MINNESOTA LAKE &045; With storm clouds looming in every direction, the Albert Lea Colonels knew they had to play well early.

It went as planned.

The Colonels plated five runs in the first two innings and went on to win 5-1 in a rain-shortened non-league game at Minnesota Lake Monday night.

&uot;It was one of those games where you were watching the weather almost as much as you were watching the game,&uot; said Colonels manager Bill Trygstad. &uot;It was like it was storming everywhere around us.&uot;

But the rains held off until the bottom of the fifth, making the outcome official.

&uot;It’s nice to get a win, even though it’s a five-inning game,&uot; said Trygstad, whose team improved to 5-8.

The Colonels took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, when Aric Attig and Derek Goodnature hit RBI singles.

In the second, Jay Link singled and scored on a ground out by Justin Kohn, and Jeff Schulz knocked in a run with a base hit.

Albert Lea had six players with one hit each: Attig, Goodnature, Link, Schulz, James Gonzalez and Ryan Wangen.

Schulz pitched all five innings for the Colonels, giving up only one hit, with two walks and five strikeouts. The Lakers’ lone run was unearned.

&uot;Jeff pitched a real nice game for us,&uot; said Trygstad.

The Colonels host Blue Earth tonight, travel to New Richland Thursday and entertain the Austin Athletics Friday night. The Rochester Blues and Faribault Lakers come to town for weekend games.

Colonels 5, Lakers 1

AL

320

00 &045; 5

6

1

ML

001

00 &045; 1

1

3

WP &045; Jeff Schulz

(Contact Jim Lutgens at sports@albertleatribune.com or 379-3437.)