It was gut-check time for the Albert Lea American Legion baseball team Tuesday when it traveled to Owatonna and it came through with a spirit-lifting 6-4 victory over Post 77.

Cody Hansen toed the rubber for Post 56 and had his best start of the season. He limited Owatonna to four runs over 6 1/3 innings and struck out seven to give Albert Lea its first win of the season before the end of the regular season.

“He pitched a phenomenal game,” Post 56 coach Boyd Eisenbraun said. “His curveball was working for him, he was changing speeds, and he kept the Owatonna batters off balance.”

Hansen scattered nine hits and his defense did not commit an error behind him as Albert Lea found the complete effort it had searched for all season long.

Post 56 jumped out to a 2-1 lead after the first inning when shortstop Logan Kortan doubled home two runs. Kortan continued to knock in the runs in the third inning when he connected for another double that scored two more runs and Albert Lea had a 6-1 lead.

With the defense solid behind him, Hansen cruised through the Post 77 lineup, not walking a batter, until the seventh when Owatonna scored three runs to climb to within two runs. But Kortan entered the game with one out and promptly retired the side on a strikeout and a ground out.

“We had some great hitting and we had some excellent pitching,” Eisenbraun said.

Post 56 made the most of its hits, despite getting outhit 9-6 in the game. The first four batters in the third inning reached base and came around to score.

“Logan just crushed the ball,” Eisenbraun said.

Kortan now has five base hits in his last eight at-bats, including three extra-base hits.

“The pitching was there and we hit the ball when we needed to,” Eisenbraun said. “They’re excited.”

Albert Lea 6, Owatonna 4

Albert Lea – 204 000 0 – 6 6 0

Owatonna – 100 000 3 – 4 9 2

WP – Cody Hansen 6 1/3 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 4 ER,

0 BB, 7 K