Three wins at the three-day Mulvihill American Legion Baseball Tournament lifted Albert Lea Post 56 past .500 for the first time this season.

“Overall it was a big step forward for this program,” said Albert Lea coach Jay Enderson. “It was very positive. Much more than any of us expected.”

After Parker Mullenbach’s grand slam propelled Post 56 past St. Paul Park 13-3 on Friday, Albert Lea finished tournament pool play on Saturday with a 3-2 win over Mankato National (West) and a 10-0 loss against Chanhassen.

The lopsided loss was costly for seeding as Albert Lea (5-4 overall) fell to the No. 5 seed in bracket play, despite having the same pool-play record and a win over Mankato National, the No. 2 seed. The first seeding criteria for the eight-team tournament was pool-play record, and the second was runs scored against, Enderson said.

However, Post 56 rebounded Sunday in the fifth-place game with a 5-0 win over Sleepy Eye.

Read a recap of Friday’s win over St. Paul Park HERE.

In Albert Lea’s win over Mankato National, Blake Simon took the pitching win. He went the distance, struck out nine batters and allowed three hits, one earned run and two walks.

“It was one of the best pitching performances that I’ve seen for a sophomore,” Enderson said. “He was lights out. Total control.”

Mankato National took a one-run lead in the first inning, and Post 56 tied the game in the second when Mullenbach scored on a groundout by Parker Boyum.

Mankato National scored a run in the fifth, but Albert Lea rallied in the bottom of the seventh.

A single by Jake Bordewick scored Alex Bledsoe to tie the game, and Mullenbach hit the game-winning single to score E.J. Thomas.

Mason Hammer led Post 56 with two hits.

Against Chanhassen, a squad with players from this spring’s Class AAA championship team, Albert Lea struggled.

In Post 56’s win over Sleepy Eye, Bordewick earned the pitching win. He threw a no-hitter through 6 2/3 innings and ended up giving up one hit. Bordewick struck out six batters allowed two walks and didn’t allow a run.

Enderson said catcher Zach Edwards was a key component of the defense.

“A lot of the credit goes to Edwards,” he said. “He was the mastermind behind Simon and Bordewick.”

Next, Albert Lea will host the Rochester (Century) A’s at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Post 56 beat the A’s 10-2 on June 16 at Rochester.