The Aviators defeat the Mill Rats for Northeast Division Championship

The Basics
Score: Lafayette Aviators 4, Johnstown Mill Rats 3
Records: Lafayette Aviators (36-21, 1-0), Johnstown Mill Rats (26-30, 0-1)
Location: Sargent's Stadium - Johnstown, PA

JOHNSTOWN, PA  – The Lafayette Aviators advance to the Eastern Conference Championship game with a 4-3 victory over the Johnstown Mill Rats Friday at Sargent's Stadium in Johnstown.

The Northeast Division Champion Aviators will travel to Terre Haute to face the Central Division Champion REX for the Eastern Conference Championship on Sunday.

The Aviators took the initial 1-0 lead in the 2nd on a Keifer Wilson solo home run.

In the 3rd, the Aviators added another on a Diego Frey single that scored Frederick Ragsdale III to take a 2-0 lead.

The Mill Rats finally got on the board in the bottom of the 3rd as Jace Essig doubled home Tyler Giordano.

The two teams went scoreless for the next 5 frames before the Mill Rats gave the home crowd the lead with a 2-run home run off the bat of Will Puertas.

The lead didn't last, as the Aviators answered with 2 runs of their own in the 7th, including the go-ahead run scoring on a Mill Rats throwing error.

The Aviators' bullpen held onto the 4-3 lead and closed out the victory, allowing just 2 base runners across the final 3 innings.

Turning Point
Mill Rats starter Isaias Espiritusanto looked dominant through six innings, but the Aviators were waiting for the bullpen, scoring their tying and go-ahead runs off the first Mill Rats' reliever.

Inside The Box Score

• Dylan Ferraro picked up the win for the Aviators in relief.

• The Aviators out-hit the Mill Rats just 8-7, but went errorless on defense compared to two charged to the Mill Rats.

• Jace Essig and Garrett Pancione each picked up 2 hits for the Mill Rats.

• Diego Frey and Garrett Rainey each picked up 2 hits for the Aviators.

Notes

• This is the third division championship for the Aviators, their first since 2021.

• In each of the previous two seasons with a Division Championship, the Aviators advanced to the Prospect League Championship Series.

• The Mill Rats have made the playoffs in back-to-back seasons, but has fallen in the first round both times

Up Next
The Aviators advance to Sunday's Conference Championship round and will face the Central Division Champion REX. The Eastern Conference Championship game is set for 4:35 PM (ET) on Sunday and will be hosted by REX at Sycamore Stadium in Terre Haute, Indiana.