Former Hoots, Gems pitchers battling for spots on major league rosters

Former Hannibal Hoots pitcher Dylan Dodd is fighting for a spot in the Atlanta Braves starting rotation after spending part of last season at Triple-A Gwinnett. | Photo courtesy Gwinnett Stripers

QUINCY — A pair of former Prospect League hurlers are making strong pitches to land on major league rosters when spring training breaks. Left-hander Dylan Dodd, who played for the Hannibal Hoots in 2018, is in the conversation to be the Atlanta Braves’ fifth starter. Meanwhile, right-hander Cam Sanders, who played for the Quincy Gems…

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Former Summit League assistant commissioner named Prospect League commissioner

David Brauer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Prospect League, a summer collegiate baseball league with 17 teams including the Quincy Gems, recently named David Brauer as its new commissioner. Brauer brings college athletics administration experience to the post, most recently spending a decade as assistant commissioner at the NCAA Division I Summit League. His experience includes communications positions…

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River Dragons’ walk-off grand slam ends Gems’ season two outs shy of spot in championship series

Quincy Gems shortstop Hayden Moore successfully steals second base as Alton River Dragons second baseman Cameron Hailstone takes the throw during Tuesday night's Prospect League Western Conference championship game at Lloyd Hopkins Field in Alton, Ill. | Photo courtesy Nathan Woodside

ALTON, Ill. — The beauty and cruelty of baseball can happen simultaneously, much the way they did Tuesday night. Although a once six-run lead had been chiseled to three heading to the bottom of the ninth inning, the Quincy Gems were two outs away from advancing to the Prospect League’s best-of-3 championship series. One swing…

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Fay delivers on cue, blasts three-run homer to send Gems into conference title game

The Quincy Gems celebrate a solo home run by third baseman Lucas Loss (16) in the bottom of the second inning Sunday night against the Normal CornBelters at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Brad Gyorkos called it. With the Quincy Gems’ Logan Voth on third base and Hayden Moore on second with one out in the sixth inning Sunday night, the Normal CornBelters summoned left-hander Ryan Weaver from the bullpen before Andrew Fay came to the plate. While Weaver warmed up, Voth turned to Gyorkos, the…

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Birthday blast: Gems’ Loos punctuates victory over Hoots with home run on day he turns 20

Quincy Gems third baseman Lucas Loos, right, awaits the opportunity to step into the on-deck circle during Tuesday night's Prospect League game against the O'Fallon Hoots at QU Stadium. | Matt Schuckman photo

QUINCY — Although it’s a birthday generally celebrated without much hullabaloo — Nos. 18 and 21 bear more significance — Lucas Loos made certain No. 20 would be unforgettable. There’s a memento to serve as his reminder of it, too. After the Quincy Gems third baseman watched a series of birthday wishes from family and…

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Self-described baseball junkie, C-SC’s Gyorkos ready to man Quincy Gems’ reins

Brad Gyorkos, now in his third season as the head baseball coach at Culver-Stockton College, will be the Quincy Gems manager next summer. Photo courtesy Quincy Gems

QUINCY — Brad Gyorkos’ efforts when it comes to building the Culver-Stockton College baseball program never wane. Yet, there are times, especially during the summer months, where the itch to hit fungoes, play catch and be part of the game gets hard to scratch because there aren’t any baseball players on the Canton, Mo., campus.…

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Three Quincy Gems infielders receive Prospect League postseason honors

Three Quincy Gems infielders — from left to right, first baseman Jake Skrine, shortstop Gino D'Alessio and third baseman Matt Schark — received Prospect League postseason honors.

QUINCY — The Quincy Gems infield proved to be as good as any in the Prospect League. Three of the four infield positions on the league’s West Conference all-star team were Gems as first baseman Jake Skrine, shortstop Gino D’Alessio and third baseman Matt Schark earned postseason accolades. Skrine, a junior from Indiana University, finished…

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