EXPRESS WIN TWO AND DROP WEEKEND FINALE

July 12, 2004

The Cold Spring Rockies visited Kimball Sunday afternoon and beat the Express 11-4 in a wild finish at Kimball Veterans Memorial Field during CVL play.

The Express were in control looking like they would notch their ninth league win of the year as they led 3-1 going into the eighth. Cold Spring tied the game up with two outs in the top of the eighth inning on an Express throwing error that could have ended the inning. The Express came right back in the bottom of the eighth loading the bases with one out but came up empty after a strike out and a fly out to end the threat.

Brooks Marquardt started for the Express and pitched a gem of a game going eight strong innings allowing three runs only one being earned while striking out seven and walking three.

With the game tied going into the ninth inning the flood gates opened as the Rockies unleashed the bats scoring eight runs on six hits. Joe Krippner relieved Brooks to start the ninth. Joe lasted a third of an inning before Jeremy Kuechle came on in relief for the final two thirds of the inning. Krippner takes the loss and the Express go down in flames after having the game in the palm of their hands. A tough one to swallow as the unpredictable season for the Express continues. Kimball out hit the Rockies 11-10 in the game but committed three crucial errors compared to the Rockies one meaningless error.

Offensively the Express were led by Scott Marquardt 2-5 with a double and two rbi, Nate Turck 3-4 and Brian Marquardt 2-4.

Eden Valley

The Express came back from a 5-1 deficit Friday night in Eden Valley as they downed the Eden Valley Hawks 8-5 in Central Valley League action take the season series.

Jeremy Kuechle’s rbi triple scored Brooks Marquardt to tie the game at 5-5 in the fifth inning and a Scott Marquardt triple plated Kuechle to give the Express the lead for good. They added one in the seventh and another in the eighth to make the final score 8-5.

Eden Valley jumped all over Express starter Pat Arnold in the first inning as they scored all five of their runs off four singles and a hits batsman. Arnold settled down after the rocky first and put up zero’s across the board through the next seven innings picking up the win improving his record to 6-1 on the season. Jeremy Kuechle came on in the ninth and recorded his third save of the season.

The Express offense hit the ball hard with four guys hitting triples on the night. Leading the way was catcher Scott Marquardt as he accomplished one of the toughest feats in baseball as he hit for the cycle. Marquardt doubled in his first at bat, homered in his second at bat, tripled in his third at bat and scorched a single in his fourth at bat. This is the first time an Express player has hit for the cycle in recent history. Scott finished the night 4-5 with three rbi and three runs scored. Congratulations to Scottie and his awesome night at the plate, an evening he will never forget.