EXPRESS CLAIM CVL SOUTH TOP SEED; HEAD TO REGIONS

August 4, 2006

A bases clearing double in the fifth inning by Jim Brubaker catapulted the Express as they went on to claim the number one seed out of the CVL South division with a 7-5 victory over the Eden Valley Hawks in CVL playoff action this past Saturday afternoon at hot and steamy Veterans Memorial Field in Kimball.

Brubaker not only led the Express at the plate as he collected three hits in four trips he also came on in relief of starter Pat Arnold in the sixth inning to hold the Hawks at bay after they rallied for three runs to cut into the 7-2 Express lead making it 7-5 before Brubaker came on to coax a fly ball to get the last out of the inning.

The Express jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning. The Hawks tied it up in the third inning at 2-2. The Express took the lead for good in the fourth inning as Brubaker, after being hit by a pitch, scored on an rbi single off the bat of Joe Krippner to give the Express the 3-2 lead. In the fifth the Express blew the game open scoring four runs making it 7-2. The big hit of the inning as mentioned before was Brubakers bases loaded double.

Pat Arnold started on the mound for the Express and went 5 2/3 innings striking out two and walking two to pick up the victory. Brubaker came on in relief and pitched scoreless ball through 3 1/3 innings striking out six to pick up the save.

Rail Report

Next stop for the Express is Region 11C tournament action which will be held in Howard Lake. Kimball plays the Buffalo Bulldogs at 1:00 this Saturday. The eight team region kicks off Friday night at 6:00 with Eden Valley playing Howard Lake. In game two at 8:00 Friday night Watkins and Loretto square off. After the Kimball game on Saturday Maple Plain and Cold Spring will play with a 3:00 first pitch slated.

Kimball takes a 19-11 mark into regional play. The goal, make it to Red Wing and Miesville where the 2006 state amateur baseball tournament will be played. The Express have not made the tourney since 2003 where they lost to St. Francis in the first round.

With a regional berth comes the selection of two draftees. This year the Express pick up a pair of Luxemburg Brewers. Catcher/pitcher Nate Lommel and lefty pitcher Adam Holzheimer. The Express extend a warm welcome to the both of them.