In recent summers, it might have been considered a moral victory for the Albert Lea Colonels.

This year, it’s just another tough loss.

The Colonels hosted Southern Minny League power Waseca, which they beat at Waseca earlier this season, and blew a 7-6 lead while falling 8-7 at Hayek Field Wednesday night.

It was the sixth one-run game and fourth one-run loss this year for the Colonels, who fell to 2-6 in the league and 3-10 overall. The Braves, who also have dropped four games by one run, improved to 5-5 and 12-8.

The Colonels and Braves added to what has become one of the league’s best rivalries with another exciting contest.

&uot;It was a good game for the fans, I’m sure, because it was back and forth,&uot; said Trygstad. &uot;But it was a tough one to lose. We could easily be over .500.&uot;

The Colonels took a 3-0 lead in the first inning on their first home run of the year, a three-run shot by James Gonzalez over the left center field fence.

Gonzalez led off a two-run sixth with a single. Aric Attig and Jeff Schulz followed with singles and Brad Carlson hit a sacrifice fly.

Justin Kohn and Ryan Wangen had run-scoring singles in the seventh.

Waseca had two home runs, one by Barry Quickstad who was recently released from the Twins’ farm system. Chris Case hit the other.

Schulz was 3-for-4 for the Colonels. Gonzalez and David Dahl were both 2-for-5, Attig 2-for-4. Kohn, Wangen and Isaac Walton had Albert Lea’s other hits.

Mike Piechowski made his first start of the year on the mound and took the loss, allowing eight earned runs in 7-1/3 innings. He had five strikeouts and two walks.

&uot;He actually pitched pretty well,&uot; said Trygstad.

Lefty Nick Rathmann threw a complete game for the Braves. He fanned four and did not issue a walk.

The Colonels travel to Blue Earth for a rescheduled game Saturday night and return to Hayek Sunday for a 6 p.m. league game against New Ulm.

Braves 8, Colonels 7

Albert Lea

300

002

20x &045; 7

12

2

Waseca

201

001

220 &045; 8

13

4

LP &045; Mike Piechowski