06/28/24 Ethan S. Smith
Jared Herzog and the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp avoided a three-game sweep at the
hands of the Johnstown Mill Rats, winning 8-3 on Friday night at Sargent’s Stadium.
Illinois Valley got a phenomenal outing from Herzog, who prior to this game only allowed
one earned run through his 2024 Prospect League campaign. Taking a no-hitter into the
seventh inning, Herzog went six and one-third innings, striking out six Mill Rats while allowing
just one run on two hits.
Speaking of one of those two hits, Mill Rats center fielder Carter Rust(1-for-4) launched
one over Pistol Shrimp center fielder Chance Resetich, who got spun around while trying to
catch the line drive before it eventually reached the wall, allowing Rust to score an inside-the-
park home run to get the Mill Rats on the board after six scoreless innings.
Johnstown would add another run in the seventh inning as catcher Garrett Pancione(1-
for-3) singled to score first baseman Peyton Starr(2-for-4), with the seventh seeing seven hitters
come to the plate, generating pretty much the entirety of the offense we’d see from the Mill
Rats. Starr added an RBI in the eighth inning, scoring right fielder Max Humphrey(0-for-4).
The Pistol Shrimp offense didn’t find much success versus Johnstown starter Nathan
Vidmar, who threw four innings while allowing just two-earned runs and striking out two.
Illinois Valley did find success though versus Johnstown right-handers Matthew Benton
and Will Juday, scoring a combined four earned runs on six hits versus the relief pair. Shortstop
Kyle Gibson spearheaded the Pistol Shrimp offense, collecting three hits and three runs batted
in his five plate appearances. First baseman Pambos Nicoloudes(2-for-3) had a multi-hit
evening as well.
The Pistol Shrimp also scored two runs off of Johnstown right-hander Brock DePute,
who allowed three hits and struck out one batter in his lone inning of work. Right-hander Zach
Dellerman was the lone Mill Rats pitcher with a scoreless outing, collecting two strikeouts in the
ninth inning.
Pistol Shrimp left-hander Joe Richardson would shut things down for Illinois Valley in the
ninth, securing the victory and collecting the save. The loss dropped Johnstown to 12-15.
Meanwhile, Illinois Valley improved to 17-9. The Mill Rats continue their home-stand on
Saturday as the Danville Dans come in for a two-game weekend set.