Maroons continue WB6 diamond dominance, beat Blue Devils to remain unbeaten in league play

QUINCY — Craig Schimmel is no physician, but his diagnosis was spot on.

“We had about a five-minute stretch that was uncharacteristic for us,” the Moline baseball coach said. “We looked like we were brain dead out there.”

Yes, the bottom of the third inning proved to be a bit testy for the Maroons, but they survived. As a result, Moline kept its perfect Western Big 6 Conference record intact.

Moline’s 11-5 victory over Quincy on a sun-splashed Tuesday improved its league mark to 5-0. The Maroons (14-3) have outscored their five WB6 opponents 51-8. Quincy’s fourth straight setback dropped its records to 4-7 overall and 1-4 in the WB6, but the Blue Devils did not go quietly. 

Quincy hit Moline with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 4. The Blue Devils capitalized on both errors of commission and omission. Moline, which was charged with six physical errors in the game, both booted some balls and misplayed some others. Add some RBI hits from Quincy’s Evan Sohn, Joe Schroeder and Brady Lowe and it appeared the Blue Devils were on the verge of staggering the longtime WB6 powerhouse.

Ah, not so fast.

Moline responded quickly — and with a vengeance. The Maroons scored in every at-bat the remainder of the game, highlighted by a towering home run from center fielder Hunter Warren to lead off the fifth inning.

Quincy managed to keep Moline off the board in just one inning, the second.

“Moline is a good team,” QHS coach Rick Lawson said. “I don’t think (our pitchers) have been hit this hard all year.”

Schimmel, whose club is zeroing on Moline’s 29th consecutive year with 20 or or more victories, nodded in agreement when questioned about the potency of his club’s offense.

“I feel like we put pressure (on Quincy) every inning,” Schimmel said.

That was probably an understatement.

Eight different batters drove in at least one run for Moline, which also stole six bases. The Maroons were never retired in order.

Schimmel said Moline’s long-standing baseball success that includes 18 league titles, including 2022, is a testament to the city’s strong youth baseball programs. 

“We just have a lot of kids who love to play baseball,” said Schimmel, who is 264-115-1 as Maroons coach.

Chase Tholl earned the pitching win for Moline, working the first four innings. Except for that four-run third-inning from QHS, Tholl effectively mixed an assortment of off-speed pitches to the tune of five strikeouts and no walks.

Lowe absorbed the loss for Quincy, also working four innings. He surrendered only three hits and one earned run, but was plagued with wildness.

“Our recent losses have all been the same,” Lawson said. “We have given away too many at-bats and made far too many mistakes defensively.”

Sohn and Tykell Hammers were the lone Blue Devils with two hits. Owen Zanger and Lowe each clubbed a double.

“We’re a ways from where we want to be,” Lawson said. “Right now, we’re trying to piece things together. I think we can build off this game. Overall, I think it was a step in the right direction.”

Quincy returns to action at 5 p.m. Wednesday at Hannibal.