AUSTIN &045;&160;The Albert Lea Colonels are still trying to round their team into shape, but a brutal early portion of the season isn’t making that easy.

The Austin Blue Sox downed Albert Lea 11-1 Wednesday night to give the Colonels an 0-3 start to their season.

Albert Lea used four different pitchers in the game but none were able to keep the Blue Sox off the board.

Brandon Klukow started the game and pitched two innings.

He gave up five runs on seven hits before Devin Kaasa worked the next three frames allowing three runs and three hits.

Travis Klatt would work two inning giving up two hits, and two runs before Mike Minehart pitched the final inning allowing a single run.

&8220;We are just trying to build up the arm strength of our pitchers so that is why we have used so many early on,&8221; said Colonels head coach Bill Trygstad.

Austin pounded out 13 hits in the contest and scored in every inning it batted except one.

Albert Lea’s lone run came in the sixth when Levi Hendrickson drew a walk, stole second and scored on a Ryan Wangen single.

Wangen went 2-for-3 in the game as Albert Lea managed just four hits as a team.

The Colonels are back in action Friday when they host Apple Valley. Albert Lea concludes the week Sunday with a game against defending state champion Mankato.