By Micah Bader

micah.bader@albertleatribune.com

The Albert Lea/Austin American Legion baseball team split a doubleheader Monday with Owatonna.

Albert Lea/Austin used a four-run burst in the second inning of the first game to win 8-3, and Owatonna withstood an 11-run inning by Posts 56 and 91 to win the nightcap 17-11.

“The first game — that’s how we’re capable of playing,” Albert Lea/Austin co-head coach Jay Enderson said. “We played good defense and we hit the ball well.”

Marcus Stoulil started on the mound for Albert Lea/Austin in Game 1. He made quick work of Post 77 batters: three up and three down in the top of the first.

In the bottom of the inning, Posts 56 and 91 stranded two runners. However, Albert Lea/Austin lit up the scoreboard in the second inning with a one-out RBI by E.J. Thomas to score Jacob Kempen. Steve Clennon scored on an Owatonna throwing error, a hit by Marcus Stoulil scored Thomas and Dylan See-Rockers crossed home plate to give Albert Lea/Austin a 4-0 lead.

Posts 56 and 91 extended their lead to five runs in the third when Gabe Kasak scored on a first-base overthrow.

Owatonna threatened in the top of the fourth, but a diving grab for the final out by Dylan See-Rockers in deep left center field thwarted any chance Post 77 had to score.

Albert Lea/Austin pulled away in the sixth inning. A hit to right field by Kasak scored Johnathan Fleek, and Kasak and Stoulil scored on a hit by Ethan Horstmann to extend the lead to six runs (8-2).

Stoulil helped Posts 56 and 91 maintain the lead for the final two innings.

“On the very first game I pitched here, Jay (Enderson) told me to pitch for outs,” Stoulil said. “That’s what I’ve been doing, and it’s really nice to get out there knowing that you’ve got people behind you making plays.”

In the nightcap, Albert Lea/Austin started slow. Owatonna built a 10-0 lead in the top of the fifth. However, Posts 56 and 91 railed to not only tie the game in the bottom of the fifth, but take the lead.

“You don’t see that in most lifetimes,” Enderson said. “Being down 10 to nothing, you think you’re ready to go home. Then, you score 11? That was fantastic. We could have easily cashed it in, but we didn’t.”

Stoulil hit a three-RBI double early in the inning to get the rally going.

“It was great to get the huge comeback,” Stoulil said. “Everybody contributed — one through nine and everyone on the bench.”

However, Owatonna responded with six runs in the sixth inning to pull away and earn the win.

Albert Lea/Austin is 6-9 overall. Posts 56 and 91 posted a record of 3-3 in their last six outings.

Next, Albert Lea/Austin plays a doubleheader at Rochester Mayo. The opening pitch of Game 1 will be at 4 p.m. today.

AL/A 041 003 X — 8

OW 000 002 1 — 3

ALA pitching: Marcus Stoulil (W) 7 IP, 28 AB, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 3 K

Albert Lea/Austin hitting: Dylan See-Rockers 1-3, 1 H, 1 RBI, 1 SB; Johnathan Fleek 2-2, 1 R, 2 BB; Marcus Stoulil 2-4, 1 R, 1 RBI; Zach Huntley 2-4, 1 RBI; Gabe Kasak 1-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB; Ethan Horstmann 2-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB; Jacob Kempen 1-3, 1 R; Steve Clennon 1 R, 1 BB; E.J. Thomas 1-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 SB

AL/A 000 0 11 0 0 — 11

OW 108 0 1 6 X — 17

ALA pitching: Johnathan Fleek (L) 3 1/3 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K; Dylan See-Rockers 2 IP, 4 BB, 3 H, 5 R, 3 ER; Steve Clennon 1/3 IP, 3 BB, 3 H, 4 R, 4 ER; Tyler Pirsig 1/3 IP, 1 K

Albert Lea/Austin hitting: Tyler Pirsig 1 BB; Johnathan Fleek 3-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 SB; Gabe Kasak 2-4, 1 2B, 2 R, 2 RBIs, 1 BB; Marcus Stoulil 4-5, 2 2B, 1 R, 4 RBIs, 1 SB; Sean Coffey 1 R, 2 BB; Jacob Kempen 1 BB, 1 RBI; Dalton Carlson 1-2, 2 RBIs; Chris Enderson 1 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 sac.