Cannonball!!!! Doggy Paddlers Splash into Season with a Win
Quincy, Ill — The Quincy Doggy Paddlers opened the gates on their second season. They looked to make a better impression after the previous season. With a revamped roster, new ideas, and some slight adjustments from last season. The Doggy Paddlers definitely look to make a splash.
Off the field, the Paddlers Ownership has built a new party deck in left field, a new beer garden area along the third baseline, a snack station on the first baseline, and more. Of course, with the first game of the season and a group of interns, there are still kinks to work out, but they are small kinks to work out.
The Paddlers opened their season, taking on the Alton River Dragons. Picking up a 7-6 win to open the season in the win column. The Paddlers would get to an early lead in the bottom of the first, with a two-run double turned triple on a throwing error from Ean Czech would give the Paddlers a 2-0 lead. Harry Fandre would follow it up with an RBI single to center, giving them a 3-0 lead.
The Dogs would add more in the third. Brodie Shot would hit an RBI Double to extend the Paddlers’ lead. Fandre would ground out but drives in a shot to give the Paddlers a 5-0 lead.
The River Dragons would bring an end to Braden Lewis’ day on the mound. As the Lefty started the game and would go 3.1 innings. An RBI groundout and a two-run homer from Greyson Rathgeb would make it a 5-3 game. Manager Kyle Fultz would make a pitching change, going to a freshman, Karl Schiebe. Schiebe would get the two outs needed and hold the lead for the paddlers.
Tyler Dance would take over on the mount and would put in some work. Going 3.2 innings of work, striking out 9 of 17 batters faced, and giving up only 2 hits. The offense would support their pitcher with a pair of runs in the seventh. With Ben Longoria scoring on a wild pitch. The River Dragons would get themselves in a bases-loaded situation. As local athlete Brady Kindhart would come in to pinch-hit. Drawing a nine-pitch walk to score another run, giving the Paddlers a 7-3 lead.
The Paddlers would find themselves downstream of a River Dragons comeback in the top of the ninth. As the Dragons scored two more runs to make it 7-5. Fultz would go to the bullpen again, bringing in Bruce Trzpis, who would come in for Cameron Stukenborg in a two-out, bases-loaded situation. Alton’s Adam Moser would hit a single up the middle and score another run, putting the Paddlers on the ropes, 7-6. Ethan Wielt would hit a long ball to left field, but Bynam Martinez would make a diving catch to save the Paddlers’ lead and secure the win.
Tyler Dance would get marked the win, and Trzpis would get the save. Alton’s starting pitcher, Luke Richard, would get marked as the loss.
After the game, Manager Kyle Fultz would discuss what they learned about themselves on the first night.
“Just get back after it like we’ve got to find that guy out of the pen that can come shut it down. We don’t know everybody yet, and they don’t know us yet, so we’re just trying to still feel things out. I mean, that happens in games like that. You’re just trying to feel things out and see who you have. I think we have some really good pieces. I think we have some good offensive sticks, and more are coming in the next couple of weeks. So, any win in this league is good.”
The Paddlers improve to 1-0 on the season. They will head on the road to take on the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp. The Paddlers will return home on Friday, the 29th, taking on the Normal Cornbelters.
