EXPRESS BEAT HOWARD LAKE

July 8, 2004

After a ten day lay off a rejuvenated Kimball Express ball club hit the diamond against the Orphans of Howard Lake and showed few signs of rust as they won their seventeenth game of the season 9-4 in exhibition action Wednesday evening July 7 at Memorial Park in Howard Lake.

Kimball jumped out to a 4-0 lead after three innings and were up 7-1 into the seventh inning before the Orphans rallied for three runs closing the gap to 7-4. The Express added one more in the eighth and another in the ninth to make the final 9-4.

Offensively Scott Marquardt led the way going 3-5 with three rbi’s and belted a triple leading off the two run seventh inning. Pat Arnold also had a good night at the plate going 2-3 with four rbi’s. The big hit coming off Arnold’s bat was a two run double in the seventh inning. Joe Pennertz finished the night 3-5 with two stolen bases. Aaron Knaus also chipped in with a 2-3 night at the plate scoring two runs. 

Pitcher Brooks Marquardt improved to 5-1 on the season as he made his fourth start of the season. Marquardt went five innings allowing two hits and striking out two with no walks. Brooks allowed one run in the fourth inning before being relieved by brother Brian Marquardt in the sixth. Brian pitched an inning of scoreless relief, Joe Krippner relieved Brain and went two innings giving up three runs in a little bit of a rough outing. Krippner recovered well after a rocky seventh as he pitched a scoreless eighth. Jeremy Kuechle came on in the ninth and faced three batters as he slammed the door shut on the Orphans come back hopes.