Express Notes:
The visiting NOLL AAA Express got their first win of the season Saturday, beating the hard-hitting SOLL AAA Thunder 8-7 in a late-afternoon game played in temperatures on the field that felt more like mid-August than mid-March. In true Express fashion, though, it wasn't easy as the Thunder scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull within one run before Ari F closed out the game inducing three of the last four Thunder batters to pop out to the infield, leaving the tying run at third base.

Solid pitching and sure-handed fielding marked the Express's play all day. Tyler J started for the Express and, after giving up some well-hit balls to the first three Thunder batters, struck out four over the first two frames. Tyler helped himself with a quick toss to Liam D at the plate to nail the Thunder runner charging from third to end the bottom of the first.

Aidan D came in to pitch the third and fourth, working around lead-off walks in both innings, yielding only a run. 'Aidan D showed a lot of toughness out there,' said coach Brook after the game. 'I give him a lot of credit for sticking with it even when he wasn't hitting the zone like he usually does.' The Express D was stout behind Aidan. Sam W-S and Sommers D-N turned a nifty double play to end the third, and, in the fourth, Sommers D-N nailed a runner at the plate on a base loaded dribbler to third, saving a run.

After Erik W scored in the top of the first--giving the Express their first lead of the season--and the Express picked up another run in the second, they got the big inning they needed in the fourth. Walks to Sam and Sommers were followed by hits by Tyler, Aidan, and Alex N. Before the inning was over, four Express players had crossed home.

Ari and Alex each drove in a run in the top of the fifth, putting the Express up by four going into the bottom of the fifth and setting the stage for the nail biting finish.