By Jean Doran Matua, Editor
#2 team Kimball Express hosted #3 St. Augusta Gussies in the first Central Valley League North playoff game, on Saturday, July 24. The Express scored 5 runs in the first two innings of play and, in spite of 3 Gussies runs in the third, the Express stayed ahead the whole game. The Express won the day, 11-4.
This win guarantees the Express a spot in the regional playoffs with the Sauk Valley League. They will play at Watkins Clippers at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 31, to determine which team is #1 and #2 continuing in playoffs.
St. Augusta hosted St. Nicholas on Sunday, July 25. St. Nicholas won, 10-4, to advance as the #3 seed from the CVL North to play the #6 seed from SVL at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 4, at Orthopedic Field in Sartell.
Tommy Friesen led the Express with a pair of doubles and 3 singles for a total 3 RBI. Jordan Joseph hit a pair of doubles and a single for 2 RBI, and Brooks Marquardt hit a double and a single. Austin Ruehle hit 3 singles, for 1 RBI. Matt Friesen hit a pair of singles for 1 RBI. And Ben Johnson hit a single.
Ben Johnson earned the win for the Express. He pitched 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 9 hits, and striking out 8 in the process. Zach Dingmann allowed 1 Gussies run in his 3 innings on the mound, striking out 5. Matt Dingmann pitched 1 inning.
Travis Laudenbach is tagged with the loss for the Gussies. He allowed 7 runs on 10 hits during his 3 innings pitching. Zach Laudenbach allowed another 4 runs on 6 hits during his 5 innings.
Aaron Fruth hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning, and a single as well, to lead the Gussies at bat. Nate Gwost hit a double for 2 RBI. Marcus Lommel hit 3 singles, and Dusty Schulzetenberg and James Anderson each hit a pair of singles for the Gussies.
ST. AUGUSTA AB R H BI
Marcus Lommel 5 1 3 0
D. Schulzetenberg 5 1 2 0
Tyler Bautch 5 0 1 0
Aaron Fruth 4 2 2 1
Nate Gwost 3 0 1 2
Mitch Gwost 5 0 1 1
James Anderson 5 0 2 0
Zach Laudenbach 4 0 1 0
Travis Laudenbach 4 0 0 0
TOTALS 40 4 13 4
KIMBALL AB R H BI
Austin Ruehle 5 3 3 1
Tommy Friesen 6 2 5 3
Jordan Joseph 6 2 2 2
Adam Beyer 4 0 1 0
Joe Pennertz 0 0 0 0
Ben Johnson 5 0 1 1
Scott Marquardt 4 0 0 0
Matt Friesen 5 0 2 1
Cade Marquardt 3 2 0 0
Brooks Marquardt 4 2 2 0
TOTALS 42 11 16 8
R H E
Gussies 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 4 13 5
Express 3 2 2 0 0 0 2 2 x 11 16 1