Albert Lea VFW baseball coach Jack Kortan joked after Monday’s doubleheader that he wished he could have pitcher Cole Sorenson start every game because nearly every time he takes the mound it’s another win for his team.

Sorenson pitched his fourth complete-game shutout of the season in a 2-0 win over Kasson-Mantorville to preserve Post 447’s chance of hosting a home playoff series. Albert Lea won the second game 12-2 in five innings as well. The top four teams in the league get to host a home playoff series and Albert Lea (13-6, 8-2) needed a win to remain with the top four following a loss to Austin Sunday. Another loss would have put the team in jeopardy of missing the final spot.

Sorenson struck out 10 in his seven innings, giving up just four hits and walking three.

Sorenson worked out of jams in the fifth and sixth innings when Kasson-Mantorville two runners on. In the fifth with runners on second and third and one away, Sorenson struck out the next batter and induced a ground ball out to end the inning.

In the sixth the leadoff hitter walked and reached third base after No. 4 hitter Zach Schreiber collected an infield single. Sorenson came back and struck out the No. 5 hitter to end the inning.

“It feels good because it puts us in a better position for standings and be able to host at Albert Lea,” Sorenson said of his start.

The key has been his control and the confidence he has gained in his curveball this season, Kortan said.

Only one team in the league has scored an earned run against Sorenson this season and that was the Rochester Spartans, who are the league-leaders. Those runs came in the seventh and eighth innings.

“He knew this year he would have to step up,” Kortan said. “He doesn’t want anybody to score, that’s his mentality.”

Kasson-Mantorville starter Lucas Unger was just as tough through the first five innings, but in the sixth Post 447 took advantage of an error to start the inning to score two runs.

Connor Kortan reached on an error to lead off the inning and J.T. Bellrichard followed with a double for his third hit of the game. After an intentional walk to Aaron Klatt to load the bases, Sorenson hit an infield single to score Kortan. Josh Eisenbraun followed with a suicide squeeze to score Bellrichard.

In the second game the Albert Lea offense came through with eight hits to carry the team to victory.

Post 447 pushed four runs across in the first as an error and two walks hurt Kasson-Mantorville. Albert Lea also stole six bases in the inning. Josh Eisenbraun had an RBI single and Cory Hansen hit a sacrifice fly to left to score a run.

Post 447 drew six walks in the game and Carter Kortan scored three time, going 1-for-1 with two walks.

Klatt ended the game in the fifth with shot that hit the fence in left field for a two-run double.

Cody Haaland picked up the win on the mound, throwing four innings of three-hit ball. He allowed one earned run and struck out three.

Albert Lea faces Northfield Tuesday in Northfield.

Albert Lea 2, Kasson-Mantorville 0, Game 1

Kasson-Mantorville 000 000 0 — 0 4 2

Albert Lea 000 002 x  — 2 4 2

WP — Cole Sorenson 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K

LP — Lucas Unger 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Albert Lea 12, Kasson-Mantorville 2, 5 innings, Game 2

Kasson-Mantorville 101 00x x —  2 3 4

Albert Lea 414 03x x — 12 8 2

WP — Cody Haaland 4 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 3 K

LP — Chris Acken 2 2/3 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K