2008 – Pat Frank, USC

2007 – Pat Frank, USC

2006 – Faron Bremseth, Alden-Conger

2005 – Louie Toulouse, Glenville-Emmons

2004 – Louie Toulouse, Glenville-Emmons

2003 – Jeff Reese, NRHEG

2002 – Louie Toulouse, Glenville-Emmons

2001 – Jeff Reese, NRHEG

2000 – Louie Toulouse, Glenville-Emmons

1999 – Neil Pierce, Alden-Conger

1998 – Neil Pierce, Alden-Conger

1997 – Jeff Reese, NRHEG

1996 – Jeff Reese, NRHEG

1995 – Jeff Reese, NRHEG

1994 – Joe Sczublewski, Albert Lea

1993 – Jeff Reese, NRHEG

1992 – Joe Sczublewski, Albert Lea

Albert Lea head baseball coach Joe Sczublewski was beat up in more than one way following last season where the team went 3-19.

Beat up mentally and physically after coaching for 29 years Sczublewski decided to call it a career. Then around October after talking with several people he decided to return to the dugout for his 30th season.

“Last year wasn’t fun and this year was fun,” Sczublewski said.

For Sczublewski having fun is one of the bigger pieces of coaching.

“I think you either like baseball or you’re lukewarm to it,” he said. “I like baseball. I think it’s fantastic. It’s such an exciting game. You have to get your outs. There might be one left but you’ve still got a chance and so many times that’s when it happens.”

The Sczublewski-led Tigers achieved their first wining season in 11 years with a 12-11 season, which could have easily been better.

Albert Lea started the season 9-3 and was ranked in the state for a short time after the Tigers swept an undefeated Mankato West team in a doubleheader. But Albert Lea went on to finish the season 3-8.

“That was exciting,” Sczublewski said of the start of the season. “It was kind of disappointing that we struggled toward the end, but then in the playoffs we played really well.”

The Tigers held a five-run lead against Owatonna before losing 13-10. Albert Lea had previously lost 9-2 and 13-1 to the Huskies in a doubleheader two weeks before.

“The kids had a good year,” Sczublewski said. “I think the expectations for them next year will be a little higher then because they have more experience.”

Sczublewski inherited a team filled with players from a VFW squad that advanced to the state tournament last summer. The majority of his players were sophomores and he had just two seniors entering the season. The success the group had had at other levels was no guarantee to continue against players two years older, but it did.

“The guys didn’t back down from anyone really,” Sczublewski said. “It shows a lot of character on the part of, especially a lot of our younger kids.”

Eight sophomores became letterwinners for Sczublewski this season and their attitude and passion for the game has seemed to reenergize Sczublewski’s enthusiasm for the game.

“These guys are good ballplayers,” Sczublewski said. “They love to play ball, they love to practice, they love to play. It’s fun to watch them try to get better. And they’re willing to listen. They’re a very fun bunch of kids to be around.”

The Tigers were able to beat Mayo and Century in the same week and nearly beat John Marshall as well, a feat the team hadn’t been able to accomplish in a few years.

The biggest turnaround came in the pitching staff as Albert Lea was able to get quality pitching through most of the season.

“The game is all about pitching and defense and for the first two-thirds of the season it was very strong, but we got into a bit of a slump and some of the guys lost their confidence fielding the ball,” Sczublewski said.

As a team Albert Lea hit .299, scored 135 runs and had a team-ERA of 3.99 this season. Last season the team hit .247, scored 71 runs and had a team-ERA of 6.96.

“The expectations were just to be competitive and hope be in the game at the end of the game,” Sczublewski said. “Our guys were able to do that.”

Sczublewski is already looking forward to next season with the team.

“Expectations will be a lot higher for us next year than they were this year, but everybody is excited about that,” he said.