No one knew what to expect when the Albert Lea 14-and-under fast-pitch softball team played its first games after a two-week break in the schedule.

By the end of the week, all doubts were erased as the team swept doubleheaders at Wells and Lyle.

At Wells, game one was a 22-9 win. Liz Thompson was the winning pitcher. She struck out just one batter as she was supported by several nice defensive plays by her teammates. Evin Sather led the offense with four runs scored and two bits, both triples. Adding two hits each were Niki Hendrickson and Marissa Cottrell, who bad a double. April Balsley and Jordan Malimanek also had doubles.

The second game ended when Cara Thorn dashed home from third on a wild pitch to score the winning run and cap a comeback from a five-run deficit in a 6-5 victory. The young Tiger team was held to just four bits in the contest. Dezi Jacobs, Tatum Roberts, Balsley and Hendrickson each bad a single with Shelby Vietze scoring two runs. Thompson again was the winning pitcher in relief of starter Sather. Each hurler had one strikeout. Thompson showed excellent control, walking just two batters in seven innings.

The team traveled to Lyle to take on the Lyle-Pacelli Athletics.

The first game was highlighted by home runs off the bat of Sather and Chelsea Barrett. Sather and Thompson had three hits each to lead the offensive attack in a 21-3 win. Claire Paczkowski and Hendrickson bad two hits each while Balsley, Cottrell and Barrett added one apiece. Thompson was again the winning pitcher and whiffed eight L-P batters in the game.

Jacobs settled down after a rough first inning to get the pitching win in game two. She recorded five strikeouts in a 24-6 victory. The hot hitting continued as Malimanek led with four runs scored and two hits. Also getting two hits were Cara Thorn (double), Katherine Ladwig (double), and Jacobs. Adding a hit each were Shelby Vietze (double), Sather (home run), and Sam Cole (double).

The four wins brings the season record to 13-7.

The season concludes this week with home doubleheaders Monday against Owatonna and Wednesday against Southland.