Tigers throttle Triton, Byron to win tournament

For the second time in three years, the Albert Lea softball team won the four-team St. Clair Tournament.

Haley Harms and Megan Kortan extended their hitting streaks to seven games, and the Tigers crushed Byron 11-0 in the championship and Triton 10-2 in the first round Saturday at St. Clair.

“It’s a nice confidence builder to win the tournament and bring the plaque home,” said Albert Lea coach Dan Harms. “If we keep progressing, we should have a great rest of the season.”

Albert Lea (5-2, 3-2 Big Nine) is off to its best start since Minnesota-Scores.net started keeping records a decade ago. During that span, the Tigers posted a winning record through the first seven games twice: this year and two years ago when the team started 4-3.

Consistent hitting has been part of Albert Lea’s success. Harms leads the team with 14 hits in 27 at-bats for a .519 average. Kassi Hardies leads the team with four doubles and 11 RBIs to go with a .500 batting average.

At the St. Clair Tournament, Hardies was a combined 6-for-8 with six RBIs.

“Our numbers are good, and Kassi is really coming on strong for us,” coach Harms said.

Against Triton, the Tigers scored two runs in the bottom of the first and pulled away in the fourth with five runs to take a 9-1 lead.

Albert Lea’s Hanna Schilling took the win from the pitching circle after facing 33 batters with six hits, one earned run, four walks and three strikeouts.

Three Tigers had multiple hits. Hardies led the team with three hits, and Kortan and Harms each added two.

In the championship game, Albert Lea built a 7-0 lead in the second inning and shut out Byron.

Harms earned the pitching win after facing 17 batters with five hits, no runs, one walk and five strikeouts.

Hardies led the Tigers at the plate with three hits. Harms and Meliza Lopez added two hits each.

Waiting on Albert Lea’s injured reserve list has been senior Alexa Wood, who sustained a knee injury last fall as a goalie for the Tigers girls’ soccer team. Coach Harms said he is hopeful Wood can return to the lineup soon.

Next, Albert Lea will host Austin at 5 p.m. Tuesday. The Tigers are on a six-game winning streak against the Packers.