QUINCY – The Doggy Paddlers are struggling to find their footing entering the final stretch of the regular season with a postseason berth seemingly too far away for this team this late into the season.

Quincy has currently lost 12 straight games, extending this streak to double digits. The Doggy Paddlers have four straight losses to Illinois Valley 18-5, Burlington 27-17, Alton 9-8 and O’Fallon 15-5 this past weekend on the road.

Their pitching and overall infield and outfield play just hasn’t been up to par, resulting in double digit runs being given up, including nearly 30 total to the Bees this past Friday and 11 runs in the top of the seventh against the Pistol Shrimp.

Catcher Byron Blaise on the first loss of their last four games against the Pistol Shrimp.

“It was a good team game off the start, Wajda gave us a good go the first two innings,” Blaise said. “We kind of fell apart there on defense but we answered back middle of the game. Towards the end folded late, but it’s alright we just have to stick with it, trust our bullpen and finish this season strong. Wajda did great for us he was in the zone landing pitches, threw a strike and competed as hard as he could, he’s a gritty player I love playing with him.”

Blaise has put forth solid production his last two outings for Quincy going 2-for-3 with a three-run home run and scoring two runs himself against Illinois Valley. Then he went 1-for-2 with two RBIs this past Saturday against Alton.

Quincy has struggled for most of the season, but it’s really come to the forefront this second half of their schedule dropping 16 of their last 21 games. They currently have the second most losses in the prospect league with 30.

Springfield has the most with a 12-31 record sitting last in the Eastern Conference Central division. Quincy is last in the Western Conference Northwest division at 14-30.

“That’s the thing about this league is you get to play every day, so we have to show back up and do it again Tuesday,” said Blaise.

Quincy’s next four games are against teams that are all above .500 on the season.

First, they’ll take on the Clinton LumberKings (29-14) on Tuesday and Wednesday both at home, then go back out on the road against the O’Fallon Hoots (32-14) and Illinois Valley (26-21) Thursday and Friday.

They’ll have to turn things around fast with all three of these teams having postseason aspirations and having good to great seasons.

“The best part about this league is you get to show up and do it again the next day,” said Blaise. “The worst thing you can do on a losing streak is dwell on what happened last game good or bad you have to show up and play the next one.”

The Doggy Paddlers have 10 total games left in the regular season seven of which are on the road. Quincy is 9-15 at home and 5-15 on the road this season. They’re 9-20 in the Western Conference and 2-5 in the Northwest Division.