Sports Memories by Chuck Anderson

50 years ago: 1967

• In the opening round of the District 1 VFW Minnesota state baseball tournament, Albert Lea shut out Owatonna 2-0. Ron Erickson pitched the win and Ron Brackey had the only run batted in. Albert Lea was eliminated in the second round by Red Wing, 7-4. Gregg Sainsbury homered for Albert Lea.

• Alden defeated Hayward 12-3 in a first-round playoff game in the amateur State Line Baseball League. Brad Sweet led Alden with three hits in three at bats. In a second first-round game, Kiester-Bricelyn defeated Glenville 7-2 with Harold Pierce the winning pitcher.

• Trades & Labor defeated Thorson’s Sporting Goods 14-1 in the Albert Lea City Softball League. Allan Pederson and Ade Yokiel led the offense for Trades.

• In a National Division game in the Albert Lea Slowpitch League, Moose Lodge defeated Aragon Bar 13-4. The Moose were led by Buster Rahn with a four for five game and Bill Holtan three for four. Tom Bleekeberg and Clarence Eggars had two hits each for Aragon.

25 years ago: 1992

• The Albert Lea Colonels defeated Waseca 3-1 in a first-round playoff game in the Southern Minnesota League. Winning pitcher Joe Sczublewski threw a five-hitter. Jim Johnson hit a home  run and Derek Fleek tripled for the Colonels.

• The Albert Lea Eagles’ 16-year-old baseball team defeated Northfield 10-9. Brian Kenis had four hits and Aron Attig was two for two for Albert Lea.

• The Minnesota Twins stopped a four-game losing streak after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-1. Kevin Tapani picked up the win. Scott Leius and Chili Davis each had two RBIs for the Twins.

10 years ago:  2007

• Corey Dieser, a graduate of Albert Lea High School, was named an Academic All-State in tennis.

• Demo derby winners at the 2007 Freeborn County Fair were the following: truck division, Shawn Ellingson; full-size division, Shawn Ellingson; compact division, Brent Tweed and Bruce Holland; and powder puff, Heather Nielson.

• The Albert Lea Colonels were eliminated by Rochester 3-2 in the Minnesota Class 5C baseball playoffs. Isaac Walton took the loss for the Colonels.