EAU CLAIRE EXPRESS
7th heaven
3 RUN HR SENDS BEARS(EXPRESS) OVER HUSKIES FOR 2 GAME HOME SWEEP
Express' Cadyn Schwabe, dressed in the classic Eau Claire Bears uniform, decides the right field fan deck needed some love during the 7th inning last night in Carson Park.
Duluth up 1-0 with a run scoring in the top of the inning.
2 outs.
Jake Sapien and Clay Conn occupying bases 3 and 1.
Schwabe at the plate.
The pitch.
Schwabe's bat connects and the reverie of 1297 fans - well, most of them, erupt in ovation as the ball soars past the right fielder over the wall onto the fan deck.
No answer from Duluth in the 8th or 9th send the Express into the top spot in the 'last 10 games' column with 9 wins. 7-1 in the second half that started last week.
The Express wrapped up the first half of the season on the 3rd and 4th of July, which rightfully so, ended in fireworks after sweeping the St Cloud Rox at home.
Tonight - the Rox are back. Just as tough as before and also sitting with a 7-1 record in the second half. I can't imagine they aren't hungry. Coming off of a loss last night against La Crosse, plus wanting some revenge on the ending that was just a week and a half ago.
Catch all the action! Get to the field. Have some drinks and some grindage.
Or watch it here - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/nwlexpress/ This is summer baseball at it's finest!
Cayden Schwabe crosses the plate after his 7th inning 3 run home run to put the 'Bears' Express up by 2 ultimately sealing the win. Photos by Branden Nall
EXPRESS ON TRACK WITH STACKS BILLOWING
EAU CLAIRE - Words/Photos by Branden Nall
Overcast skies and humidity rolled into Carson Park during game 2 of the Eau Claire Express vs Mankato Moondogs 2 game stint to start the second half of the season.
The Moondogs came out with bats hot in the 1st finding gaps early providing 2 hits with a pair of back-to-back singles to center and left field. The Express managed to close the inning with no one crossing the plate.
Lobbing one over the right field wall for a home run, Boston Merila of Mankato put the first point on the board followed by an RBI, 3 batters later, Simon Scherry helped add the 2nd tick of the inning.
The Express found themselves with their first run after a second base error allowed Max Coupe to touch home in the bottom of the 3rd. Making the score 2-1.
4 hits and 3 runs in the 5th inning were the last tally marks that would be made on the scoreboard for the Moondogs. The Express had other plans - they chipped away with 2 in the 5th, 2 in the 7th and 1 final run in the 8th to make the final score 6-5.
The Express are on a 4 game hot streak that finds them on the road for the next 4 games facing the Bismarck Larks. They make their way back to Carson Park on Tuesday to take on the first half champs, Duluth Huskies.
Will Rizzo of the Express waves during the game on July 7th in Eau Claire.
Photo by Branden Nall
Alec Baker pitches during the 1st inning on Wednesday in Eau Claire. Photo by Branden Nall
express take game 1, look for sweep
EAU CLAIRE - Words/Photos: Branden Nall
The second half of the Northwoods League season starts with the Express' smoke stakes blazing. A win on Wednesday night at Carson Park sealed 3 in-a-row putting them on top of the Great Plains East Division just a half game above Duluth for the full season.
Alec Baker's first pitch at 6:37 was followed by 5 great innings on the mound with some heat under the blue skies as the clouds dissipated. 92 and 93mph flashed on the outfield speed indicator during his offering.
The 3rd inning offered bats on balls for the Express with 3 runs on 3 separate at-bats coming from Rosengard, Haskins and the UW-Stout star - Szykowny.
A wild pitch from the Express in the 6th allowed 2 Moondogs to score which tallied to 3 after they posted 1 earlier in the night.
3-3 lingered on the board for only 1 inning as Haskins added another RBI on the night for the go-ahead run and closing out the game.
Tonight, the Express are back at Carson for round two against the Moondogs in their 2-game stint before headed on the road until next Tuesday where they are back at home for 4 games in-a-row against Duluth and the Rox. 4 definitive games in their July schedule.
EXPRESS POISED FOR ROUND 2 CLINCH
The Eau Claire express open the second half of the season tonight at home against the Mankato Moondogs with a first pitch set for 6:35.
Coming off of a 2 game win streak against the St. Cloud Rox - the second best team in the Northwoods League - the Express are making their push into part 2 of the 2022 season. The Moondogs finished their first half with an identical 19-15 record as Eau Claire. The Moondogs are in the Great Plains West Division and the Express, the Great Plains East.
1st half stats: W L PCT GB STREAK LAST 10
19 15 .559 - 2 4-6