As with any baseball team at any level, pitching is the primary concern for the 2001 Albert Lea Colonels.

Friday, June 01, 2001

As with any baseball team at any level, pitching is the primary concern for the 2001 Albert Lea Colonels.

&uot;Pitching and defense, that’s the name of the game,&uot; said manager Bill Trygstad. &uot;Defensively, I think we’re going to be all right. Pitching is the biggest question mark.&uot;

But the Colonels aren’t alone. Pitching is a premium in amateur baseball, and the Colonels play in the tradition-rich Southern Minny League, where football-like scores are fairly commonplace.

Trygstad, whose team finished 6-19 last year, is optimistic about this summer simply because of numbers. Around 23 guys have expressed interest in the team, and several veterans are back.

&uot;I’m encouraged with the number of guys returning,&uot; said Trygstad. &uot;We have more than we’ve had in a while. And several of the new guys have been to a number of practices. I’m encouraged they’re excited about playing.&uot;

The Colonels play their season opener Saturday, hosting Minnesota Lake at 7 p.m. at Hayek Field. They face Apple Valley Sunday at 2:30 at Hayek.

The most experienced players are pitcher Mike Piechowski and utility player Matt Trygstad, who will turn 26 and 27, respectively, this season. Both have played since age 18.

The other veterans are Adam Benson, Ryan Wangen, Brett Damerow, Bryan Baggett, Tim Davis, Luke Hammer, Jeff Schulz and Brandon Tukua.

Brad Carlson returns to the team after a year’s absence.

New to the team this year are Nate Peterson, Craig Smith, Anthony Lowman, Zac Oquist, Derek Anderson, Matt Felt, Travis Simon, Ryan Haugsdal and Derek Thorson.

A couple other players are undecided.

&uot;It will take some time to figure out who will play where and who will bat where,&uot; said Bill Trygstad. &uot;We don’t know much about the new guys at this point.&uot;

The Colonels’ 2001 regular-season schedule:

Sat., June 2 Minnesota Lake, 7 p.m.

Sun., June 3 Apple Valley, 2:30

Wed., June 6 at Mankato, 7:30

Fri., June 8 Blue Earth, 7:30

Mon., June 11 at Austin, 7 p.m.

Wed., June 13 Waseca, 7:30

Fri., June 15 New Richland, 7:30

Sun., June 17 Faribault, 7 p.m.

Wed., June 20 Mankato, 7:30

Wed., June 27 at Owatonna, 7:30

Fri., June 29 at Blue Earth, 7:30

Sun., July 1 at Rochester, 6 p.m.

Fri., July 6 at Northfield, 7:30

Sat., July 7 at Waseca, 7 p.m.

Sun., July 8 at New Richland, 3 p.m.

Tues., July 10 Austin, 7:30

Sat., July 14 at Faribault, 7 p.m.

Sun., July 15 at Minnesota Lake, 2 p.m.

Sat., July 21 Rochester, 7 p.m.

Sun., July 22 at Apple Valley, 5 p.m.

Wed., July 25 Owatonna, 7:30

Sat., July 28 Northfield, 6 p.m.