Sports Memories by Tom Jones

 

50 years ago: 1969

• Over 2000 spectators turned out at Hayek Field to watch Eddie Feigner, the “King and his court,” defeat the Albert Lea All-Stars 3-0 in softball action. Feigner, whose team was comprised of four players on the field, were in their 24th year of touring the world. Al Brooks, Gary Johnson, Virgil Ryan, Dave Long, Wayne Fuerhelm, John Stegenga and Bruce Nelson all had hits for Albert Lea.

• Cabin Bar picked up two victories in city slowpitch National Division play by beating Deluxe 16-3 and Melody Bar 7-6. Wes Hintz hit a three-run homer and Ronnie Sickels went two for two for the win over Deluxe.

• Vince Lombardi opened the Washington Redskins training camp in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, after a one-year retirement from coaching.

 

25 years ago: 1994

• The Albert Lea VFW baseball team bounced back from an opening-round loss to win three straight and capture the consolation championship at the St. Cloud tournament. Ryan Parks, Dan Wittmer and Andy Dooley all picked up wins on the mound.

• The Albert Lea Crossroads Trailer 14 and under traveling baseball team defeated the Austin Elks 6-3 at Hammer Field. Justin Kohn led Albert Lea with two hits. Matt Gordon pitched five innings to get the win.

• Albert Lea golfer Chris Baas finished first in the National Car Open Pro-Am qualifying tournament at Rochester. He was one of four to qualify for the National Car Open that was to be played at Bunker Hills in Coon Rapids.

 

10 years ago: 2009

• Ryan Wangen’s line drive to left field with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning gave the Albert Lea Colonels a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Wells at Hayek Field.

• The Lake Mills softball team defeated Osage 1-0. Josie Brackey threw her second straight shutout while striking out 15 as the Bulldogs advanced to the regional semi-finals where they were to face MFL-Mar-Mac.

• The Minnesota Timberwolves announced they had signed two of their first-round picks, Jonny Flynn and Wayne Ellington.

 

This year

• Albert Lea Grizzlies head coach Steve Piper has announced that the Grizzlies will be combining with the North Iowa Bucks to play in the two-day Pigskin Classic at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Advanced tickets from any Grizzlies player or coach are $15 with the tickets also being available at the stadium for $20.