Gems clinch division, earn first playoff bid since 2016; Napleton wraps up doubleheader sweep with walk-off home run

QUINCY — The Quincy Gems now can celebrate.

The Gems rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the first inning in the first game of a Prospect League doubleheader on Saturday night to win 6-4 at QU Stadium. The victory clinched the first half championship in the Great River Division for the Gems, who will be in the postseason for the first time since 2016.

Quincy came from behind in the second game as well, as Luke Napleton hit a three-run home run to right-center field in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the hosts a 6-3 victory.

The Gems (19-12) have won six games in a row and 10 of their last 12. They have the best record in the Western Conference.

Quincy starting pitcher Gage Yost gave up four runs in the first inning, including a three-run homer by Jayden Myren, but followed with three shutout innings. Reliever Ryan Chmielewski finished with three shutout innings, allowing just one hit, to earn the victory.

The Gems scored two runs on infield groundouts in the first, added a run in the second on Andrew Fay’s RBI single and tied the score in the third on Drew Townsend’s sacrifice fly.

Otto Jones’ double to right in the bottom of the sixth inning drove in two runs and put the Gems ahead to stay. Springfield got a runner to third base with two outs in the top of the seventh, but Joe Kolbeck grounded out to end the game.

Springfield grabbed the lead in the third inning of the second game when Nasir Frederick hit a three-run homer off Quincy starter Philip Reinhardt. However, Reinhardt bounced back with four scoreless innings and seven strikeouts. Reliever Jacob Kroeger then pitched the final four innings, striking out seven while allowing just one hit and no runs.

Zack Stewart homered in the first inning for the Gems, then singled in the third to drive in another run. Quincy tied the score when Hayden Moore scored on Luke Napleton’s double play.

The Gems stranded two runs in the seventh when Napleton popped up for the final out. Quincy had another good chance to score in the eighth Lucas Loos singled and Jonathan Latham walked. Latham and pinch-runner Dylan Wipperman moved up a base on a wild pitch with no outs, but Lucky Horseshoes pitcher Evan Rightnowar struck out the next three batters.

Hayden Moore was hit by a pitch with one out in the ninth, then advanced to second on a wild pitch. The Lucky Horseshoes intentionally walked Stewart to pitch to Napleton, who had failed to get a hit in his first 18 at-bats this season. Napleton came through, however, with a walk-off three-run blast to right-center to end the game.