Clinton Lumber Kings

Peru, IL - The Clinton LumberKings (14-8) won in a complete team effort, as they took down the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp (4-16) 12-1 at Schweickert Stadium June 23.

The LumberKings lead the Northwest Division by one game with three games remaining in the first half. The Quincy Doggy Paddlers (14-10) and Normal CornBelters (14-10) are tied for second place, with the LumberKings traveling to QU Stadium June 24 to begin a two-game set against the Paddlers.

Clinton's arms combined for 18 strikeouts, which matches a franchise single game Prospect League Record. The last time it was achieved was in 2022. 

The game was 3-1 going into the seventh, the LumberKings rattled off two runs in the seventh, five in the eighth, and two in the ninth.

Jai Jensen (University of Southern Indiana) got the win with two shutout innings out of relief. He struck out five, while surrendering no runs or hits. 

Three relievers threw shutout frames between the seventh and ninth. Laughton Joyce (Gateway CC) struck out three in the seventh, Jackson Wohlers (Saint Leo) registered a pair of punch-outs and Will Schufreider (Mount Mercy) picked up three strikeouts in the ninth. 

Jaqson Tejada (Northern Illinois) got the start and went four innings, allowing runs. He stranded the tying-runs in the third and fourth, while striking out five batters. 

Four LumberKings had multiple RBI. Parker Studtmann (Iowa Central) had two RBI on a 400ft two-run home run in the third inning. It was his third homerun in nine games. 

The LumberKings led 3-1 after three frames. Gavin Awbrey (SCC) got the team on the board with an RBI single in the first. It was his 28th RBI of the year, good for fourth in the league.

The score remained until the seventh. After an Illinois Valley leadoff double in the fourth, the team did not have a hit until the ninth.

Meanwhile, Clinton finally broke through in the seventh. Awbrey and Studtmann both worked walks. The team finished with 11 bases on balls.

Grant Ingram (Bellarmine) came up with a two-strike, two-out single into center field. that plated two. His two RBI made it 5-1. 

The LumberKings kept the momentum going with five in the eighth. The first five guys reached.

Will Specht (Iowa Central) walked to begin the rally. He finished with three walks. Jackson Mishler (Black Hawk) singled to put two on. He had three hits in the game.

Jaylon Ziegler (Iowa) drove a two-RBI double to start the scoring. Ben Toft (Iowa) followed with a RBI single. A wild pitch scored another and Karson Grout (State College of Florida) grounded out to plate the fifth run of the inning. 

Toft extended his hitting streak to eight games and he would keep it going in the ninth. After beginning the inning with three walks, the Iowa product drove a single to score more. 

The LumberKings have won eight of their last nine games. 

Clinton travels to Quincy June 24 for the biggest games of the half. Game one of two at QU Stadium will start at 6:30 p.m.