The Albert Lea Elks 14-and-under baseball team is off to a strong start for the 2002 season, winning three of its first four games.

The team, which competes in the South Central Minnesota League, defeated Austin 10-1, Owatonna 10-9 and Blue Earth Area 3-2 while dropping a 6-2 decision to the Quad City Cardinals on a night they found themselves with only eight players.

This year’s team members are Ben Berhow, Eric Elleby, Nate Goodnature, Nick Hagen, Mike Honeycutt, Ben Kelly, D.J. Kjos, Arik Matson, Greg Opseth, Blake Perry, Greg Schulz, Matt Schumann, Matt Vietze and Jake Villarreal. The team is coached by Derek Goodnature, John Kelly, Gary Schulz and Tim Matson.

The team plays its home games at Hammer Field, with the first pitch at 6:30 p.m. Upcoming home dates are July 1 vs. Owatonna, July 8 vs. Lake Crystal-Wellcome Memorial, July 10 vs. Austin, July 17 vs. Waseca and July 24 vs. Blue Earth Area.