Around the horn, Week 5 - Quincy Herald-Whig | Illinois & Missouri News, Sports

By BLAKE TOPPMEYER
Herald-Whig Sports Writer

Every week this summer, Herald-Whig Sports Writer Blake Toppmeyer will catch up with some Quincy Gems and Hannibal Cavemen to ask some baseball questions and find out what they're like off the field.

This week, Toppmeyer spoke with Quincy Gems infielder Nick Day, Hannibal Cavemen pitcher Kris Gardner and Gems outfielder Zac Zdanowicz. Here's what they had to say:

Other than your ballpark, what's the best place to play in the West Division?

Day: Terre Haute. I like the infield there, and the atmosphere is pretty sweet.

Gardner: Terre Haute. It's the nicest playing surface, and the pitcher's mound is good.

Zdanowicz: Hannibal. It's big and spacious. I'm not really a home-run hitter, so I try to hit a gap and run all day.

What's the best place to eat that you've found in your host town?

Day: I don't think I've gone to the same place twice. There are a lot of restaurants in Quincy.

Gardner: Rumor Has It in downtown Hannibal. I like the burgers.

Zdanowicz: TCBY, and Tower. I like Tower's pizza.

What's the best summer job you've ever had?

Day: I got my first job really this summer. I'm working at the field at QU-Stadium. I enjoy it.

Gardner: I've never really had one. I'm always playing summer baseball.

Zdanowicz: I haven't had any good ones. They've all been terrible.

Any story behind your summer uniform number?

Day: (No. 10) It's just a number I picked out as a kid. It's kind of my favorite number.

Gardner: (No. 25) That's just what they gave me.

Zdanowicz: (No. 5) I'm usually No. 1 or 7, but that hadn't been working out. ... So I figured I'd go back to my junior college number.

What's one thing you always bring with you on a road trip?

Day: A deck of cards. We play some euchre on the way.

Gardner: Movies for the bus.

Zdanowicz: Cool sunglasses.

-- btoppmeyer@whig.com/221-3367