The Kimball Express entered Region 10C play this past weekend in Cold Spring and won two games. This sets up a showdown Wednesday evening against the Watkins Clippers, with the winner advancing to the 2003 State Amateur Baseball Tournament. Cold Spring The Express opened region play with a 3-0 victory over the Cold Spring Rockies Friday, Aug.1. Kimball scored all three runs in the first inning. Jeremy Kuechle got things rolling with a one-out triple to left centerfield. With two outs, the Express bunched together four of their nine hits on the night to take a 3-0 lead. Mike Arnold singled in Kuechle, and Justin Hill plated two more runs with some timely hitting, slugging his lone hit of the game and bringing Arnold and Aaron Knaus in to score. That was all Express starter Pat Arnold needed as he went the distance throwing a complete game, six-hit shutout. Arnold struck out two and walked one in the win. Jeremy Kuechle led the Express offense going 3-4 with a triple, and Aaron Knaus was 2-4 to aid in the winning effort. Clear Lake The Express were back in action in Cold Spring taking on the Clear Lake Lakers Saturday, Aug. 2. Justin Hill toed the rubber for the Express as he continued his great season on the mound, improving to 9-0. Hill went all nine in his complete game performance, allowing a lone run in the ninth inning. Hill struck out six and walked one on the afternoon. The Express broke open a scoreless tie in the third inning as Jeremy Kuechle drove in two runs with a two-out single to left field, giving Kimball the early 2-0 lead. Those two runs proved to be the difference in the game. However, the Express were not yet done. Mike Arnold led off the fourth inning with a walk and was driven in by brother Pat Arnold as Pat doubled off the wall in left field. In the fifth inning, the Express had three more runs with Mike Arnold capping the inning with some yard work, sending his first pitch at bat sailing over the left-field ivy-covered fence, giving the Express a 6-0 lead. The offensive leaders on the day were the Arnold brothers with Mike going 2-3 with a two-run homer and a double. Mike scored twice and had two RBIs for the day. Pat was 2-4 with a double and an RBI. Jeremy Kuechle was 1-3 with two RBIs in the win. Rail report The wins improve the Express record to 32-5 overall, 2-0 in Region 10C play. The Express now play the Watkins Clippers Wednesday, Aug. 6, with the winner qualifying for state tournament play. Game time is 7:30 p.m. in Cold Spring. Come on out and catch the Express in action as they look for that elusive state tournament berth. The last time the Express advanced past regional play was 1985. See you at the ballpark!
