JORDAN – Sometimes all you need is one. Sometimes you might need more. The Kimball Express know that all too well.
Back in 2017, Scott Marquardt gave the Express a state title with one swing of the bat. In their second-round matchup against Foley Saturday, Kimball thought maybe one big hit was enough again. It just happened to be that it wasn’t.
A pitcher’s duel throughout, it looked as if Kimball was well on its way to another Labor Day weekend appearance thanks to some clutch hitting early on. The Lumberjacks had other plans but the Express didn’t panic and responded in a big way with a 4-3 win in 10 innings over Foley at the Jordan Mini Met.
In the top of the second inning, Brooks Marquardt came through in a big way for Kimball by clearing the bases with a two-out double for a 3-0 lead. That one swing looked like it might be enough for the Express with the way Ben Johnson and company were rolling on the mound.
The Lumberjacks, champions of Region 8C, threatened to battle back though. Foley had the bases loaded with just one out and looked to cut into the deficit. Johnson and the Express wouldn’t allow that to happen as he delivered two huge strikeouts to keep the lead intact for Kimball heading to the seventh inning.
After neither team got anything going in the seventh, Foley threatened to rally again in the bottom of the eighth. The Lumberjacks once again had the bases loaded, this time with no outs, and couldn’t find a way to get a run across against Monticello draftee Brock Woitalla and the Express got out of danger once again.
With its back against the wall, Foley mustered one last rally in the bottom of the ninth trailing by three. After beating out a double play to keep the game alive, Charles Hackett delivered for the Lumberjacks with a two-out, three-run home run to tie the game and send it to extra innings.
Despite blowing a three-run lead, there was never any panic for the Express. After getting the final out in the bottom of the ninth inning, Kimball retook the lead in the top of the 10th. Austin Ruehle reached on an error to open the inning and later scored on an RBI single by Matt Frieser to put the Express back in front. Kimball retired the Lumberjacks in order in the bottom of the 10th to secure its spot on the final weekend of the Class C state tournament. For the game, Foley left 11 runners on base.
With the win, Kimball advances to the round of 16 where it’ll take on the winner of Le Sueur and Bird Island.
Fairmont 14, Farming 4
JORDAN – Coming off a win in which Farming knocked off the defending state champions, the Flames had their sights set on doing the same to another recent state champion. Taking on Fairmont, Farming was unable to keep things rolling as the Martins ran away with things late to secure a spot in the final weekend with an 14-4 win over the Flames at the Jordan Mini Met Saturday night,
It wasn’t easy early on for the Martins. Fairmont, the 2020 Class C state champions, held a 1-0 lead through three innings. That all changed in a big way in the third inning as Farming struck for three runs to take its first lead of the game.
The Martins wasted no time in getting those runs back answering with three runs of their own in the bottom half to retake the lead. From that point on it was all Martins as they would add on two more runs in the fight and three more in the sixth to pull away for the win.
Derek Schoen had a big day at the plate to lead the Martins to the win. He had four hits to go along with three RBI to set the tone offensively. Jon Traetow and Spencer Chirpirch each added two hits apiece.
For Farming, Isaac Nett had two hits to lead the way.
Fairmont advances to the final weekend where it will take on the winner of Nisswa and Sartell. Nisswa was the 2022 Class C state champion.
