Sports Memories by Tom Jones

 

50 years ago: 1969

• Owatonna’s Noel Jenke, a three-year letterman in baseball, football and hockey for the University of Minnesota, signed a professional baseball contract with the Boston Red Sox for a reported $100,000 after being drafted in the first round of the 1969 draft. He was also a 12th-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings and played one season for the team.

• The Albert Lea Tigers baseball team fell 5-1 to Minneapolis Washburn in the championship game of the Minnesota state high school baseball tournament. Ron Erickson pitched a complete game for the Tigers. Jay Gustafson, Randy Bottleson and Dick Humphrey were named to the all-tournament team.

• Lea College basketball star Howard Wilkens was in Czechoslovakia as part of a United States NAIA tour that was playing 10 games in the country.

 

25 years ago: 1994

• Albert Lea’s Jeff Schulz pitched a no-hitter as the Tiger City Sports/Mrs. Gerry’s 14-year-old traveling baseball team shut out New Richland 11-0.

• The Albert Lea Colonels remained unbeaten with a 1-0 victory over Waseca in Southern Minny League play. Joe Sczublewski got the complete game win, scattering seven hits and striking out five.

• Andy Dooley pitched a complete game six-hitter in the Albert Lea VFW team’s 2-1 victory over Waseca.

 

10 years ago: 2009

• Former American Wrestling Association star Buck “Rock ‘n’ Roll” Zumhofe wrestled and defeated “All Star” Paul Brewski in a professional wrestling match that was part of Freeborn Days. Brewski had to put on a weasel suit with the defeat.

• The Los Angeles Lakers earned their 15th title as they defeated the Orlando Magic 99-86 in game five of the NBA Finals. It was the 10th title for coach Phil Jackson.

• Jenna Christensen and Lauren Klick of the Albert Lea Tigers softball team were named the Albert Lea Tribune Area Softball Players of the Year.

 

This year

• On June 5, left-hander Dylan Hoffman became the second member of the 2018 Albert Lea Lakers to be selected in the major league draft. He follows Ben Madison, who was drafted in 2018. Hoffman was selected in the 39th round by the San Diego Padres, a team of which his father, Glenn Hoffman, is the third base coach. Dylan Hoffman has signed with the Padres and is reporting to their Arizona Summer League team in Peoria, Arizona.