Gallery: Albert Lea defeats Austin

Published 6:35 pm Tuesday, May 21, 2013

E.J. Thomas, a sophomore from Albert Lea, tosses the ball to first base Tuesday against Austin in the regular-season finale. Albert Lea won 2-1. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

E.J. Thomas, a sophomore from Albert Lea, tosses the ball to first base Tuesday against Austin in the regular-season finale. Albert Lea won 2-1. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

The Albert Lea baseball team completed a regular season sweep of Austin with a 2-1 win Tuesday at Hayek Field.

On April 30, the Tigers defeated the Packers 6-5 in game one of a doubleheader, and the nightcap was rained out after the first inning. Albert Lea led 1-0.

Play resumed Tuesday, and a hit by Zach Bordewick drove in the Tigers’ second run.

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Austin countered with one run in the third.

Albert Lea maintained a 2-1 lead into the top of the sixth inning.

With two outs, the bases loaded and a full count, Albert Lea pitcher Johnathan “Henry” Fleek and the defense came through in the clutch.

An Austin batter hit a pop-up to center field where Makael Lunning was waiting for it to make the third out.

“Henry did well. He battles,” Albert Lea assistant coach Jay Enderson said. “The guys made the plays behind him. We did what we had to do.”

“It was intense, but the team needed the out,” Fleek said. “The team made a lot of good plays out there.”

In the top of the seventh, Fleek completed the win on the mound. He pitched all seven innings, struck out four batters and walked three. Henry is Fleek’s middle name. His grandfather, also a baseball player, was named Henry.

Next, the Tigers will compete in the section tournament, which starts Thursday.