Sports Memories by Tom Jones

 

50 years ago: 1969

• The Albert Lea Tigers defeated Emmons 13-0 to win the District 2 baseball title. Junior Bill Nelson finished the game off by retiring the five batters he faced with his brother, Bruce, looking on as the manager of Emmons.

• Qualifying for the state track meet for the Albert Lea Tigers were Bob Christenson in the 180-low hurdles and Bob Veldman in the shot put and discus.

• Albert Lea’s South Border amateur baseball team came up with five runs in the bottom of the 10th to beat Kasson-Mantorville, 10-5. Alden’s Al Lindeman went the distance, striking out 10 to get the win.

 

25 years ago: 1994

• The Albert Lea boys’ golf team captured the Section 1AA golf tournament after finishing second the previous two years. Senior Ryan Nolander paced the Tigers, finishing third overall with a two-day score of 157.

• Albert Lea junior Donna Boom won the Section 1AA girls’ golf tournament, shooting a 79 for 18 holes at Edgewater Golf Club in Albert Lea.

• Albert Lea’s U-14 boys’ soccer team won four games to finish first in the Rochester Memorial Tournament. Brad Mondeel scored eight times for Albert Lea.

 

10 years ago: 2009

• Ciara Christenson of the United South Central/Alden-Conger girls’ track and field team qualified for the state meet for the fifth time where she was to compete in the 100- and 300-meter events.

• Former Albert Lea and North Dakota State University basketball standout Ben Woodisde was one of six players who had a workout with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also had try-outs with the San Antonio Spurs and the Miami Heat.

• After one round at the state golf tournament, Albert Lea’s Kelli Hanson finished in a tie for 29th place after shooting an 89 at the Class 3A event at Bunker Hills.

 

This year

• A big shout out to the Albert Lea High School volleyball team, which recently donated 10 care packages to the cancer unit at Mayo Clinic Health System in Albert Lea with the money raised from their Pink Night last fall. The packages included a 31 tote, handmade slippers, puzzle books, mints, water and personal care products.