The Faribault Falcons had just one error in their 8-1 road loss to Albert Lea on Tuesday evening.

After double-digit errors in their doubleheader losses in Rochester on Saturday, the defense was vastly improved.

Head coach Charlie Lechtenberg and assistant coach Bob Fielitz made some defensive changes for the game and both said after the game it was one of their better performances of the season. However, the bats were silenced for Faribault with just two hits in the game.

Junior Peyton Miller started the game and went the first five innings throwing 116 total pitches, 70 for strikes. He had 18 of 30 first-pitch strikes. Miller struck out one batter, had six walks and hit a batter.

In the first inning, the Tigers got back-to-back walks following a inning-opening fly out. Their No. 2 hitter stole second base and a sacrifice fly scored him. With two outs, Albert Lea senior pitcher Jakob Kilby hit a high fly ball to right field that wasn't caught and another run scored.

Following the third walk of the inning, Miller got his only strike-out victim to end the inning. Miller threw 32 pitches in the first inning, 19 for strikes, and walked three batters. Two of them scored and Albert Lea was up 2-0 without a hit in the inning.

The Tigers would add three more in the third. Again there was an out to start the inning and the cleanup hitter singled. Kilby was hit by a pitch. The designated hitter singled in a run. The No. 8 hitter had an RBI single and a run scored on a wild pitch and it was 5-0. Albert Lea.

Meanwhile Faribault got their first hit in the fourth inning -- a one-out single by Jake Lauwagie. Their other hit came off the bat of Colton Helgeson in the seventh inning.

Albert Lea added another run in the fifth. The first batter popped out. The No. 7 hitter got a single and after back-to-back walks to the Nos. 8 and 9 hitters, the lead-off man for Albert Lea had an RBI single.

The Tigers added two more in the sixth off junior reliever Sam Jasinski.

The cleanup hitter for Albert Lea started the inning with a single and after a hit batsman there was a ground out that scored a run. That was followed by another ground out that scored a run and it was 8-0 Albert Lea heading into the seventh inning.

After a ground out to start the final frame, Austin Rendler had a terrific at-bat that ended in a walk, Helgeson singled and Miller walked. Rendler scored on a ball that was smacked off the pitcher's leg by Dylan Vargo, who was retired at first base and the inning ended with a strikeout.

Albert Lea improved their record to 5-6 and Faribault dropped to 0-12.

A couple of notable observations for the game.

  • Albert Lea runs that scored included two of the six walks and two hit batsmen and a wild pitch allowed a run.
  • In the three-run third, the three hits came off a 3-1 count and 0-1 and 0-2 counts.
  • A single in the fourth came on a 0-1 count and the one-out single in the fifth that eventually scored came on an 0-2 count.

Our State Farm Insurance Faribault agents Faribault players of the game were Dylan O'Neil, Jake Lauwagie and Colton Helgeson. Lauwagie and Helgeson had the two Falcon hits and O'Neil blocked a number of balls in the dirt and started the game with a walk. Lauwagie and O'Neil are sophomores and Helgeson is a junior.

The Falcons host Owatonna on Thursday at Bell Field. The game will be broadcast on Power 96 Radio. Roy Koenig will be at Morehouse Park in Owatonna when the Faribault Falcons travel to Owatonna for a rare softball game under the lights. His coverage begins at 6:45PM.

I'll be on KDHL Radio 920 AM with a Hiawatha Valley League game between the Pine Island Panthers and Cannon Falls Bombers under the lights at picturesque John Burch Park. Our coverage begins at 6:45PM.

 

Albert Lea Pitcher Jakob Kilby threw two hitter
Albert Lea Pitcher Jakob Kilby threw two hitter
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Other Tuesday baseball games in the area:

  • John Marshall 9, Century 5
  • Owatonna 6, Northfield 0
  • Rochester Mayo 3, Winona 2 (10 innings)
  • Red Wing 6, Austin 3 (10 innings)
  • Tri-City United 6, Waterville-Elysian-Morristown 4
  • New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva 4, Zumbrota-Mazeppa 1
  • Cleveland 6, Mankato Loyola 5 (8 innings)
  • Triton 12, Blooming Prairie 6
  • Rochester Lourdes 9, Dover-Eyota 8
  • Randolph 28, Glenville-Emmons 0 (5 innings) Matt Olson and Grant Otte combine to throw a one-hitter. Jackson Neil hit for cycle with 5 RBI, Mitch Kimmes 3 hits 3 RBI, Matt Olson 3 hits, 2 doubles, 4 RBI.
  • Pine Island 4, Stewartville 3 (13 innings)
  • Waseca 8, Jordan 3 (in Waterville)
  • New Prague 12, Waconia 0
  • St. James 3, Maple River 2
  • Lyle/Pacelli 17, Schaeffer Academy 3

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