Several times this season, especially lately, the Albert Lea Colonels have let leads slip away and lost baseball games they felt they should have won.

Sunday, August 01, 1999

Several times this season, especially lately, the Albert Lea Colonels have let leads slip away and lost baseball games they felt they should have won. They were also winless in Southern Minny League play. All that changed Thursday night.

The Colonels made sure their lead was large enough, pounding out 21 hits while defeating Faribault 19-3 at Hayek Field in the final game of the regular season.

The Colonels, 1-11 in the league and 4-15 overall, are seeded sixth among six teams in the postseason. They start tournament play tonight with a 7 p.m. game at Waseca.

Manager Bill Trygstad said Thursday’s win was just what the team needed heading into the playoffs.

&uot;It’s a good game to end the regular season,&uot; said Trygstad. &uot;I think we got a little confidence heading into Sunday. I don’t think Waseca is unbeatable. They’re 20-5, but they’ve won a lot of close games. I definitely think we can play with them.&uot;

It would have taken some effort to play with the Colonels Thursday, when they sent 20 batters to the plate while scoring 14 runs in the fifth inning. The first 15 hitters reached base on a combination of 11 hits, two walks, an error and a hit batsman. Dan Lee had three hits in the inning, Matt Trygstad and Ryan Wangen two apiece.

Bill Trygstad wasn’t sure exactly how long the Colonels were at-bat.

&uot;I don’t remember,&uot; he said. &uot;It took a long time. Their starting pitcher just got tired in the heat, and their reliever didn’t have much control. Their third guy finally got us out.&uot;

All 21 of the Colonels’ hits were singles.

&uot;I don’t know if I’ve ever seen that before,&uot; said Bill Trygstad. &uot;I also don’t think I’ve seen one player with three hits in an inning before.&uot;

The Colonels went on to add four runs in the bottom of the sixth, ending the game by the 10-run rule after seven innings.