Pistol Shrimp defeat LumberKings for Northwest Division Championship

The Basics
Score: Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp 3, Clinton LumberKings 0
Records: Pistol Shrimp (36-21, 1-0), LumberKings (34-22, 0-1)
Location: Schweickert Stadium - Peru, Illinois

PERU, IL  – The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp are headed to the Western Conference Championship game with a 3-0 victory over the Clinton LumberKings Thursday at Schweickert Stadium.

The Northwest Division Champion Pistol Shrimp will host the South Division Champion Thrillville Thrillbillies in the Western Conference Championship on Saturday.

The Pistol Shrimp struck first off LumberKings' starter Ean DiPasquale. Prospect League Hit Champion Kyle Gibson doubled with 1 out in the bottom of the first and Louis Perona followed with a 2-out RBI single to center to give the Shrimp a 1-0 lead.

DiPasquale didn't have a chance to settle in, as right back in the bottom of the 3rd the Pistol Shrimp grabbed another courtesy of Gibson. Gibson singled, advanced from 1st to 3rd on a wild pitch, and Tyler Dorsch drove him home to extend the Shrimp lead to 2-0.

Then the pitching took over for both sides. DiPasquale finished 5 strong innings, giving up 2 runs on 7 hits and striking out 3. On the other side, the Pistol Shrimp held the LumberKing offense completely quiet as Shrimp starter Zach Kempe went 4 innings striking out 4 on just 2 hits and 2 walks. Then third-year Pistol Shrimp Jared Hezog slammed the game shut taking the ball in the 5th and finishing it off with 5 innings, no hits, no runs, and 10 strikeouts.  

The Pistol Shrimp added insure in the bottom of the 8th courtesy of Gibson again who doubled home pinch-runner Peyton Burgh to make it 3-0. Herzog struck out the side after walking the first two in the 9th to hand the Pistol Shrimp their second division championship in three seasons. 

Turning Point
Already leading 2-0, the Pistol Shrimp turned to a starter out of the bullpen in the 5th. Jared Herzog floated with perfection across the rest of the game and made an improbable comeback impossible for the LumberKings.

Inside The Box Score

• Jared Herzog picked up the win for the Pistol Shrimp keeping his record perfect on the season, now at 5-0.

• Ean DiPasquale, who entered with a 1.30 ERA, took the loss for the LumberKings, his first of the season (4-1).

• The Pistol Shrimp outhit the LumberKings 10-2, including 5-1 in doubles.

• Kyle Gibson went 4-5 with 2 runs scored and 1 run batted in for the Pistol Shrimp, accounting for every run in the game.

• Neither team recorded an error in the contest and both teams picked up web gems across the diamond.

Notes

• This is the second Division Championship for the Pistol Shrimp, last winning in 2022 over the Danville Dans.

• The Pistol Shrimp will host their second Conference Championship in the last three seasons, falling to the Chillicothe Paints in 2022.

• The LumberKings are now 1-2 in the first round of the playoffs all-time, last advancing to the Conference Championship round in 2021.

Up Next
Illinois Valley advances to Saturday's Conference Championship round and will host Thrillville for the Western Conference Championship at Schweickert Stadium in Peru. The game is set for 7:05 PM (CT) with the winner advancing to their first Prospect League Championship Series.