The Albert Lea Knights 9-and-under traveling team made its debut at the Hardees’s Early Bird Classic held in Mason City on May 2-3.

The Albert Lea Knights 9-U finished with a record of 3-1 and a second-place finish.

The team started out strong in its first two games Saturday, defeating the Fort Dodge Tarheels 11-1 in a 10-run, four-inning game with an outstanding pitching effort from Brady Solie.

The Knights played the River City Rebels and defeated them 12-1 with a strong pitching and hitting effort from Brock Hammer and a three-run single by Gavin Ignaszewski.

The Knights outscored their opponents 23-2 on the first day of the tournament.

Undefeated after the first day Albert Lea met the undefeated Mason City Newman Cardinals.

The Knights defeated the Cardinals 10-9 with a game-winning walk-off hit by Jaeger Classon in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Jessie Hernandez picked up the win as pitcher.

Noah Habana had a two-run hit in the fifth inning to help the Knights’ comeback.

Both teams would meet up again in the championship game with a another nailbiter.

With two outs and runners on second and third Spencer Chicos hit a line drive that was snared by Newman to end the game and the Knights’ championship hopes.

“Our kids played with so much heart and class this weekend and I am so proud of them,” Head Coach John Ball said.

“We really didn’t know what to expect going into the weekend,” Assistant Coach Tom Sorenson said, “But now we know we got some ball players and it will be an exciting year.”