MANKATO – After facing state tournament teams in the first two games of the season, the Albert Lea Colonels were due for a break in the schedule.

Friday, June 08, 2001

MANKATO – After facing state tournament teams in the first two games of the season, the Albert Lea Colonels were due for a break in the schedule.

They didn’t get one.

The Colonels traveled to Mankato – another state tournament team – and lost 8-1 in a Southern Minny League baseball game Wednesday night.

While it dropped the Colonels to 0-3, it was a big improvement over weekend losses to Minnesota Lake and Apple Valley.

&uot;It was a big change from what we had over the weekend,&uot; said manager Bill Trygstad. &uot;Mankato played their veterans, their starters the whole game. We played well. I was encouraged.&uot;

It could have been much closer if not for a pair of defensive gems by the home team.

In the fourth inning, when the Colonels scored their run, Bryan Baggett and Matt Trygstad singled with no outs. Brett Damerow followed with a screaming line drive that the shortstop snared, competing the double play at second. Ryan Wangen then doubled off the left field fence.

In the sixth, Matt Trygstad singled, Damerow walked and Wangen singled with one out. Tim Davis hit a shot down the line but the third baseman made a diving stop, stepping on the bag and firing to first to nip Davis for another double play.

&uot;If that ball had gone through, it’s probably two more runs and we still have two runners on with one out,&uot; said Bill Trygstad. &uot;We were in the game, I think. The guys played real hard.&uot;

Wangen went 3-for-4, Baggett and Matt Trygstad 2-for-4. Davis and Zac Oquist had one hit each.

Craig Smith took the pitching loss, giving up four runs on three hits in four innings, striking out four and walking four. Two of the runs off him were earned.

Adam Hamberg made his Colonels debut and pitched four innings of solid relief, fanning four and walking one.

The Colonels host Blue Earth at 7:30 tonight.

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Albert Lea 000 100 000 – 1 9 4

Mankato 220 010 12x – 8 11 0