Tri-County News

Express steam on in playoffs



All eyes are on the ball after Cade Marquardt hits what will be a three-run home run in the third inning, against Becker. Staff photos by George Matua.

Express’ Adam Beyer is out at first base as Becker completes a third-to-first-base double-play.

In their first game in the Region 11C playoffs, the Kimball Express (Central Valley League) shut out the Becker Bandits (Sauk Valley League) Saturday afternoon, Aug. 6, at the host field in Eden Valley.

Cade Marquardt led the Express with his three-run home run in the third inning starting the Express scoring machine. Cade also hit a double for a total of 4 RBI. Tommy Friesen also hit a double. In fact, the Express only had five hits on the day, but scored 12 runs on them. Nineteen Express batters reached first base on either a walk, hit by pitch, or error.

Tommy Friesen earns the win for the Express. He pitched 5 innings, striking out 6 and walking 2. Andy Dingmann continued the shut-out in his 2 innings on the mound.

Andrew Kolbinger takes the loss for the Bandits. He allowed 8 runs on 4 hits, walking 6, and committing 6 errors in his 4 1/3 innings on the mound. Walker Anderson finished up the game, allowing another 4 runs on 1 hit, walking 6, striking out 1, and committing 4 errors.

The Bandits’ 4 hits were singles, with Dalton Fouquette hitting a pair of them.

Kimball’s next game was played Sunday evening, against the St. Joseph Joes. It was called for rain in the fourth inning, with a score of 0-0. That game will resume, starting at the top of the fifth inning, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 12, in Eden Valley. The winner will play Monticello for the championship at noon Saturday, Aug. 13, again in Eden Valley. The top 4 teams in Region 11C will advance to the state tournament that starts the following weekend. The Region 11C champion will go into the state tournament at #1 seed.

The Pearl Lake Lakers defeated the Sartell Stone Poneys on Wednesday, Aug. 3. They then lost to the Sartell Muskies Saturday, Aug. 6. The Lakers will play the Cold Spring Rockies (who lost to the Monticello Polecats) at noon Saturday, Aug. 13, in the “losers bracket.”

BECKER AB R H BI

TOTALS 24 0 4 0

KIMBALL AB R H BI

Austin Ruehle 3 1 0 1

Tommy Friesen 1 2 1 2

Ben Johnson 4 0 1 3

Adam Beyer 3 1 0 1

Cade Marquardt 2 2 2 4

Scott Marquardt 3 1 1 0

Matt Friesen 2 1 0 0

Matt Dingmann 2 1 0 0

Andy Dingmann 1 0 0 0

Brooks Marquardt 1 3 0 1

TOTALS 22 12 5 12

Bandits 0 0 0  0 0 0  0 x x   0 4 3

Express 0 0 3  3 2 4  x x x 12 5 1

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