| The Express had another busy week as they played four games, winning three of the four. On Wednesday night the Express lost to the Eden Valley Hawks 14-7 in a CVL matchup. Friday and Saturday evenings the local boys of summer were in action in Howard Lake playing in the Good Neighbor Days tournament. The Express took first place as they beat the Mayer Blazers Friday night 3-1 and on Saturday night in the championship they took care of the Winsted Wildcats 2-0 to win the tournament for the fifth time in six appearances. |
| Eden Valley |
| The Express jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning with Brian Marquardt?s two run triple capping off the inning. Things looked as if the Express were going to have a good night at the plate. It only took one inning for the Hawks to squash any hopes of a route for the Express as Eden Valley exploded for eight runs on ten hits to take an 8-4 lead. The Hawks added a single run in each of the next two innings to make the score 10-4. Kimball would make a dent in that lead getting as close as 10-7 before the Hawks tallied four more runs on the scoreboard in the eighth inning making the final 14-7. |
| Kris Hagen (4-2) started for the Express and took the loss. He was relieved by Joe Krippner in the fifth inning. Krippner would finish the game on the mound for the Express. Joby McCann pitched all nine innings for the Hawks, picking up the complete game victory. There was a total of three triples hit in the game for both teams. Two for the Hawks and one for Kimball. Eden Valley?s centerfield fence is 408ft deep. |
| Good Neighbor Days Tourney |
| The Express won their first round game beating the Mayer Blazers 3-1 behind a great pitching effort from right hander and staff ace Justin Hill (5-0). Hill struck out seven, allowed zero walks and gave up one run scattering seven hits in seven innings. All games were seven inning games. |
| The Express scored two runs in the third inning and added one in the seventh. Scott Marquardt was 2-3 with an rbi to lead the Kimball offense. |
| In the championship game the Express met the Winsted Wildcats. The Express played great defense and got another solid pitching performance from Brooks Marquardt (4-0). Marquardt pitched shut out baseball giving up only six hits. No Wildcat base runner advanced past second base. Marquardt was also named tournament MVP for his fine pitching performance. |
| The game itself was a great one as the score was tied 0-0 going into the seventh and final innings. The Express rallied for two runs in the top of the seventh inning as Joe Pennertz led off with a single. Mike Arnold followed with a double. Aaron Knaus knocked in what was the game winning run with a single to right center. Arnold scored on a infield error by the Wildcats. |
| The Express have won this tournament five out of the six years they have played in it. |
| St. Augusta |
| The Express avenged a 9-4 whooping they received from the Gussies two weeks ago as they beat St. Augusta 6-1 on a hot muggy Sunday afternoon in St. Augusta. |
| Jeremy Kuechle was 3-5 with two doubles a run scored and had a stolen base to lead the Express offense. Mike Arnold and Aaron Knaus both recorded doubles and Joe Krippner was 2-3 rounding out the offensive highlights for the Express. |
| Pat Arnold (6-0) got the start for the Express on the mound. Arnold went all nine innings giving up one run on eight hits. He walked one and struck out two Gussies. Arnold?s complete game shutout bid was dashed in the bottom of the ninth as he gave up a single to Doug Laudenbach. Laudenbach scored on a two out double by Tom Fuchs that was just out of the reach of leftfielder Mike Arnold?s glove. Mike gave a valiant effort making a Pete Rose like dive going for the ball. |
| The win gives the Express an 11-2 record in the CVL and a 19-3 mark overall. |
| Rail Report |
| Coming up for the Express this week is four more games as they are in Buffalo Wednesday, Paynesville Thursday taking on Lake Henry, Elrosa Friday night and they will play their first home game of the year on Sunday against CVL rival Watkins!! Sunday?s game is at 2:00. |
| Express Capture Good Neighbor Days |
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