EXPRESS PLAYOFF BOUND

July 9, 2007

Corn fields are starting to tassel out and town festival’s are in full swing which can mean only one thing and that is the end of the Central Valley League regular season and the competitive and exciting CVL playoffs looming around the corner. The Kimball Express rounded out the regular season last weekend with two more wins finishing the season on top of the Central Valley League South Division and claiming home field advantage throughout CVL playoffs.

St. Nicholas was the first to fall in defeat to the Express by a score of 14-5 on Friday night in Cold Spring as the two teams made up and earlier season rain out.

Brett Thompson (4-2) picked up his fourth win of the year on the mound for Kimball as the young right hander went six complete innings striking out six allowing five runs, only four were earned runs.

The Express offense set the tone early jumping out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning. It was 7-0 after three innings of play. It was pretty much station to station for the offense as only four of their sixteen hits on the night were for extra bases, all being doubles.

The game was never close as after five innings it was 11-3 with the final being 14-5. The Express offense was led by Brian Marquardt and Joe Pennertz. Marquardt finished the night 3-6 with a double and two rbi and Pennertz was 2-4 with a double a walk and three rbi. Brooks Marquardt also collected three hits and Brett Thompson helped himself as he went 2-2 at the plate with a double on the evening.

Eden Valley

The Express were host to the Eden Valley Hawks on Sunday afternoon for the final CVL regular season game of the season and the Kimball nine came out on top with a 3-1 victory that was shortened to five innings due to rain.

Brooks Marquardt (5-1) went all five innings picking up his fifth win of the season allowing one run on four hits and striking out four.

The Express jumped out early once again plating two runs in the first inning on an rbi single off the bat of Pat Arnold and an rbi double from Joe “Flash” Pennertz. The Express added to the 2-0 lead in the third inning when Scott Marquardt belted his third homerun of the season, a towering solo shot over the centerfield wall making it 3-1. The Hawks scored a run in the top of the third inning.

The game made it into the bottom of the sixth inning before the rain came to halt play. The Express actually extended that lead to 6-1 before the game was called. Since the sixth inning was not complete, the game reverts back to the last completed inning. All stats after the fifth do not count.

Joe Pennertz and Scott Marquardt lead the Express offensively both collecting extra base hits in the game.

Rail Report

The playoffs are upon us and the Express are loaded for bear as they bring the best league record into post season play and they have won 14 out of their last 16 games. However anything can happen in post season play. It is a new season and the Express are excited to embark on the 2007 playoff campaign.

All sights are set on winning the CVL South division playoffs and qualify for Region 11C play which will be held in Eden Valley this year.

To start playoff action the Express are host to the Luxemburg Brewers this Sunday with a 2:00 start. The Express are the number one seed and the Brewers are the number four seed. The Express swept the regular season series with the Brewers 2-0. Playoffs are a double elimination format, so the Express need to win two games to qualify for Region 11C play.

The Express finish the regular season with a league record of 12-2, they still have a few non-league contests throughout the CVL playoffs as they play in Howard Lake, a potential Region 11C opponent if both squads qualify, this Friday night at 7:30 and they will also travel to St. Michael and Maple Lake to keep the sticks and arms fresh throughout the playoffs.

Come on out to the ballpark for some exciting baseball action and cheer on the home town Express.