Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp baseball players are packing up to head home after a season-ending loss to the Chillicothe, Ohio Paints for the Eastern Conference championship last night. Evan Evola of Ottawa won’t have far to go, but he has a lot to remember. He says it’s been a great season.
The Shrimp overcame deficits several times this season. The team secured its place in the Wabash Valley Division championship game Sunday after twice catching up to tie the Clinton Lumber Kings and finally defeating them in 11 innings Friday night last week. Sunday’s division championship win led to the Shrimp hosting the Eastern Conference championship at home on Schweickert Field in Peru.
But a catch-up win didn’t come together last night. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Evola was the last Pistol Shrimp batter this season. His fly ball got caught. He says he didn’t feel any pressure as he approached the plate. He says he hit the ball well, but it found a glove. He can move on from it.
Evola will return to Webster University in Webster Groves, Missouri. He’s already looking forward to fall season college baseball.
Evan Evola signs autographs after the last Pistol Shrimp game of 2022.