Campana’s grand slam sends Doggy Paddlers into all-star break on high note

QUINCY — The Quincy Doggy Paddlers’ pesky two-out hitting gave them the lead. Wandel Campana’s blast put the game out of reach.

Campana’s grand slam punctuated a six-run fifth inning for the Doggy Paddlers as they earned a series victory over the Illinois Valley Pistol Shrimp with an 11-6 victory at QU Stadium on Sunday.

Aamir Mitchell gave the Pistol Shrimp a 2-0 lead with a two-run, opposite field home run in the top of the third, but the Doggy Paddlers answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, the final two of which came courtesy of a Kannon Kirk two-out, two-run single that gave Quincy a 3-2 lead.

The Pistol Shrimp tied the game at three on a Lucas Smith RBI single in the top of the fifth, but the game did not stay tied for long. After Pistol Shrimp reliever Ben Fawcett retired the first two batters of the inning, five consecutive Doggy Paddlers hitters reached base ahead of Campana, who came to the plate with the Doggy Paddlers in front 5-3. Campana belted a grand slam and admired it as it sailed onto the QU Stadium football field and gave the Doggy Paddlers a 9-3 lead.

The Pistol Shrimp never drew closer than four runs the rest of the game, and Ethan Gamez pitched the final 3 ⅔ innings after relieving Jared Marty with one out in the fifth.

Kirk went 3 for 3 and reached base five times. Campana finished with five RBIs. The Doggy Paddlers (14-18, 5-4 second half) moved into sole possession of second place in the Northwest Division second half standings. They will return to action on Wednesday with a doubleheader at the division-leading Clinton LumberKings following the all-star break.