January 7, 2005

The general belief of amateur baseball fans and players in Minnesota is that the months that seem to suck the most in the off season are January, February and March. These months are long, cold and boring. However, with it being as bad as it is during this time frame there are a few events to get us through these months. Those being are the NFL playoffs, ice fishing trips, the beginning of spring training, March Madness and knowing that the amateur baseball season is just around the corner.

To add to the events stated, here is an off season look at the Kimball Express to give baseball people who follow amateur ball in Minnesota something to read other than those team message boards.

Field Improvements

Due to the lack of funds the improvements slated for the fall of 2004 were postponed until the fall of 2005. The infield playing surface will be re-vamped along with adding a sprinkler system next fall. Other improvements on the agenda pending cash flow will be new dugouts, new backstop, new fence down the lines and foul poles. The field did see the erecting of a new scoreboard last summer which has been a long awaited addition to the field and also new at the field was music for the first time ever as a new sound system was purchased. The only thing missing was a full time PA announcer. Anyone interested please contact any Express member.

Player News

As of right now it looks as though all players will return for 2005 along with the possibility of a few new faces who will be announced at a later date if they decided to sign on for the season. First baseman Joe Pennertz is rehabbing an ailing arm condition and hopes to be able to throw the ball pain free this summer, maybe being able to pitch a few innings. Youngster Paul Hughes is coming off knee surgery after tearing his ACL during the Kimball Cubs football season this past fall. His return to the diamond sounds very promising this spring as we wish him a great senior season and many great summers of baseball to come with the Express. Brooks Marquardt almost had his eye shot out by a paintball last fall. Just after the season ended he was paint balling with some college buddies as they celebrated a bachelor party when the incident occurred. He has recovered nicely and is looking forward to the upcoming season.

New Look

The Express will be adding a new look to their wardrobe this summer as they are in the middle of designing a new dark mesh uniform to complement the sleeveless gray tops they now sport. With playing in a couple of tournaments and on back to back days over the course of the summer it will be nice to have another uniform to be able to throw on to give the team a different look.

Family News

First, some birth announcements are in order as proud parents Jeremy and Alisha Kuechle and their oldest daughter Cailyn, welcomed home daughter number two, Ellie. Congrats to the Kuechle family. Pat and Leslie Arnold are proud first time parents as they are now enjoying their little bundle of joy Hallie Marie, who was born December 7^th.

Joe and Sarah Krippner along with Mike and Leah Arnold are expecting their first child in March. Joe and Jen Pennertz along with son Joey are expecting their second in April. To round out the baby boom is Scott and Amanda Marquardt as they are expecting again in late summer. This will be the Marquardt’s third child. Awaiting at home are big brother Cade and big sister Addie.

So in all six new fans will be cheering on the Express by the end of the summer. On a bit of a different note Aaron Knaus is biting the dust as he and long time girlfriend Jenny Sathre are now engaged. Congratulations to both of them as they will begin a new life together.

In a nutshell this sums up the off season happenings of the Express. The team is looking forward to warm summer nights under the lights and sunny Sunday afternoons as the season can’t come fast enough and never lasts long enough. Here’s to summer.