Despite their win-loss record, the Albert Lea Colonels have shown they can play with and defeat some of the best amateur baseball teams in the state.

Sunday night was another example.

New Ulm Kaiserhauf brought a record of 11-5 overall and 4-2 in the Southern Minny League to Albert Lea and left town with a 7-5 setback.

&uot;It was a nice win for us,&uot; said Colonels manager Bill Trygstad. &uot;The guys deserved to get a few breaks and they took advantage of them. We had a nice crowd out there tonight and they went home happy, I hope. We’ve beaten three very good teams.&uot;

New Ulm was the third. The first was Austin, which finished second in last year’s state tournament, and the second was perennial power Waseca. Sunday’s win improved the Colonels to 4-10 overall and 3-6 in the league.

The Colonels won despite being outhit 9-7, capitalizing on eight New Ulm errors. Both teams stranded nine baserunners.

Matt Trygstad started a three-run first inning with a one-out walk. Ryan Wangen beat out an infield single and James Gonzalez singled to load the bases. Trygstad scored on an error, Wangen on a fielder’s choice and Gonzalez when Andrew Greibrok hit into a ground out.

New Ulm answered with two in the top of the second, but the Colonels put up another three spot in the bottom. Mick Westeng led off with a single and, one out later, Matt Trygstad singled. A deep fly ball to center field by Wangen advanced Westeng to third. Gonzalez and Phil Wacholz hit into consecutive errors at third base, scoring two runs. Jeff Schulz drove in the third with a single to left.

The Colonels’ final run came in the third. Zac Oquist was safe on an error, Matt Tygstad singled and Wangen hit into yet another error by the New Ulm third baseman.

Adam Berge pitched 7 2/3 innings for the victory, his first of the year despite other strong outings. He scattered 13 hits, walked two and struck out four. All five New Ulm runs were earned.

&uot;He’s pitched well most of the year, it’s about time he got a win,&uot; said Bill Trygstad. &uot;We played a little better defense behind him this time, which helped.&uot;

Schulz went the final 1 1/3 inning for his third save of the summer. He did not allow a hit or a walk.

&uot;New Ulm has some real good hitters &045; they’re real solid at the plate,&uot; said Bill Trygstad. &uot;But we made the plays when we had to. And we had some nice plays when we needed them.&uot;

One of the key plays was in the eighth, when Wacholz threw out a baserunner attempting to steal second for the third out. In the ninth, shortstop Craig Smith made a nice barehanded play on an infield chopper to nail New Ulm’s No. 3 batter.

Matt Trygstad was the only Colonel with more than one hit, going 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored. Getting one hit apiece were Wangen, Gonzalez, Schulz and Westeng.

The Colonels’ Saturday night game at Blue Earth was postponed, tentatively rescheduled for Tuesday, July 16. The Colonels play this Thursday in a rescheduled game at Northfield. They travel to Minnesota Lake Friday and return to league play at home Sunday against Mankato.

Colonels 7, New Ulm 5

New Ulm

020 011 010 – 5

13

8

Albert Lea

331 000 00x – 7

7

2

WP – Adam Berge