By Dan Ramey
Butler Takes East 2-0; Rex & Aviators Tied at 1-1:
The Butler Blue Sox have booked their ticket for the Prospect League Championship Series.
The Blue Sox nipped West Virginia 6-5 to grab their first PL East Division title.
The Miners made a valiant effort to stay alive. Trailing 6-2, West Virginia scored a pair of runs in the 8th and another in the 9th, but failed to get what they needed. Pavin Parks delivered the big punch with a bases clearing single in the 2nd inning to lift the Blue Six to a 4-2 lead.
Butler awaits the West Division winner which will be determined Wednesday.
Terre Haute was a 4-3 winner over Lafayette Tuesday. The Aviators made a similar effort to that of West Virginia, falling short after scoring twice in the 9th inning.
Chillicothe's Daryin Lewis PL Pitcher of the Week:
Contribued by the Chillicothe Paints
Chillicothe's Daryin Lewis (University of Rio Grande) was named the Prospect League's Pitcher of the Week following the final week of games in the 2017 season.
Lewis, from Circleville, helped the Paints win their final game of the season Saturday at Champion City by pitching a nine-inning complete game and earning the win in a 2-1 victory over the Kings. In the game, Lewis allowed just one run on eight hits, walked one and struck out 10.
During the week, Lewis pitched a total of 11 innings, allowed one run on nine hits, walked two and struck out 12.Lewis finished the season with the Prospect League's second-best ERA at 2.44.
The right-hander went 2-3 over 13 appearances (six starts), collected three saves and struck out 46 batters over 51 2/3 innings and only walked nine.