Pistol Shrimp defeat REX in Game Two to Win 2024 Prospect League Championship

The Basics
Score: Illinois Valley Gems 4, REX Baseball 2
Records: Pistol Shrimp (39-21, 4-0), REX (34-25, 2-2)
Location: Schweickert Stadium - Peru, Illinois

PERU, IL  – The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp are the 2024 Prospect League Champions!

The Pistol Shrimp defeated REX 4-2 in game two of the Prospect League Championship Series at Schweickert Stadium in Peru. The title is the first in Pistol Shrimp history, climbing the mountain in their fifth Prospect League season!

The game began with REX taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st. Eli Riley scored the run, reaching on an error, stealing second, advancing to the third, and scoring on a wild pitch.

The Pistol Shrimp answered as they have all playoffs. For the 3rd straight playoff game, Ryan Niedzwiedz led off the Pistol Shrimp with a solo home run. This time tying the game 1-1.

REX went down scoreless in the 2nd, and the Pistol Shrimp followed by taking the lead. Brandon Mahler doubled and Chance Resetich brought him home on a sacrifice fly to give the Pistol Shrimp a 2-1 after the 2nd.

REX answered in the top of the 3rd. Nomar Garica was hit by a pitch and followed by stealing second and third. Gabe Wright brought him home on a groundout and REX tied the game back up at 2-2.

After scoring a single run in the first two frames, the Pistol Shrimp would do it again in the 3rd and 4th. First, the Pistol Shrimp loaded up the bases in the 3rd and Kyle Gibson scored on a balk called on the mound. Then, Niedzwiedz and Gibson walked and singled in the 4th, and Tyler Dorsch grabbed an RBI single to score Niedzwiedz. The Pistol Shrimp had the final score after the 4th leading 4-2.

The starters for each team gave up the first 2 runs of the contest, but the bullpens settled the game the rest of the way. Landen Ray would take the loss for REX giving up the final 2 runs across 2.2 innings with 7 walks. 

Breyllin Surriel entered for REX in the 5th and kept the game close by working out of multiple jams and striking out 5 across 4 innings. 

Jared Herzog was once again dominant for the Pistol Shrimp. Herzog followed up his 5-inning and 10-strikeout performance against Clinton in the Division Championship with 6 innings and 11 strikeouts to finish off the Championship for the Pistol Shrimp.

Herzog was named Playoff MVP for his efforts. He finished the Playoffs with 2 appearances in relief, 11 innings, 1 hit, no runs, 7 walks, 21 strikeouts, and 2 victories. 

Turning Point
The game changed with Jared Herzog. Herzog didn't allow a REX runner to reach scoring position until the top of the 9th, sending down 10 in a row from the 4th to the 8th.

Inside The Boxscore 

• REX only grabbed 2 hits and 4 walks in the contest compared to 8 and 11 for the Pistol Shrimp.
  
• REX struck out 14 times in the game, mostly courtesy of Herzog who finished with 11 on the mound for the Pistol Shrimp. 
  
• The Pistol Shrimp had two multihit players, as Lucas Smith went 2-4 and Ryan Niedzwiedz went 2-4 with 2 walks, a double, and a home run.

Notes

• This is the first Championship for the Pistol Shrimp coming in their first Championship Series appearance.

• The Pistol Shrimp outscored opponents 31-15 in the playoffs, winning all 4 games and sweeping the Championship Series.

• The Pistol Shrimp won the Championship in front of a capacity crowd of 2,675. Packing 5,631 fans into Schweickert Stadium for their three home playoff games. 

• The Pistol Shrimp are now just 1 of 5 active teams with a Prospect League Championship. They join the Paints, Aviators, Catfish, and REX as current teams to win a Championship since the Prospect League was formed in 2009.

Up Next
The Prospect League will return for the 2025 season! Congratulations to the Pistol Shrimp, REX, and every Playoff team for an exciting 2024 Prospect League Playoffs. A big thank you to you, Prospect League fan, for your support during the 2024 season!