Sports Memories by Tom Jones

 

50 years ago: 1969

• The Baltimore Orioles completed their three-game sweep of the Minnesota Twins with an 11-2 victory at Metropolitan Stadium in the American League championship series. Veteran Bob Miller started the game and took the loss for the Twins, giving up three runs in 1.2 innings.

• The Albert Lea junior varsity cross country team won a four-team meet at Ellendale. Kevin Wulff led the Tigers with a time of 10:57, which placed him second overall, with Rick Lee finishing third at 11:05.

• The Albert Lea Tigers football team was preparing for a Homecoming game with Austin. With a large crowd of 7,000 expected, a shuttle bus service was set up from both Albert Lea High School and Brookside Junior High School. The Packers were ranked No. 2 and the Tigers No. 6 in the Minneapolis Tribune ratings.

• The Albert Lea Tigers Quarterback Club announced it was hosting a ladies night at the VFW club. Head coach Jim Gustafson was to speak at the meeting, showing movies of the Albert Lea-Austin game.

 

25 years ago: 1994

• The Albert Lea ninth-grade football team improved its record to 4-1 on the season with a 28-6 victory over Austin. Zach Parry scored two touchdowns, with G.G. Gonzales and Chad Damerow each adding one for the Tigers.

• The Albert Lea football team defeated Austin 24-15 to spoil the Packers’ Homecoming. Junior quarterback Steve Nolander sparked the Tigers with a 72-yard touchdown run and also completed five of nine passes for 68 yards.

• On a night when Lawrence Taylor’s No. 56 jersey was retired, the Minnesota Vikings defeated the New York Giants 27-10. Warren Moon completed 23 of 34 passes for 299 yards and a touchdown to lead the Vikings.

 

10 years ago: 2009

• The Albert Lea girls’ tennis team saw its season come to a close with a 4-3 loss to Red Wing in Section 1AA play. Sarah Wenum and Kellsie Dieser won singles matches for the Tigers, with the doubles team of Erika Blickendorf and Mikaela Pierson picking up a win in doubles. The team finished the season 11-10.

• The Albert Lea Tigers volleyball team picked up its first conference win of the year with a five-set victory over Rochester John Marshall. Kristine Kelly led the Tigers with 54 digs and 13 kills, with Caylee Tennis adding 36 assists.

• Freshman Chrissy Monson won her fifth meet of the season for the Albert Lea girls’ cross country team with a time of 14:51.4 at the Ev Berg cross country meet at Brooktree Golf Course in Owatonna.

 

This year

• Former KATE Sports Director John Focke has begun his new career as play-by play broadcaster for the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. Focke has announced their first three preseason games and will start the regular season when the Hornets host the Chicago Bulls on Oct. 23. Games can be heard on the Hornets’ flagship station online at www.WFNZ.radio.com or by downloading the Hornets app at Hornets.com.