6/17/2025
By George Lucas
The Johnstown Mill Rats exploded for 10 runs in the third inning to earn an 8-inning run-rule shortened victory 15-1 over the Champion City Kings on Tuesday.
Sergio DeCello was 2-4 at the plate driving in four runs—three of those coming on his third homerun of the season. Ben Robinson connected for his first homerun of the year with a man on in the 8th. Cooper Rasmussen was 3-4 with a run batted in. Zach McEllroy (2-3) also had multiple hits for the Rats.
Joe Tootle (1-1-0) started the game for the Rats and did not allow a hit or a run over three innings while striking out three Kings and walking two.
Nick Finarelli threw five innings of relief to pick up the win (1-0-0) allowing just one run on three hits, walking one, and striking out six.
Champion City’s Nick Lester accounted for the only run for the Kings with a solo homerun, his second of the year, in the 7th inning.
Johnstown improves to 12-5 and remains in first place atop the Northeast Division Standings.
Champion City falls to 3-16, last place in the Northeast.
The Rats travel to Alton (IL) to open a two-game set against the River Dragons tomorrow and Thursday.