After the first weekend of Region 11C playoff action in Eden Valley the Kimball Express find themselves in a bit of a hole after winning game one 4-1 over the Lorreto Larks they lost game two 9-1 to the Buffalo Bulldogs making them have to come through the losers’ bracket to advance to state tournament play. Friday night Jim Brubaker pitched a gem for the Express as he started on the bump. The right hander went all nine innings striking out ten while walking one and didn’t allow a single run until the ninth inning. The Express scored two runs in the fourth inning to take the lead as draftee from Cold Spring Paul Schreiner singled home Joe Pennertz and Adam Beyer. The score would stay 2-0 until the eighth when Adam Beyer doubled home Scott Marquardt and Schreiner picked up his third rbi of the game plating Beyer with a scorching double down the right field line. Schreiner went 2-4 with a double and three rbi to lead the Express offensively. Adam Beyer was 2-4 as well with a double and scored two runs. Buffalo The win Friday night propelled the Express into round two facing the Bulldogs from Buffalo who defeated the Watkins Clippers 5-4 Friday night. Buffalo’s draftee pitcher Jason Holker from Monticello kept the Express lumber in check all day long. The right hander went eight complete innings scattering seven hits picking up the victory as the Bulldogs handled the Express easily by a 9-1 margin. The Express scored their lone run in the bottom of the second inning as Brian Marquardt doubled to deep left center field scoring Paul Schreiner giving the Express the early lead. That lead was short lived as the Bulldogs came back in the top of the third scoring two runs which was all they needed. It was a 2-1 ball game until the seventh inning when Buffalo got two more runs across and then in the eighth inning the Express watched the Bulldogs nickel and dime them to death with small ball as they scored five more runs to put it out of reach. The Bulldogs had one extra base hit all day. They now advance to round three with a chance to qualify for state tournament play with a win next Saturday. Brooks Marquardt started for the Express. Brooks went 6 2/3 innings striking out one and hitting two while giving up four runs on five hits. Draftee from Pearl Lake Mitch Denne came on in relief of Marquardt in the seventh inning and went 1 2/3 innings before Pat Arnold entered the game to pitch the ninth. Rail Report The Express now play Friday night at 8:00 against the Luxemburg Brewers. They will now need to win three in a row to advance to state tournament play. Win Friday and two games on Saturday and they are in.
