EXPRESS CLINCH HOME FIELD THROUGHOUT CVL PLAYOFFS

July 4, 2006

With wins over St. Nicholas and Luxemburg this past week the Kimball Express have wrapped up the Central Valley League South division and will have home field advantage throughout the 2006 CVL playoffs.

Sunday the Express traveled to Luxemburg to take on the Brewers and dished out a little drubbing medicine of their own as they rocked the Luxemburg team 20-5, coming back nicely after last weekends 20-4 loss to Watkins.

What was a close game going into the fifth inning with the score 4-3, the Express erupted for 16 runs in the next four innings to walk away. Joe Krippner led the way offensively going 4-5 hitting a two run homerun in the top of the ninth as the Express scored six times in the inning. Brian Marquardt got the scoring going for the Express in the second inning as his solo shot faded into the oak trees down the left field line.

Aaron Knaus and Jim Brubaker aided in the 23 hit barrage both collecting four hits with one double a piece. Matt Dingman started and picks up his second win on the year going five innings striking out five and walking five while allowing three runs. Nate Turck came on in relief of Dingman to start the sixth and Brubaker pitched the eighth and ninth innings to end it for the Express.

St. Nicholas

Thursday evening the Express were in Watkins to take on the St. Nicholas Nicks with the Nicks being the home team on the scoreboard. Kimball came out on top 4-3 in another close game with the Nickerbockers. 

The Express were up 4-0 in the eighth inning before the Nicks scored three runs to cut into that lead. Pat Arnold was on the mound for the Express going eight innings striking out three, walking three and allowing three runs before Jim Brubaker came on in the ninth to get the save.

Ramsey Simons and Aaron Knaus lead the team offensively both collecting two hits. Adam Beyer had an rbi double in the two run sixth inning for the Express and Brian Marquardt hit the ball hard all night finally getting one to fall in the eighth, scoring two on a double which proved to be the game winning hit.

Rail Report

The wins clinch the CVL south division title giving the Express home field advantage throughout the league playoffs which is new this year. At the spring league meeting managers and league officials decided to reward the top two teams in each league giving them home field advantage for winning their respective division. This gave teams incentive to take league games more serious with having home field on the line for the playoffs. Before every team was guaranteed at least one home game.

For the Express to be able to play all home games for the playoffs is huge. Playing on the nice surface Veterans Memorial Field has and not having to travel is key come playoff time.

The Express now stand at 10-3 in CVL play and 14-9 overall. They have one remaining CVL contest and that is at home this Sunday against the Cold Spring Rockies at Veterans Memorial Field and Saturday the Express travel to Freeport to take on the Black Sox. Both games are to start at 2:00.