Pat Arnold and Brett Thompson combined on a two-run one hit game on the mound for the Kimball Express in Central Valley League North playoff action as they captured the number one seed outright in the CVL north division beating the Luxemburg Brewers 6-2 at sunny Willow Creek Park and Veterans Memorial Field in Kimball on Sunday. The Express capitalized on three Brewers errors in the first inning to jump out to a 3-0 lead. The Brewers cut into that lead in the third inning as Express starter Pat Arnold walked two and Luxemburg sac bunted them both into scoring position before Arnold gave up the only Brewers hit of the game plating both runners making it 3-2. That is all Arnold allowed the rest of the game as he didn’t allow a runner past first base after the third inning going seven complete innings striking out five and walking three before being relieved by Brett Thompson who came in and pitched scoreless ball for two innings to shut the door on the Brewers. Joe Pennertz led the Express offense as he went 2-4 with a double and an RBI and Jim Brubaker added two hits as well going 2-4 to aid in the winning effort. Rail Report With the win the Express improve their overall record to 21-7, they have captured the regular season CVL North title and the CVL North playoff title gaining the number one seed heading into the Region 11C playoffs. The Region 11C tournament kicks off Friday night, Aug. 3, in Eden Valley where the Express play the Loretto Larks. The Larks ended the Express’ season a year ago in region playoff action. Loretto is the number two seed out of the North Star League’s east division. Watkins and Buffalo play 6 p.m. Friday night before the Express and Loretto game. Other first round games in the first weekend of play are Saturday’s contests with Howard Lake and St. Augusta at 1 p.m., Maple Plain and Luxemburg play at 3:30 p.m. The two losers from the Friday night games will play at 6 p.m. on Saturday evening so one team will be eliminated by Saturday night. Region play is a double elimination eight team tournament with the top two teams advancing to the Minnesota Amateur Baseball State Tournament. Maple Plain and Howard Lake advanced to the state tournament last year out of Region 11C. Both are back this year looking to get back to the state tournament which is held in Norwood and Hamburg. The Express would like to welcome draftees Mitch Denne of the Pearl Lake Lakers and Paul Schreiner of the Cold Spring Rockies to this year’s team. Every year after league playoffs teams get to draft two players for region play. Come on out to the ball park this weekend for some exciting playoff baseball. Pat Arnold
