Maybe the Albert Lea Almco 13-year-old traveling baseball team was a little too fired up to face its arch rival.

Friday, June 29, 2001

Maybe the Albert Lea Almco 13-year-old traveling baseball team was a little too fired up to face its arch rival.

Two days after drilling Austin 15-7, the locals hosted Mankato Green and lost 15-0 at Hammer Field Thursday night.

According to coach Jeff Olson, it was a combination of two things that spelled defeat: Mankato Green is the best team the locals have met, and it was Albert Lea’s worst game of the year.

Mike Olson and Blake Perry had the Almco team’s lone hits. Cory Berggren started on the mound and absorbed the pitching loss. Mike Olson and Perry also pitched.

&uot;Perry played a good game offensively and defensively,&uot; said Coach Olson. &uot;Mankato had good offense and good defense. They didn’t make many mistakes.&uot;

That was the case for the Almco team against Austin Tuesday.

Mike Honeycutt and Garrett Christenson led the offense, both going 3-for-3. Berggren was 2-for-3 with a three-run triple. Perry, Brady Engelby and Mike Olson were also 2-for-3. Adding one hit apiece were Caleb Kleinschrodt, David Hird, Mark Edwards, Robert Gerhardt and Jesse Bangert. Perry was the winning pitcher.

&uot;Everyone played so well that game,&uot; said Coach Olson.

The rest of the Almco roster includes Nick Gosen, Spencer Sternhagen and Jake Villarreal.

The coaches are Mike Olson and Greg Gosen.

Thursday’s loss left the Almco team with a record of 1-3. The team next plays Tuesday at 6:30 at Austin Local 9.