Sports Memories by Chuck Anderson

50 years ago: 1967

• The Albert Lea Slowpitch League started its two-of-three playoff series to determine the team to enter the Minnesota state tournament. The Albert Lea Tribune team won the first game, 9-7, over Elbow Room. Marv Bednar was three for three for the Tribune and Ron Godtland homered for the Elbow Room. The Elbow Room evened the series with a 19-7 victory in the second game. The Tribune was led by Steve Hanson and Roger Butenhoff with home runs. The Tribune won game three by a score of 10-9 and advanced to state.

• Candy Jorgenson homered and Cathy Estergren had three hits to lead Home Lumber to a 17-10 win over Northside Mobil in an Albert Lea Women’s Softball League game. Athlene Tesch had three hits for Northside Mobil.

25 years ago: 1992

• Results for Albert Lea girls’ in the Minnesota State Hershey Track and Field Tournament included the following: Age 9-10, Jennifer Elseth won the 400-meter run, and placed third in the long jump and fifth in the 100-meter dash; Age 11-12, Kristi Klein placed fourth in the 400-meter run; Age 13-14, Myia Sather placed fourth in the 800-meter run.

• The Albert Lea American Legion Post 56 baseball team improved to 9-5 after defeating Austin 3-1 with Bryon Carlson the winning pitcher. Aric Knutson and Steve VanMaldeghem each had two hits for Post 56.

• Mac Noland hit a three-run home run for Albert Lea VFW Post 447 and Trent Struck and Tom Drasher each had two hits in the 12-7 win over Owatonna.

10 years ago: 2007

• In an Iowa Class 2A girls’ playoff game, Garner-Hayfield defeated Lake Mills, 6-5. Senior Megan Pederson was the losing pitcher. Pederson finished her high school career with 115 wins. Her 2007 earned run average was .036.

• The Albert Lea Colonels baseball team lost its first-round game to Owatonna, 3-2, in the Class C Minnesota state tournament. The Colonels rebounded with a 7-2 win over Austin behind pitcher Isaac Walton.

• The Glenville midgets baseball team defeated Northwood, 14-0, and won its second straight Border Line championship.