The offense hasn’t exactly been dynamite through the first three games of the season for the Albert Lea VFW baseball team, but Post 447 has found other ways to find victories — namely solid starting pitching.

Aaron Klatt dominated Faribault for seven shutout innings in a 1-0 win Wednesday at Hayek Field as Albert Lea moved to 3-0 on the season.

Klatt stuck out nine and gave up just two hits. He faced just four over the minimum and did not allow a base runner in the third through fifth innings.

“That saved us,” said Albert Lea head coach Jack Kortan of Klatt’s start. “I think they were overmatched with Aaron.”

Klatt kept the ball low and overpowered the Faribault hitters with his fastball. When he needed to he mixed in his curveball effectively to keep hitters off balance.

“He threw good,” Kortan said. “When he did miss it wasn’t by much. Kept it low and when he threw the curveball they swung or it was a strike.”

The Post 447 offense had its struggles against Post 1562 starer Marcus Wierschem. Albert Lea had just six hits and left eight runners on base.

J.T. Bellrichard scored the game-winning run in the sixth inning after an error in center field allowed him to score from third base with one out.

It was just enough for Post 447 as Klatt mowed through Faribault.

“I was spotting my pitches pretty good,” Klatt said. “I usually can’t go seven, but today I took some ibuprofen and I knew I could do it.”

It was a good thing Klatt, who normally comes on in relief, was as sharp as he was against Post 1562. The Albert Lea offense has just 18 hits in three games and is averaging three runs per game.

“We got to adjust,” Kortan said. “Hopefully Friday we’ll figure it out. Hopefully on Friday we’ll hit the ball.”

Post 447 plays Kasson Friday at 5 p.m. at Hayek Field.

Albert Lea 1, Faribault 0

Faribault 000 000 0 — 0 2 3

Albert Lea 000 001 x — 1 6 0

WP — Aaron Klatt 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K

LP — Marcus Wierschem 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K