Pistol Shrimp defeated REX in Championship Series Game One

The Basics
Score: Illinois Valley Gems 13, REX Baseball 8
Records: Pistol Shrimp (38-21, 3-0), REX (34-24, 2-1)
Location: Bob Warn Field - Terre Haute, Indiana

TERRE HAUTE, IN  – The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp took game one of the 2024 Prospect League Championship Series with a 13-8 victory over REX Monday at Bob Warn Field.

The game began with another back-and-forth offensive contest.

The Pistol Shrimp started with a bang as leadoff hitter Ryan Niedzweidz launched a solo home run and Makana Olaso followed with a 2-out solo shot to give the Pistol Shrimp a 2-0 lead after the top of the 1st.

REX answered with a home run of their own. Pistol Shrimp starter Joe Richardson loaded up the bases in the bottom of the 1st allowing a single and two walks. Then Wally Diaz stepped in for REX and belted an opposite-field grand slam to give REX a 4-2 lead after the 1st.

The Pistol Shrimp returned with a 4-run inning of their own. Louis Perona, Jake Ferguson, and Niedzwiedz walked to load up the bases for Kyle Gibson who singled home 2 runs and tied the game at 4. Then Tyler Dorsch singled home Niedzwiedz and Olaso scored Gibson on a sacrifice fly and the Pistol Shrimp had their 2-run lead back at 6-4.

The lead didn't last long as REX loaded up the bases again in the bottom of the 2nd. Gabriel Arroyo and Eli Riley walked and Nomar Garcia was hit by a pitch to bring up Gabe Wright. Wright singled home Arroyo and Riley and REX tied it back up at 6-6.

In the top of the 3rd, the Pistol Shrimp took the lead again. Pambos Nicoloudes was hit by a pitch and Perona walked. Then a double steal put each in scoring position before a balk by REX reliever Sean Stone brought in Nicoloudes to give the Pistol Shrimp a 7-6 advantage.

The Pistol Shrimp recorded the first scoreless half-inning in the bottom of the 3rd as reliever Daniel Castro sent down REX in order. Castro allowed the Pistol Shrimp to come to the plate in the top of the 4th with their first chance to extend a lead.

It was an exclamation of an extension for the Pistol Shrimp. In the largest scoring output of the game, the Pistol Shrimp put up 5 runs. Dorsch, Olaso, and Will Ashely each singled the load the bases. Lucas Smith singled home the first run, and Nicoloudes followed with a towering grand slam to left. The Pistol Shrimp had a 12-6 lead.

The pitching then showed up for both teams as neither would score again until the 9th. Zacheus Carr took the ball for REX in the 4th and went the rest of the way with 5.2 innings and just 1 run in the 9th. Daniel Castro took the ball in the 2nd for the Pistol Shrimp and flashed dominance until the pitch limited removed him in the 9th. Castro through 6 straight scoreless frames and struck out 5 to pick up the victory.

REX would go on to put up 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th off Jeffrey Behrends in for Castro, but it was little too late. The Pistol Shrimp closed out the victory on the road and left with a 1-0 series lead.

Turning Point
Daniel Castro and a 5-run 4th inning for the Pistol Shrimp changed the game as REX couldn't get back the early offensive success and cut into the lead.

Inside The Boxscore 

• Isaac Rosario, second pitcher of the game for REX, would take the loss. Rosario gave up just 2 runs but allowed the go-ahead 7th run to score in the 3rd.

• Castro picked up the win for the Pistol Shrimp, just his second of the season. Castro came in with a team-leading 4 saves and had not pitched more than 4 innings all season.

• The teams combined for 21 hits, 21 runs, 16 walks, and only 10 strikeouts. REX has one multihit performance, Wright going 2-5 with 4 RBIs.

• The Pistol Shrimp has four multihit players, Dorsch leading the way going 3-4 with a double.

Notes

• It was the first championship series loss for REX, who swept the series for their first two titles in 2015 and 2018.

• The Pistol Shrimp have won 4 games in a row, finishing the regular season with an 18-13 victory in Normal and winning every game in the Playoffs so far.

• The Pistol Shrimp are outscoring opponents 27-10 in the playoffs compared to 22-18 for REX.

• The Illinois Valley will see a champion crowned on Wednesday or Thursday as the Pistol Shrimp look for their first Prospect League title in their fifth Prospect League season.

Up Next
The two teams now head to Peru, Illinois game two of the Championship Series at Schweickert Stadium on Wednesday at 7:05 PM (CT). The Pistol Shrimp lead the series 1-0 and a win on Wednesday would clinch their first Prospect League Championship. If REX wins Wednesday, the two teams will play again on Thursday in Peru in a winner-takes-all game three.