After the dust settled in 2003, members of the Express baseball team found themselves on a pretty diamond in southeastern Minnesota playing for a state tournament title. Unfortunately, the team lost to the St. Francis Saints, 10-8, in an 11-inning first-round game. The Saints ended what was a memorable season, though it wasn’t as successful as the team would have liked. The early exit gave the team incentive to work hard for a showing in the state tourney in 2004. A promising season All of the starters from last year’s record-setting squad have returned. Thirty-three games are slated for this summer, including two tournament appearances. In June, the Express will participate in the 16-team Miller Lite Invitational in Green Isle and Arlington. They will also play in the St. Cloud Sports Inc. Amateur Baseball Tournament at Joe Faber and Dick Putz Fields. June looks to be the busiest month of the season as 15 games are on the schedule. Though June will be busy, the entire schedule will be tough. Sixteen of those 33 games are league games. There is as much parity in the CVL right now as there has been in recent years, which will make the season very entertaining. The team is excited to have the New Ulm Brewers and the Cold Spring Springers on the schedule. They are two excellent teams with beautiful fields in towns rich in baseball tradition. The Express will honor team sponsors, donors and senior citizens in the game against CVL rival Pearl Lake Lakers Sunday, June 6. Admission for senior citizens that day will be $1. A look at the numbers The Express are looking to build off of last season’s totals: a .277 team batting average, 80 doubles, 245 runs scored with an average of 6.1 runs per game, and 74 stolen bases. This year’s team will once again feature outfielder Mike Arnold (.382 avg, 30R, 16 2b, 1 3b, 6HR, 36 RBI) and catcher Scott Marquardt (.363 avg, 34R, 16 2b, 5 3b, 4 HR, 40 RBI). These two players led the team in most offensive categories last season and will look to do the same this year. Both hit for power as Arnold accumulated a .611 slugging percentage and Marquardt followed suit with a .589 percentage. Shortstop Jeremy “Keeks” Kuechle will look to pick up right where he left off last season. Kuechle caught fire in the middle of the year, leading the team in runs scored (35) and walks (21). Keeks ended the season batting .323 with 11 doubles and came in second with 12 steals. Brooks Marquardt will set his sights on terrifying opposing catchers again this season leading the team with 17 stolen bases. Brooks was beaned by opposing pitchers a team high of eight times last year. The rest of the offense also fared well last year. Joe “Flash” Pennertz ended up with four dingers and scored 22 runs along with 29 RBI. Flash is capable of putting up bigger power numbers, so look for him to do that this season. Aaron “AJ” Knaus was one of three Express players to play in every game last season. AJ hit .282, scored 20 runs, and belted out eight doubles along with 21 RBI. “Mr. Contact” Nate Turck belted a .282 average and scored 25 runs on the season. Nate also led the Express with 11 sacrifices. 2004 defensive team The Express defense will remain much the same as last year. Scott Marquardt will catch, Jeremy Kuechle remains at shortstop, Brian Marquardt is at second with Brooks Marquardt in centerfield, making the Express solid up the middle. The corners of the field will have a familiar look with Nate Turck at third and Joe Pennertz at first. Mike Arnold, Pat Arnold and Aaron Knaus will share time in the outfield again this year. Look for newcomers Aaron Jacobs and Nick Christenson to find their roles throughout the season. Jacobs will be looked upon to play some infield and log innings on the mound. Christenson will roam the outfield. Pitching staff All of last year’s pitchers return to the hill along with newcomer Jacobs. The Express allowed only 2.6 earned runs per game. Opponents batted .230 and hit only six homeruns all year. There is no “stand-out ace” on the staff: Justin Hill won nine games last year, Pat Arnold won 10, and Brooks Marquardt won six. Hill (9-0) led the team with 94.67 innings pitched and a 2.19 ERA. He pitched some very nice ballgames against stiff competition beating the Cold Spring Springers in the team’s May contest. Arnold (10-0) worked 85.33 innings and posted a 2.53 ERA. He looks to build off his best season as a starting pitcher. Brooks Marquardt (6-1) will carry more of the workload this season after he turned some heads in 2003. Brooks posted a team best 2.03 ERA for starters in 53.33 innings pitched. Kris Hagen (4-3) pitched well last year. He allowed 43 runs, only 30 of which were earned. Hagen pitched 57 innings and posted a 4.74 ERA. He will fill a similar role as a starter and relief pitcher. Speaking of relief, lefty Joe Krippner (2-0) will bring his crafty style back to the mound this season. Krippner posted a 2.54 ERA working 28.33 innings. He will once again work in a middle-relief and set-up role. Jeremy Kuechle led the team with a 1.35 ERA, pitching 13.33 innings as a closer. His side-arm style brings a different look to hitters late in a game, and proved effective. Kuechle saved seven games and added one victory last season. Look for Aaron Jacobs to see some time in starting and relief roles. The right-hander has been out of baseball for two years, so keep an eye on him as he adjusts to the amateur game and gets his arm back in shape. Brian Marquardt will also see some innings this year as he works his way into becoming a solid pitcher for the Express. With good pitching and defense, combined with a consistent offense, the Express should find themselves in the thick of things once again this year. Come on out to the ballpark and support the Express as they battle through another fun summer of amateur baseball. All sights are set on Jordan and Belle Plain, hosts for this year’s state tournament.
