The statistics were more impressive than the win-loss record for the 2001 Albert Lea American Legion baseball team.

Tuesday, August 14, 2001

The statistics were more impressive than the win-loss record for the 2001 Albert Lea American Legion baseball team.

Post 56, which finished 8-16 this summer, had a very respectable team batting average of .290 and a team earned run average of 3.83.

&uot;We lost a number of close games,&uot; said coach Dell Dooley. &uot;And in several others, we were only a hit or a defensive play away from winning. The guys played hard.&uot;

Adam Hamberg posted the best numbers, batting .478 with four doubles, two home runs and 21 runs batted in. He had a team-high .527 on-base average.

At times Hamberg was literally unhittable on the mound, pitching a no-hitter against Waseca while finishing 4-4 with a 1.55 ERA. He struck out 51 and walked 15 in 54 2/3 innings.

Though his 3-4 record doesn’t show it, Isaac Walton was also tough on the mound. The left-hander threw 37 innings, striking out 49 and walking 14 while compiling a 3.22 ERA. Walton batted .279 with a team-high three triples and only one strikeout in 68 at-bats.

Jay Link was another all-around standout, batting .344 with three doubles and 14 RBIs. He had a 3.61 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 31 innings on the mound.

Phil Wacholz was second on the team offensively, batting .382 with five doubles and an on-base average of .452.

David Dahl led the team with 71 at-bats and eight walks. Alan Attig had a team-high 16 stolen bases.

Hamberg, Dahl and Attig played in all 24 games.

The rest of the 2001 squad included Adam Highum, Isaiah Parry, Scott Hoeg, Cole Tlamka, Kyle Hofmeister, Jordan Stadheim, Wayne Zerck, Adam Lares, Matt Bracker and Derek Anderson.