The Boys of Summer H-W Photo/Jennifer Coombes Scott Simon practices his swing as a teammate goes up to bat this season at QU Stadium where members of the Quincy Gems Central Illinois Collegiate League called home for the summer. **NAMES**: Scott Simon, roster Mark Morgan, a second baseman for the summer college league The Quincy Gems, applies eye black on a teammate before a game at Gems Stadium in Quincy, Illinois. H-W Photo/Jennifer Coombes Quincy Gems players water the field before a game. The Illinois summer heat is new to some players who travel from all parts of the United States to play for the league. Players leave their baseball gloves hanging on hooks in the dugout during the game when the players are in the outfield. Ballgirl Caitlyn Fletcher makes a face as she watches the game and is disappointed by a bad play. Bella Harper sits up in the spectators box high above the game to take in an evening of baseball while hanging out with friends. Gems players hang out in the dugout before a game. Gems player Nathan Tringer talks to his father on the phone while eating his dinner on a charter bus headed back to Quincy from an away game. Randy Moreno joins his teammates on the field after a game to meet young fans and sign their gems merchandise. The Gems players live with area families who sponsor them to allow the community to form strong bonds with their boys of summer. After a team win, the Gems players end the game by congratulating the other team and then one another before exiting the field.
