Albert Lea softball falls against Mankato West on Senior Night

Published 8:07 pm Thursday, May 15, 2014

Megan Kortan of Albert Lea watches the ball after hitting it Thursday against Mankato West on Senior Night at the Hammer Complex. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

Megan Kortan of Albert Lea watches the ball after hitting it Thursday against Mankato West on Senior Night at the Hammer Complex. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

Senior Night at the Hammer Complex marked the end of an era for five players on the Albert Lea softball team.

“It’ll be tough to replace our mainstay seniors that we’ve had here for several years,” said Albert Lea coach Dan Harms.

Seniors on the team are Lindsay Reim, Haley Schroader, Caycee Gilbertson, Lynzee Underdahl, Sarah Sanderson and manager Sadie Burnett.

Email newsletter signup

After Thursday’s 10-0 loss in five innings against Mankato West, the Tigers have two games left during the regular season with in a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. today at Faribault.

The postseason bracket is already filled out, and Albert Lea is the No. 5 seed in Section 2AA. The Tigers will play at No. 4-seed Waseca at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the first round of the tournament.

Against the Scarlets, the Tigers rested ace pitcher Haley Harms and utilized two sophomores: Hallie Cantu and Hanna Schilling.

Cantu had the nod to start. In three innings, she faced 13 batters and allowed five hits, six walks and a home run. Schilling entered the game in relief and gave up four hits and a walk.

Albert Lea coach Dan Harms said he was happy to get the duo experience at the varsity level.

“Any time we can get a couple JVers on the roster, it’s a good thing,” he said. “It calms their nerves a bit when they get up to varsity.”

Underdahl leads Albert Lea at the plate this season with a .411 batting average, but she was held without a hit. Megan Kortan led the Tigers by going 2-for-3 with a double.

Statistics are in the Scoreboard: May 15 post.