EXPRESS LOSE TO ORPHANS, BEAT LAKERS AND BREWERS

May 28, 2006

A busy Memorial Weekend for the Express started off on a sour note but ended nicely as they picked up two CVL wins to cap off a 2-1 weekend.

Friday night the Express traveled to Howard Lake ; this year’s site of the Region 11C tournament. Kimball jumped out early 3-1, but couldn’t hold on as the Orphans tied the game in the seventh inning and in the eighth took the lead 5-3. The Express came back in the top of the ninth inning scoring a run cutting it to 5-4. The game ended on a controversial call as Brooks Marquardt attempted to steal home and was tagged out at the plate on a bang, bang play.

The pitcher hurried his motion to home on the play and it should have been called a balk, but with only one umpire those plays are tough to call. The Orphans walk away with a tough fought win.

Paul Hughes started for the Express and pitched very well going six and a third innings before being relieved by Joe Krippner. Krippner takes the loss.

Saturday the Pearl Lake Lakers of Marty were in Kimball for CVL play. The Express came out on top by a score of 10-8 behind a pitching by committee effort and big day’s at the plate from Scott Marquardt, Aaron Knaus and Brian Marquardt.

The Express jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the first inning, they made it 8-2 after two innings of play. The Lakers battled back in the fifth inning scoring five runs to tie the game at 8-8. The bottom of the fifth inning the Express came right back scoring a run as Pat Arnold singled home Brian Maquardt to put the Express ahead for good. They tacked on one more run in the sixth on an rbi single from Brian Marquardt as he drove in brother Scott Marquardt to make it 10-8.

Jim Brubaker started on the mound for the Express and lasted only two innings as he was relieved by Joe Krippner in the third inning. Brubaker had to leave the game due to a sore arm. Krippner pitched three innings of relief before Nate Turck came on in relief. Turck picks up his first ever amateur win on the mound as he went 4 1/3 innings striking out one and walking one.

Scott Marquardt went 4-5 on the day with a triple and two doubles and scoring three runs. Aaron Knaus was 3-5 with two doubles and four rbi and Brian Marquardt went 3-4 with a double to lead the Express offensively.

Sunday the Luxemburg Brewers made a visit to Veterans Memorial Field in Kimball and left with a 12-5 drubbing from the Express.

Lux jumped out early as they led 2-0 until the bottom of the third inning when the Express exploded for four runs as Jim Brubaker hit an rbi double and Adam Beyer unleashed a bomb into the wind as he connected for a three run homerun giving the Express a 4-2 lead.

The Brewers came back with a run in the fourth inning making it 4-3. However, in the bottom half of the inning the Express answered as Jim Brubaker collected his third hit of the day driving in a pair making it 6-3. Kimball didn’t look back after that as Aaron Knaus blasted a solo shot in the fifth and the Express tallied on four more runs in the sixth and another in the seventh to make it 12-5.

The Express had 19 hits on the day. Jim Brubaker had five of them as he went 5-5 with two doubles. Adam Beyer was 3-4 with a double, home run and four rbi. Aaron Knaus went 3-4 as well with a home run. Sunday’s homeruns were not cheap by any means as there was a strong wind blowing in from left center field. Both hits had some giddy up on them to make it out of the park Sunday.

Paul Hughes started on the mound for the Express. The youngster started two games in three days for the Express. Sunday he picks up the win going six innings striking out six and walking three. Joe Krippner relieved Hughes to start the seventh inning and pitched two innings of shutout ball before Adam Beyer came on in the ninth to finish the game for the Express.

Rail Report

With the flurry of games over the Memorial Day weekend the Express are now 4-1 in CVL play and 7-3 overall. They travel to Litchfield Wednesday evening of this week to face the Blues in non-league play. Game time for Wednesday is 7:30. Sunday they are in St. Augusta to take on the Gussies in CVL play. A 2:00 first pitch is slated.

The long weekend didn’t end without some injuries as Brooks Marquardt messed his left hand up in his attempt to steal home Friday night in Howard Lake. Initial report is no broken bones, but a very bad bruise and possible sprains in three fingers. He didn’t play the rest of the weekend and his return is not known. For now he’s on the shelf.

Saturday the Express will hold their third annual Express Railyard Rookie camp. Youngsters come out for a couple of hours to learn the fundamentals of baseball as the Express players give back to the community.