MILLER LITE INVITE NOT SO INVITING

June 25, 2006

This past week was not so good for the Express as they dropped two, the first game against the Cold Spring Rockies in CVL action on Tuesday night and the second game the Express lost to the Morris Eagles in the first game of the Miller Lite Invitational in Green Isle on Saturday.

Saturday afternoon the Express were ousted after their first round loss to the Morris Eagles as they fell behind early and couldn’t make it up.

Morris jumped out early against the Express scoring three runs in the first. It was 5-0 after three innings of play before the Express rallied for four runs to cut the lead to 5-4. However, that would be as close as they would get with Morris coming back in the fourth inning scoring two more to make it 7-4 and that is how it ended.

The Express were guaranteed two games in the tournament but after two inches of rain pushed back games from Friday night and another inch and a half of rain cancelled all games from Saturday afternoon on into the evening, the tournament officials decided to cancel the loser’s bracket of the tournament and just play the winners bracket on Sunday. So the Express were one and done.

The St. Cloud Orthopedic Ice took the tournament for a good showing from one of four area teams. Watkins and Litchfield also made the trip down south.

Last Tuesday evening the Express traveled to Cold Spring to take on the Rockies in Central Valley League play and came up on the short end of a close game losing to the Rockies in the bottom of the ninth inning by a score of 4-3.

The Express held the lead 3-1 until the seventh inning when the Rockies managed to tie it up. Brian Marquardt started and pitched very well for the Express. This was his second outing of the year on the mound. Jim Brubaker came on in relief of Marquardt and takes the hard luck loss.

Rail Report

The Express are now 9-8 overall and 6-2 in CVL play, they are still holding down first place in the CVL South Division. This week the Express schedule shakes out like this. Wednesday night in Watkins they will play the St. Nicholas Nicks with a 7:30 first pitch slated. Saturday afternoon in Kimball they host the St. Augusta Gussies at 2:00 and on Sunday also at 2:00, the Watkins Clippers come to Veterans Memorial Field to round out a full week of Central Valley League action for the Express.