Pistol Shrimp defeat Thrillbillies for Western Conference Championship

The Basics
Score: Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp 11, Thrillville Thrillbillies 5
Records: Pistol Shrimp (37-21, 2-0), Thrillville Thrillbillies (32-25, 1-1)
Location: Schweickert Stadium - Peru, Illinois

PERU, IL  – The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp are headed to the Prospect League Championship Series with an 11-5 victory over the Thrillville Thrillbillies Saturday in Peru.

The Western Conference Champion Pistol Shrimp will travel to the Eastern Conference Champion REX in game one before hosting in the Illinois Valley for game two and if needed game three.

It was edge-of-your-seat baseball to begin the Western Conference Championship as each team opened with offense.

After the Thrillbillies left a runner on in the top of the first, the Pistol Shrimp took advantage as leadoff hitter Ryan Niedzwiedz blasted a solo home run to center field, two-hitter Kyle Gibson doubled, and in the 3-hole Tyler Dorsch singled home Gibson. The Pistol Shrimp had a 2-0 lead after the 1st.

The Thrillbillies cut right back, after 2 strikeouts for Pistol Shrimp starter Evan Clark in the 1st, the Thrillbillies jumped in the top of the 2nd with a leadoff single by Cam Hill. Hill came around to score on a Charlie Isom-McCall double and the Pistol Shrimp lead was just 2-1.

The Pistol Shrimp went scoreless in the bottom of the 2nd but knocked Thrillbillies starter Jacob Hustedde out of the game with a Lucas Smith leadoff double.

Thrillville took advantage of the scoreless frame by taking a 3-2 lead in the top of the 3rd. The Thrillbillies loaded up the bases with 3 walks and Hill scored Jackson Lindsey on a sacrifice fly. Then a double by Cole Freeman scored Bryson Arnette, but Joseph Martin stranded runners on 2nd and 3rd with a strikeout and lineout.

The Pistol Shrimp answered back in the bottom of the 3rd. Dorsch walked and Louis Perona doubled to put two runners in scoring position for Will Ashley. Ashley doubled home both and gave the Shrimp their lead back at 4-3.

The teams did it all again in the 4th inning. Thrillville scored 2 in the top of the 4th on a Mark Kattula RBI single and a Freeman bases loaded hit by pitch to take a 5-4 lead. The Pistol Shrimp answered again with Niedzwiedz's second home run of the game, this time a 2-run shot, and the Pistol Shrimp retook the lead 6-5 at the end of the 4th.

Onto their third pitcher, the Pistol Shrimp turned to Andrew Ressler in the 5th. Ressler did what none could so far and sent down Thrillbillies 1-2-3 to allow the Pistol Shrimp offense a chance to extend the lead. 

Extend the Pistol Shrimp did. A Perona walk, Smith single, and Chance Resetich walk loaded up the bases for the Shrimp. Nick Weaver scored the first run with a bunt single, then Niedzwiedz walked in a run, Gibson walked in a run, and Dorsch reached on a fielder's choice and an error to score the final 2 runs. The Pistol Shrimp exited the 5th leading 11-5.

The offense then stopped. Three Thrillbillies pitchers tossed 4 scoreless frames and Andrew Ressler shut down the Thrillbillies for the Pistol Shrimp. Ressler would finish with 5 innings, just 1 hit, no runs, and 4 strikeouts to pick up the long save and lead the Pistol Shrimp to their first Prospect League Championship Series appearance. 

Turning Point
The 5th inning changed the game. The lead changed five times in the first four innings, but Ressler on the mound and the 5-spot put the game away.

Inside The Box Score

• Both starters took a no-decision as Derek Huber took the loss for the Thrillbillies giving up the 6-5 lead and allowing 4 runs total.

• Joseph Martin picked up the win for the Pistol Shrimp with 2 innings, 3 hits, and 2 runs, but Ressler picked up the 5-inning save, his second save of the season.

• The Pistol Shrimp outhit the Thrillbillies 14-7, Smith picked up 4 hits and Gibson 2 doubles.  

• Thrillville recorded 3 doubles but only 1 multihit performance, Arnette going 2-4.

Notes

• The Pistol Shrimp will make their first Championship Series appearance, they were a game away in 2019 and 2022.

• The Pistol Shrimp joined the Prospect League in 2019, moved to the Illinois Valley in 2021, and began play at the brand-new Schweickert Stadium in Peru just last season. Schweickert Stadium will now host the crowning of the 2024 Prospect League Champion.

• Thrillville falls in the Conference Championship for the second time in two seasons in the Prospect League.

Up Next
The Pistol Shrimp advance to the Prospect League Championship Series and face Eastern Conference Champion REX. The Pistol Shrimp will travel to REX for game one on Monday, August 5th at 6:35 PM (ET) at Bob Warn Field at Sycamore Stadium in Terre Haute, Indiana. Games two and if necessary game three will be hosted on Wednesday and Thursday at 7:05 PM at Schweickert Stadium.