8 June, 2003 Amateur baseball notebook: Kimball doing fine on the road By Tom Elliott telliott@stcloudtimes.com
		The Kimball Express supremely hope that somehow, some way, they'll be able to open their refurbished baseball park.
		"We were hoping to be on it by June 1st; right now, it's looking like June 29th," said Express manager Tom Marquardt. "Our association was talking about not opening it at all."
		The new grass is slowly but surely coming in. But, considering how well Kimball has done this summer, maybe the Express ought to wait.
		Playing all their games on the road hasn't been such a bad deal.
		Kimball went into the weekend 11-1 with key Central Valley League games against the Rockies at Cold Spring on Saturday and at Luxemburg today.
		"We've been playing real good baseball," Marquardt said. "Hopefully, we can keep it up."
		The Express' only loss was to a very good New Ulm Brewers club, in New Ulm (of course). Included in their victories is an exhibition win over the mighty Cold Spring Springers, a Class B power. The Springers threw Russ Huls and Dave Hinkemeyer, but it doesn't diminish Marquardt's enthusiasm for his club.
		"We realize they didn't throw their best pitchers," Marquardt said. "But it was a nice win for us."
		Marquardt says the Express have been successful with a four-man rotation that includes Justin Hill, Pat Arnold, Chris Hagen and Brooks Marquardt.
		Kimball also has assembled an effective bullpen with Brian Marquardt throwing hard, left-hander Joe Krippner throwing junk and Jeremy Kuechle throwing oddly. (Kuechle is a submarine-style pitcher).
		It has been just enough to keep opponents off balance.
		Offensively, Scott Marquardt has been hot, getting "three or four hits the last two or three games," said Tom Marquardt, his father. "He's hitting close to .500."
		Mike Arnold and Joe Pennertz also are hitting well.
		Defensively, the Express excel with Scott Marquardt catching, brother Brian Marquardt at second and brother Brooks Marquardt in center. Kuechle plays a fine shortstop.
		As for the ballpark, Tom Marquardt figures the team will wait until 2004 to officially open it. But, they hope to at least squeeze in a few games this season.
		Marquardt says he has been working with the local county agricultural extension representative to make sure the grass comes in well. His advice was the longer you stay off it, the better, Marquardt said.
		With the way the Express are playing on the road, they may not want to come back.
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