There were some bright spots for the Albert Lea High School baseball team.

There just weren’t enough of them.

The Tigers played strong defense and some sophomores showed some promise while seeing playing time but Albert Lea managed just one hit in a 9-1 loss to Mankato East Friday. The game was played at Hammer Field because of wet conditions at Hayek Field.

&uot;We’re playing well at times,&uot; said Albert Lea coach Joe Sczublewski. &uot;We just need to put it all together and play smart. Mankato East has a nice team. Their pitcher gave us some trouble, mixing his speeds up well.&uot;

David Rivers, a sophomore right-hander, also kept the Tigers off balance while walking four and striking out five.

The Tigers’ lone hit was a seventh-inning single by Brandon Klukow. He stole second and scored on an error.

The Cougars put four runs on the board in the top of the first inning off Klukow, who pitched five innings and took the loss. He allowed seven runs &045; four earned &045; on 10 hits, with one walk and one strikeout. Derek Goodnature threw two innings in relief, giving up two runs on two hits. He walked one and fanned one.

&uot;Our hitting was pretty much non-existent,&uot; said Sczublewski. &uot;We made some good plays in the field. Mankato East took advantage of Brandon’s mistakes. He left a few balls up in the zone and they took advantage of it.&uot;

Sophomore Brock Sorenson, making his first varsity start, played well defensively at third base, according to Sczublewski.

The Tigers are still looking for their first win of the year as they enter the final week of the regular season. They host Fairmont at 5 p.m. Tuesday, play at Mankato East at 4 p.m. Wednesday, and entertain Rochester John Marshall in a 4 p.m. doubleheader Friday.

Mankato East 9, Albert Lea 1

ME

401

022

0 – 9

12

1

AL

000

000

1 – 1

1

1

LP – Brandon Klukow