sixth. Bemis doubled to lead off the inning, later moving to third on a throwing error when Tanner Patterson reached on a ground ball to second base. Michael Simone singled home Bemis and Tripp Johns knocked home Patterson, tying the game at 5-5. The Paints regained the lead for good later in the inning as Mitchel Szymczak scored on a two-out bunt single by Justin Gorski, making it 6-5.

Chillicothe added on in the eighth. Johns collected his third hit of the night before Carter Hire replaced him at first as a pinch runner, later moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Szymczak. Gabe Pitts walked and Gorski reached on a fielding error by the Kokomo first baseman, while allowing Hire to score. Jude Clough lifted a ball to medium-deep left field, driving home Pitts on a sacrifice fly and making it 8-5.

Kokomo got one back in the ninth, but the Paints held on for the 8-6 win.

Cole Wells started on the mound for Chillicothe, going five innings and allowing four runs on five hits, walking three and striking out one. Grant Cline (1-1) got the win in relief, allowing a run on two hits and striking out two in his one inning of work. Trisdon Ciampanella pitched the seventh, striking out all three batters he faced. Evan Schweizer (1) earned the save after pitching the final two innings, allowing one run on one hit, striking out one and walking two.

Johns led the Paints in the hit column, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Bemis collected a double and a triple, drove in two and scored twice in his 2-for-5 effort. Gorski also went 2-for-5, driving in two. Szymczak had the other Paints hit as part of a 1-for-3 night at the plate. 

Chillicothe and Kokomo play again at VA Memorial Stadium Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The first 500 fans receive a free Paints magnetic schedule, courtesy of Thomas G Brewster / Brewster Real Estate & Auction. Gates open at 6:05 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.chillicothepaints.com, at the stadium ticket office and at the downtown office and gift shop located at 11 East 2nd Street.