The Pearl Lake Lakers took advantage of five errors to send Kimball reeling as they stole one from the top seed Express in the first round of double elimination Central Valley League playoffs. In Sunday’s game, the Express held a 5-4 lead going in the eighth inning before Brian Voight belted an RBI double down the right field line to score Steve Loesch. This knotted the game at 5-5. In the ninth inning, the Lakers rallied with two outs and scored three more runs to cap off a tremendous come-from-behind victory over the Express. With two outs in the ninth, the Lakers’ Joel Botz drew a walk. Steve Loesch clobbered an RBI double to the left center gap to give the Lakers the lead. Dale Kraemer singled to drive in two more runs to make the score 8-5. Justin Hill started for the Express and pitched very well. He went eight innings and struck out four. He allowed five runs, only three being earned. Brooks Marquardt relieved Hill and pitched the ninth inning. Marquardt recorded two outs before the Lakers rallied in three runs. The lone highlight of the day for the Express was a two-run homer by right fielder Aaron Knaus in the third inning to give the Express a 5-2 lead. After the homerun it seemed as though the Express were content with a three run lead. Dale Kraemer, who relieved starter Brian Hennen, quieted the Express bats giving up only one hit in nearly six innings of work. The win gives the Lakers a chance to qualify for Region 10C play if they can beat the Eden Valley Hawks in Marty, next weekend. Eden Valley beat St. Augusta 8-6 on Sunday. The Express are 25-4 overall and 0-1 in the CVL playoffs. The next game will be Sunday 2 p.m. in St. Augusta against the Gussies with the loser being eliminated from post season play. St. Michael The Express were in exhibition action Wednesday night as they went up against a good St. Michael Saints team. Kimball had to come from behind in this one after they squandered an early 4-1 lead. The Express led 4-1 heading into the bottom of the second inning before the Saints erupted for five runs to take a 6-4 lead. Kimball managed to get one back in the fifth inning and rallied for six more runs in the seventh inning to take the lead at 11-7 and hold on for the win.
