By STEVE TAPPA

For the Herald-Whig

ROCK ISLAND -- Didn't. That confounding contraction has become maddeningly contagious on Quincy High School's baseball team.

As in, the Blue Devils again didn't make the necessary plays defensively, again didn't get any timely hitting, and again didn't score a win Tuesday night.

"We've played some good teams. And, give them credit; they've taken advantage of our mistakes. But, we give teams way too many opportunities for us to be competitive," Quincy coach Randy Mettemeyer said after Rock Island swept a Western Big Six Conference doubleheader in windy conditions, 4-0 and 9-3.

After the rare league makeup Tuesday, from last Saturday's league-wide washout, the Blue Devils are 2-11 overall, and 0-4 in the WB6.

"It's not that big of an issue for us. We're used to travelling," Mettemeyer said before embarking on a three-hour, one-way trip home. "We got back late (Monday night) from Springfield. But that's part of the game. You can't play all of your games at home. You have to be able to get off the bus and show up to play."

Instead, in the two losses combined, Quincy's offense managed only nine hits, while striking out 17 times against three walks.

Jay Edmonson's seven-strikeout, two-hit, complete-game shutout outdueled Quincy ace Adam Bailey in the opener.

Ryan Cook started the nightcap, scattering three hits in five innings, while fanning nine for Rocky (10-6, 3-1).

"Every team in the Big 6 has a pitcher that can beat you. So it comes down to who's going to make the plays?" Mettemeyer said. "Unfortunately, we keep beating ourselves. That's why we can't compete in this league right now."

Bailey (1-2) was the hard-luck loser in the opener. He scattered six hits, with two producing the only earned run in the sixth-inning. Cameron Mandel's double led to Mike Wieland's two-out, RBI single for the Rocks.

"It should have been 0-0 to that point, and who knows what would have happened if it had been," Mettemeyer said. "Adam kept their hitters off balance. He did a great job. We just didn't help him offensively or defensively."

Wieland added two more RBI to lead Rocky's 12-hit attack in the nightcap.

Quincy clawed as close as 5-2 in the second inning, thanks to a two-out, two-run double by John Wert. That was the Blue Devils' lone extra-base hit in the twinbill.

"The bottom line is the defense let us down again," Mettemeyer said. "That's been the story of our season. We beat ourselves.

"It came down to who made the plays and who didn't. Give them credit. They got the big hits when they needed them and we didn't. That's why they got two wins and we didn't."

Bailey also led Quincy's offense with a 2-for-5 effort.

Andrew Moulton and Nick Harland also added two hits each in Game 2. Andrew Feyerabend and pinch-hitter Matt VonderHaar had the other hits for the Devils.