AUSTIN – Once again, things looked promising in the early innings for the Albert Lea Colonels.

Wednesday, June 27, 2001

AUSTIN – Once again, things looked promising in the early innings for the Albert Lea Colonels.

Again it got out of hand late.

The Colonels led 6-3 at one point but wound up losing 17-6 Monday night in a Southern Minny League baseball game at Austin.

&uot;We played a pretty good first five innings,&uot; said Albert Lea manager Bill Trygstad. &uot;But we just didn’t have enough guys hitting. And we just kind of ran out of arms in the sixth inning.&uot;

That’s been the story other times this season for the Colonels, who fell to 0-5 in the league and 0-8 overall. Austin improved to 3-2 in league games.

The Colonels jumped on top 3-0 in the first inning when Tim Davis drilled a three-run home run, following back-to-back singles by Matt Trygstad and Brett Damerow.

Davis doubled home a run in the third, and two more scored when Ryan Wangen hit into an error.

For the second game in a row the bulk of the Colonels’ offense came from the top three hitters in the lineup. Matt Trygstad was 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and two runs scored, Davis 2-for-3 and Damerow 2-for-4 with two runs. Brandon Tukua had the only other Albert Lea hit.

Craig Smith pitched five-plus innings and took the loss. Bryan Baggett and Adam Berge pitched in relief.

&uot;Austin hit the ball good,&uot; said Bill Trygstad. &uot;Eight of their 14 hits were for extra bases, and they only stranded four baserunners. They were finding the gaps and making the most of their hits.&uot;

It was the first of seven consecutive road games for the Colonels, who travel to Owatonna tonight and are at Blue Earth Friday.

Greyhounds 17, Colonels 6

&160;Albert Lea

&160;303

&160;000

&160;0

&160;- 6

&160;8

&160;3

&160;Austin

&160;302

&160;138

&160;x

&160;- 17

&160;14

&160;1

LP – Craig Smith