Three Doggy Paddlers earn all-star nods, will play in Tuesday’s game in Springfield

QUINCY — The Prospect League is holding its first all-star game and festivities since 2019 and the Quincy Doggy Paddlers will be represented by three players.

Catcher Jake Merda, infielder Wandel Campana and outfielder Jimmy Koza will play for the Western Conference all-stars in the mid-summer showcase, taking place at 6:30 p.m. next Tuesday at Robin Roberts Stadium in Springfield, Ill.

Merda, who will be a junior at the University of Saint Francis, leads the Doggy Paddlers with a .382 batting average to go with one double and one home run and has thrown out three would-be base stealers defensively.

Campana, who will be a junior at Western Illinois University, is third on the team with a .322 average and 28 hits. He leads the Doggy Paddlers with 22 RBIs and has collected two doubles and two home runs.

Koza, who will be a junior at Francis Marion University, is hitting .305 with a team-leading 32 hits. He has six doubles, three home runs and 20 RBIs. He has committed only two errors defensively.

The Doggy Paddlers are 11-16 overall and finished the first half of the Prospect League season at 9-14 and in fourth place in the Western Conference’s Northwest Division.