For awhile, it looked like the Albert Lea Colonels might pull off an upset against Waterville Wednesday.

Thursday, July 29, 1999

For awhile, it looked like the Albert Lea Colonels might pull off an upset against Waterville Wednesday. With a record of 15-6, many coaches are saying Waterville will reach the state tournament this year.

That may be true, but the 3-15 Colonels appeared just as good, taking the lead in the second inning and not relinquishing it until the sixth.

Unfortunately, that’s when Waterville scored six runs to take the 10-7 lead. The Colonels would lose by the same score.

&uot;This is a game where we played a good team and we played competitive ball,&uot; said Albert Lea coach Bill Trygstad. &uot;That’s good. But we let it slip away in the sixth.&uot;

Waterville started early, scoring four runs in the top of the first.

The Colonels answered with seven runs in the bottom of the second, but neither team would score again until the sixth when Waterville scored its game-winning six runs.

The Colonels had seven runs on 15 hits and committed three errors. Waterville scored 10 runs on 13 hits and had two errors.

Trygstad said the story of the game was Albert Lea stranded 11 runners and didn’t get key hits after the second inning.

&uot;The guys are a little frustrated,&uot; he said of his team.

At the plate, Brett Damerow led the Colonels with a 3-for-4 performance with one RBI.

His brother, Chad Damerow, was 3-for-5, also with one RBI.

Other hitters: Ryan Wangen, 2-for-5, one home run, two RBIs; and Lon Sorenson, 2-for-4, a double. Six Colonels finished with one hit each.

Ryan Long pitched the first five and a third innings.

He gave up five earned runs on eight hits and four walks. He struck out six batters.

He was relieved by Adam Benson, who pitched the remainder, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk.

Benson had eight strikeouts.

The Colonels host Faribault tonight at Hayek Field and start the playoffs Sunday at Waseca against Waseca in the double-elimination tournament.

&uot;Obviously we go into the playoffs underdogs, but we’re capable of playing these teams,&uot; Trygstad said.

Note: In another close game, the Colonels lost 5-7 to Owatonna Monday.

&uot;We’ had a 5-2 lead in the eighth, but they scored five runs in that inning,&uot; the coach said.

In this game, Lon Sorenson and Jeremy Delger each had two hits and one home run.