OWATONNA &045; Missed opportunities and errors led to a frustrating season-ending loss for the Albert Lea Colonels as they fell 11-2 to Owatonna in the Southern Minny League playoffs Tuesday night.

&uot;We had our chances to score, we just didn’t come through with the big hit &045; just like so many times this year,&uot; said Colonels manager Bill Trygstad. &uot;It’s frustrating to lose this game this way, but we’ve come a long ways this year. We’re very close to turning the corner here if the guys just stick together. We have a lot of first and second-year players, and next year we’ll be that much better.&uot;

After surrendering four first-inning runs at Owatonna, the Colonels loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the first but could not score. They didn’t score until the seventh, when they loaded the bases with one out but plated only one run. In the eighth, with the bases loaded, one run in and no outs, the inning ended with a strikeout and a double play.

The Colonels had five errors, leading to six unearned runs for the Aces.

Ryan Wangen was 3-for-4 to lead the Colonels’ offense. David Dahl was 2-for-4 with two doubles. James Gonzalez and Phil Wacholz singled.

Adam Berge started on the mound but did not retire a batter, giving up four runs on three hits, with one walk and one hit batter. Three of the runs were earned. Craig Smith pitched the next four innings, allowing one run on three hits; he walked seven and struck out one. Brad Carlson and Mike Piechowski also pitched in relief.

The Colonels finished 7-19, six more wins than last year.

&uot;We had good fan support,&uot; said Trygstad. &uot;It was nice to see a lot of people come to Owatonna to watch us. It’s unfortunate we didn’t play like we can, but there’s always next year; we’ll be that much stronger.&uot;

With the win, Owatonna advances to Thursday’s round at Rochester, which was edged 1-0 by Austin Tuesday.

Aces 11, Colonels 2

Owatonna

000 000 110 –

2

7

5

Albert Lea

401 000 24x – 11 10 0

LP – Adam Berge