The Kimball Express defeated the Watkins Clippers, 4-2 Wednesday, Aug. 6, at the Cold Spring Baseball Park. Scott Marquardt and Joe Pennertz blasted solo home runs in the top of the ninth inning to break open a game knotted at 2-2. The win gave the Express its first state tournament berth in 18 years. Scott Marquardt led off on the top of the ninth. He sent a first pitch rocket shot over the left field ivy-covered fence, bringing bleachers of fans to their feet. This gave the Express a 3-2 lead. Marquardt kicked the Kimball offense into high gear, going 3-5 with a home run, triple, two RBIs and a run. Last year when the Express faced off against the Clippers for state tournament advancement, Marquardt hit a deep fly ball that a Clipper left fielder caught with his back against the wall, ending the game. If that ball had gotten over the fence the Express would have been on its way to the state tourney. Instead, the team headed home with another heartbreaking loss, 1-0 in 16 innings. This year was pay back. The Express took the lead, and held on in the bottom of the inning to advance. After Marquardt’s lead-off dinger, Mike Arnold and Aaron Knaus both struck out. Joe Pennertz was at a two ball, two strike count before he uncorked a moon shot that sailed high and deep into the darkness, beyond the left field fence. This was only the icing on the cake: the win marked the third consecutive Clipper defeat for the Express this season. The Express got off to an early lead, jumping on ace pitcher Bruce Geislinger in the third inning for two runs. Nate Turck led off with a single and advanced to second base on a wild pitch and then to third on an error by catcher Tom Frericks. He scored on a sac fly by Brooks Marquardt. Jeremy Kuechle then singled, stole second and scored on a single by Scott Marquardt, giving the Express an early 2-0 lead. The Clippers got on the board in the fifth inning. Tim Haines led off with a double. He advanced to second on a bobble in the outfield. Frericks doubled him home to cut the lead 2-1. In the sixth inning, Dan Hagen scored on a Rick Geislinger ground out to second base, and knotted the game at 2-2. It stayed that way until the ninth inning home run barrage by the Express. Pat Arnold (10-0) started on the mound for the Express. He went six innings and allowed two runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked four. Arnold got tired in the sixth inning and struggled with his control the last two. Manager Tom Marquardt then brought in Pearl Lake draftee Dale Kraemer in the seventh. Kraemer allowed one hit and struck out four in three innings of work to seal the victory. The Clippers mounted a serious threat in the bottom of the ninth inning by loading the bases after a single, an error and a walk. Kraemer managed to get two outs before Dan Hagen lined out to center field which ended the game and started a much anticipated Express celebration at the pitcher’s mound. The Express pounded out 13 hits in the victory behind the stellar swinging of Scott Marquardt. Joe Pennertz was 3-5 with a home run, an RBI and a run. Jeremy Kuechle went 3-5 with a stolen base and a run scored. Nate Turck was 2-4, scoring the team’s first run.
