The Albert Lea junior varsity baseball team opened the 2010 season with a 2-1, nine-inning win over Waseca, led by a strong complete-game pitching performance by Cody Haaland.

After six scoreless innings, Waseca took the lead in the top of the seventh inning, scoring one run on an Albert Lea error. But in the bottom of the seventh two clutch hits from Houston Sharpe and Jed Lokken allowed the Tigers to tie the game and send it into extra innings.

After a scoreless eighth inning, the Tigers managed to get base runners on second and third with two outs and were able to score the winning run on a wild pitch by the Waseca pitcher.

The Tigers defense was strong for their first outing and was key to season opening win.

The junior varsity plays two games this week. On Tuesday Albert Lea travels to Winona for a 5 p.m. game and on Thursday the Tigers are home against Mayo at the Hammer baseball complex at 5 p.m.