The Rochester Patriots weren’t going to take Albert Lea lightly in the first round of the District 1 playoffs Tuesday in Rochester and trotted out their ace Derek Hovick to the mound.

Hovick delivered as he threw eight shutout innings and Rochester rolled past Post 56 10-0 in eight innings. In the American Legion baseball playoffs the teams play nine innings.

Hovick struck out nine Albert Lea hitters and held Post 56 (9-10) to just four hits.

“He was in control,” said Post 56 head coach Jack Kortan. “He’s probably one of the better ones we’ve faced.”

The Patriots dusted Albert Lea starter Cody Hansen for nine runs on nine hits, including hitting three doubles in the fourth inning.

Hansen kept Rochester, the 16th-ranked team in the American Legion Coaches and Media Poll, quiet through the first three innings, but the second time through the lineup the Patriots got to him.

Hovick, the Big Nine Player of the Year, helped lead Rochester on offense as well, hitting a three-run homer and finishing the night 3-for-5 with four RBIs.

Joe Moen went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, including a two-run double in the fourth that started the scoring for the Patriots.

Casey Woodside had half of Albert Lea’s hits, going 2-for-3 with a double. Rory Hoium went 1-for-3 with a double and Luke Grossman finished 1-for-4 with a double.

Post 56 did have opportunities to score, but left a runner on third base in the second, third and fourth innings. Albert Lea stranded seven total in the game.

Post 56 will play Friday in an elimination game.

Rochester 10, Albert Lea 0, 8 innings

Albert Lea 000 000 00x —  0 4 1

Rochester 000 303 04x — 10 9 0

WP — Derek Hovick 8 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K

LP — Cody Hansen 7 1/3 IP, 9 H, 9 R, 9 ER, 6 BB, 3 K