LumberKings blanked by Pistol Shrimp in Season Opener
Clinton, IA - The Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp (1-0) scored in the top of the first and never looked back, defeating the Clinton LumberKings (0-1) 3-0 in the first game of the 2026 season.
The game featured the two most-recent Northwest Division Championships and was the second consecutive meeting between the two on Opening Day.
The Pistol Shrimp opened the game with a walk, hit by pitch and another walk. After loading the bases, Jaqson Tejada (Northern Illinois) settled down to retire three straight.
A two-out wild pitch put Illinois Valley on the board.
The LumberKings hurlers shined. Tejada settled in for four hitless innings with five strikeouts. He registered the loss.
Illinois Valley scored twice in the fifth on two hits.
For the LumberKings, Andrew Theiss (DMACC) tossed three innings in middle relief, surrendering two hits and runs with a pair of strikeouts. Jackson Wohlers (Saint Leo) and Wil Schufreider (Mount Mercy) each tossed a shutout frame.
Clinton left nine runners on-base and had two hits. Archer Ogbourne (Jacksonville) and Jackson Mishler (Black Hawk College) each had a hit
The LumberKings look to bounce back with another divisional game. They travel to the Normal CornBelters (0-1) for a 6:30 p.m. game May 27. Illinois Valley opens their home field with a matchup against the Quincy Doggy Paddlers (1-0) May 27 at 6:35 p.m.