The Express went into the weekend with an 8-5 overall record; by the time the dust settled Sunday the record stood at 12-5. The Express outscored their opponents 44-13 in four games to capture the 2004 St. Cloud Sports Inc. Amateur Baseball Tournament Saturday-Sunday, June 12-13, at Dick Putz and Joe Faber Fields in St. Cloud. New Munich The Express opened the tournament by playing the New Munich Silverstreaks Saturday, June 12, on Dick Putz Field. Kimball took advantage of five Silverstreak errors and won 8-3. A solid pitching performance by Pat Arnold (4-1) gave Arnold his fourth win of the season. The Express scored five runs in the fourth inning to open up a tight 1-0 game. They added two more in the fifth for a 8-0 lead. Arnold had a shutout game until the sixth inning when he hit the lead-off batter. That, and two errors by the Express, gave New Munich their three runs for the game. Waite Park H.R. Pesty’s The Express took on H.R. Pesty’s of Waite Park in the second game of the tournament Saturday on Joe Faber Field. The Express jumped all over Pesty’s in a game called after five innings because of the 10-run rule. The final score was 12-2. Mike Arnold led the charge with a 430 foot shot over the left centerfield fence. Arnold would later double and finish the evening 2-2 with a HR, 2B, BB and an RBI. Nate Turck collected two hits and scored three runs. Brooks Marquardt was another key contributor with two hits and two runs. Five Express players scored at least two runs in the game evening. Justin Hill was starting pitcher and picked up the win for the Express. Hill pitched masterfully, considering his hectic work schedule and family duties. His presence at the ballpark is welcomed. Hill last pitched two weeks ago against the Watkins Clippers. The Express will need his arm down the stretch. Hill worked all five innings, struck out six, walked one and allowed four hits. St. Cloud Orthopedic The Express were back on Joe Faber Field Sunday to play the St. Cloud Orthopedic Ice in the semifinal round. Kimball came back from a three-run deficit to take their third game in a row 9-3, to advance to the championship game. Kimball had six runs in the fourth inning to take the lead for good. A two-run double by Scott Marquardt and an RBI double off the bat of Aaron Knaus were the big hits of the inning. The score stayed 6-3 until the sixth inning when Scott Marquardt (4-4, 3 2B, 2 RBI) smacked his third double of the game and Mike Arnold had his second solo blast of the tournament. Brian Marquardt drove in Joe Pennertz later in the inning for a final score of 9-3. Pennertz broke out of a little slump, finishing the game 3-4 with two runs and an RBI. Brooks Marquardt pitched the entire game to pick up the win. He allowed five hits and two walks to propel his team to the championship game. O’ Haras The Express bats stayed hot in the championship game against O’Haras. The team collected 15 hits on their way to a 15-5 blowout that ended after six innings because of the six-run rule. The Express unleashed an offensive fiery in the second inning, scoring seven runs. Scott Marquardt had the big hit with a three-run double. They added four more in the fourth, two in the fifth and two more in the sixth inning. Brian Marquardt led the offensive barrage and finished the game 3-3, with three RBIs and a two-run homer in the fifth inning. Scott Marquardt set an Express record as he doubled in five straight plate appearances. His first three doubles were in the game against St. Cloud Orthopedic and the last two in the championship game against O’Haras. Scott finished the day 2-2 with 2 2B, 2 R, and 3 RBI. Pat Arnold went 4-5, scored two and drove in another two. Mike Arnold and Brooks Marquardt each had two hits and two runs. Brooks drove in three runs from the lead off spot. Joe Krippner started for the Express and went three innings. He pitched well through a long second inning before running into some control problems in the fourth. Krippner was relieved by Jeremy Kuechle in the fourth inning. Kuechle went the final three innings to pick up his first win of the season. Krippner struck out three, walked four and gave up four runs. Kuechle allowed one run, struck out one and walked one. Rail Report The weekend win-fest is a welcome event after a rocky first two months of the season. The Express have five losses this season. Four were in league play and one was in exhibition action against the Cold Spring Springers. The Express hope to continue the solid pitching and defense, and hot hitting to put a string of games together before playoffs in July. The Express played the St. Nicholas Nicks Tuesday, June 15. They will be in the Miller Lite Invitational next week in Green Isle and Arlington. The Express’ first game will be in Green Isle at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 19, against Morris. Other area teams participating include Watkins and St. Cloud Orthopedic. Watkins plays in Arlington at 9 p.m. Friday, June 18, against Luverne. St. Cloud Orthopedic also plays Friday at 9 p.m. in Green Isle against Fort Ripley.
