Tigers tame the Panthers

Published 10:30 pm Thursday, May 18, 2017

By Colleen Harrison

: Albert Lea's Alex Bledsoe heads to third base during Thursday's game against NRHEG in New Richland. - Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Albert Lea baseball team holds NRHEG to 1 run in double-digit win

NEW RICHLAND — It only took five innings for the Tigers to completely shut down the Panthers in dominating fashion.

The Albert Lea baseball team routed NRHEG in a 20-1 win Thursday in New Richland.

Senior Blake Simon held the Panthers at bay from the mound, pitching four innings and tallying seven strikeouts.

Simon led the Tigers from the plate, too, going 4-4 and hitting a double and a triple to rack up five RBIs.

“(It was a) solid game once we got going,” said Albert Lea coach Sean Gaston. “Little bit of a slow start, (but we) picked up intensity in the third.”

NRHEG’s Jake Tasker throws out a pitch during Thursday’s game against Albert Lea. – Colleen Harrison/Albert Lea Tribune

Zach Edwards was another offensive force for the Tigers. The junior went 4-5 at the plate, hitting two doubles and tacking on four RBIs to add to Albert Lea’s tally.

The win brings Albert Lea to .500 on the season, with a record of 9-9 overall and 2-8 in the Big Nine Conference. NRHEG’s record is now 6-12 overall and 4-8 in the Gopher Conference.

Albert Lea will have its last regular season game at home against Rochester Century at 5 p.m. Tuesday. NRHEG has two regular-season games left, both at home, with the next being against Zumbrota-Mazeppa at 5 p.m. Monday.

NRHEG had not turned in any stats as of press time.