OWATONNA – Coach Dell Dooley didn’t even try to sugar coat it.

Friday, June 22, 2001

OWATONNA – Coach Dell Dooley didn’t even try to sugar coat it. It was that kind of night for the Albert Lea American Legion baseball team. But he also knows there will be better days ahead.

Post 56 committed five errors and had only four hits while losing 7-3 at Owatonna Thursday.

&uot;We just played very poorly,&uot; said Dooley. &uot;But I’m sure we’ll bounce back.&uot;

On this night, though, all the early bounces went the way of the home team. Owatonna scored early and often, putting two runs on the board in the first inning and three in the second.

Trailing 6-0, Albert Lea got on the board in the top of the fourth. Isaac Walton walked and scored on a double by Adam Hamberg, who scored on a Jay Link single.

Post 56’s other run came in the sixth, when Al Attig singled, stole second and third and scored on an overthrow to third.

Hamberg had two of Albert Lea’s four hits.

Jordan Stadheim, who didn’t go out for the high school team this spring as a senior, started on the mound and took the loss. He allowed four runs – one of them earned – on two hits, with three walks and one strikeout.

Link, Walton and Hamberg pitched in relief.

The loss dropped the locals’ record to 1-2. They host

LaCrescent in a doubleheader Saturday at 1 p.m. at Hayek Field.

Owatonna 7, Albert Lea 3

Albert Lea 000 201 0 – 3 4 5

Owatonna 231 100 x – 7 4 1

LP – Jordan Stadheim