Over seven innings for the Nevada Griffons, Quinzer gave up a total of three hits, struck out 13 and walked none for the victory, The Nevada Daily Mail wrote.
"He totally dominated," Nevada manager Dave Jorn told The Daily Mail afterward. "He kept the ball down for the most and then came up and challenged them."
Quinzer went on from that summer to turn pro the next year. Quinzer pitched well as a pro, well enough to make AAA. But, in five seasons, he didn't pitch well enough to make the majors.
Quinzer's pro career began in 1986, taken by the Padres in the 10th round of the draft out of Indiana State.
At Indiana State, Quinzer gave up just 2.37 walks per nine innings of work through his four-year college career. That mark is still second all-time at the school. He also picked up 25 wins and threw three shutouts. In April 1986, he struck out 13 in a game.
Quinzer spent his first pro time at short-season Spokane. He went 5-5 in 15 starts, with a 3.48 ERA. In June, Quinzer struck out 10 in a game. In July, he pitched into the eighth inning of a contest with a one-run lead while giving up seven hits. He then hung a slider, resulting in a game-tying double, The Spokane Chronicle wrote.
"Maybe if I'd been fresher, I don't make that pitch," Quinzer told The Chronicle afterward, "but I really didn't feel like I was tired. They hadn't been hitting the ball that hard - a lot of those hits were bleeders."
He went eight innings in an August game while giving up only three hits.
Quinzer moved to single-A Reno in 1987. He went 9-10 , with a 3.58 ERA in 17 starts, 36 outings. From there, he switched to relief. He made AA Wichita in 1988, posting a 3.63 ERA over 40 relief outings.
He split time in 1989 between Wichita and AAA Las Vegas. In 40 outings that year, he had a combined 3.36 ERA and six saves. His final pro season was his fifth pro season. He got 31 outings at Wichita in 1990 and five at Las Vegas. He ended his career with an ERA of 4.43.
Quinzer has gone on to a career in teaching and as a high school coach. He is listed as coach at Mount Vernon High School in southern Indiana, about 30 miles from where he went to high school himself.
In May 2012, the former pitcher watched his team pick up an 8-2 win. He told The Posey County News afterward his team took advantage of its opportunities against the opposing pitcher.
"That's what you try to do," Quinzer told The News. "You try and work the pitcher, you try and get good pitches and you try to get the pitch count high and see if he'll make mistakes."
- Nevada Daily Mail, July 10, 1985: Griffons launch seven homers, dismember Owls 21-1
- Spokane Chronicle, July 30, 1986: Tribe's Quinzer strikes the bullseye in pitcher's duel
- Posey County News, May 15, 2012: Wildcats continue to improve, make the most of opportunities
More: The 1990 Las Vegas Stars
Players/Coaches Featured:1,579
Made the Majors: 770 - 48.8%
Never Made Majors: 809-51.2%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 334
10+ Seasons in the Minors: 198
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