The winning formula has not been difficult to find for Albert Lea American Legion baseball coach Dell Dooley.

Friday, July 06, 2001

The winning formula has not been difficult to find for Albert Lea American Legion baseball coach Dell Dooley.

All he has to do is look at the pitcher’s mound.

Post 56 has three tough starters in Isaac Walton, Adam Hamberg and Jay Link, and they provided the spark as Albert Lea won two of three games this week.

&uot;Overall, we’re playing pretty good baseball right now,&uot; said Dooley. &uot;Hamberg and Walton have just been outstanding on the mound, and Link is stepping up too. If we keep those guys sharp, we should win quite a few ballgames this year.&uot;

The locals beat Eagle Lake 10-5 Thursday in the opening round of Austin’s Post 91 Classic. It followed a 1-0 triumph at Northfield on Tuesday and a 3-2 loss at Austin Monday.

Link was the winner Thursday, tossing a six-hitter while giving up two earned runs. He struck out five and walked five.

Adam Highum led the offense, going 3-for-3. Link and David Dahl were 2-for-3. Hamberg had a two-run double, Matt Bracker a run-scoring single. Phil Wacholz added a single.

Walton, like Link a left-hander, was in command at Northfield with a two-hitter, striking out nine while walking one.

The only run came in the fourth, when Walton reached on an error and scored on a single by Hamberg. Wacholz had Albert Lea’s only other hit.

Hamberg took the loss at Austin despite giving up only one earned run on six hits. He fanned five and walked three.

Dahl, Walton, Jordan Stadheim and Isaiah Parry had one hit apiece.

Post 56, 6-4, faces Austin or Faribault at 2 p.m. today in the second round of the Post 91 Classic. The tournament continues Saturday and Sunday.

Albert Lea 10, Eagle Lake 5

&160;Eagle Lake

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WP – Jay Link

Albert Lea 1, Northfield 0

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&160;Northfield

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WP – Isaac Walton

Austin 3, Albert Lea 2

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LP – Adam Hamberg