50 years ago: 1965

• Neil Pierce, head coach of the Alden High School baseball team, started practice with seven returning letter winners: Brad Sweet, Bob Hoeg, Steve Newman, Paul Wittmer, Greg Hitchcock, Greg Smith and Allan Lindeman.

• Freeborn High School started baseball practice with eight returning letter winners. Coach Jim Gilpin greeted Chuck Hinkley, Al Jensen, Dick McKean, Rick Bishop, Tom Howser, Don Marpe, Cletus Merritt and Rick Honstad.

• John Hegland and Jim Bratvold combined to throw a three-hitter for Albert Lea in its 2-1 victory over Fairmont in the season opener.

• The Minnesota Twins defeated Cleveland 6-3 with Dave Boswell the winning pitcher. Jerry Kindall and Jim Hall hit home runs, and Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison had two hits each.

25 years ago: 1990

• The Alden-Conger-Freeborn softball team shut out NRHEG 11-0. Winning pitcher Jenny Stenzel had six strikeouts and three hits. Kris Boettcher had two hits and three RBIs.

• Jamie Beck recorded 14 strikeouts, and Greg Severtson had two hits in Glenville-Emmons’ 12-4 baseball win over NRHEG.

• Aaron Phillips had three hits and Paul Kaz, two, for Alden-Conger-Freeborn in its 10-3 win against Faribault Bethlehem Academy. Kory Newman was the winning pitcher.

10 years ago: 2005

• Named the Albert Lea Tribune All-Area girls’ basketball Coach of the Year was Mindy Sparby of NRHEG, and Alison Anderson of NRHEG was named the Tribune’s All-Area girls’ basketball Player of the Year.

• Named to the Tribune All-Area First Team were Hali Hendrickson and her sister Niki Hendrickson from Albert Lea, Alison Anderson, Emily Hagen and Traci Nelson from NRHEG. Named to the Second Team were Liz Thompson from Albert Lea, Jenny Krueger and Emily Appel from Alden-Conger, Megan Pederson from Lake Mills and Kirsten Thisius from United South Central. Receiving Honorable Mention were Cara Thorn from Albert Lea, Vanessa Politz and Kendra Mathiason from Alden-Conger, Chelsey Ziebell and Ashley Lau from Glenville-Emmons, Melissa Brackey from Lake Mills, Angie Sime from Northwood-Kensett, Jasmine Brouwers from NRHEG, and Maggie Giese and Kallie Rollenhagen from USC.