Gabe Kasak of the Albert Lea/Austin American Legion baseball team attempts to steal second base Monday against Winona at Hayek Field. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

By Micah Bader

Albert Lea Tribune

ALBERT LEA – The Albert Lea/Austin Post 56 and 91 American Legion baseball team lost 15-5 and 4-3 Monday in a doubleheader to begin the season.

Being the first game the Albert Lea/Austin players played together, Albert Lea/Austin co-head coach Jay Enderson said his team is working to get to know each other.

Jacob Kempen of the Albert Lea/Austin American Legion baseball team hurls the ball toward home plate Monday against Winona at Hayek Field. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

“The biggest challenge is that we have 18 players, and between the rust — the three-week gap between the spring season and summer seasons — and figuring out where the guys are going to play, we’re taking our lumps right now,” he said. “We learned a lot, but it’s going to take a few more games to figure it out.”

“Personnel is trial and error,” Albert Lea/Austin co-head coach Bob Stratton said. “There’s going to be a meshing-out process.”

In Game 1, Albert Lea/Austin jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the first inning. Marcus Stoulil started the offensive charge with a base hit. A double deep to center field by Johnathan Fleek advanced Stoulil to third. Both runners scored on a double by Dylan See-Rockers.

Winona tied the game at three in the top of the third and took a two-run lead in the top of the fourth (5-3). However, Albert Lea/Austin fought back in the bottom of the inning to knot the score at five. Another double by See-Rockers scored Jacob Kempen, and See-Rockers scored on a double by Gabe Kasak. Kasak rounded second and tried to stretch it into a triple but was thrown out at third.

From there, Winona took control and scored 10 unanswered runs in the final three innings.

See-Rockers pitched the first 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two batters and allowed seven hits and four walks.

In game two, the roles reversed: Winona jumped out to a three-run lead. The Winhawks extended their lead to four runs in the second inning. Albert Lea/Austin chipped away at its deficit with one run in the fourth, sixth and seventh inning, only to lose by one run.

Chris Enderson led Albert Lea/Austin at the plate in Game 2. He had a double and an RBI.

Marcus Stoulil pitched Game 2 for Albert Lea/Austin. He struck out seven batters and allowed six hits and six walks.

Kasak led Albert Lea/Austin on the bases. He stole one base in Game 1 and two bases in Game 2.

Albert Lea/Austin is 0-2 overall.

Next, Albert Lea/Austin will host Kasson in a doubleheader at Austin’s Riverland Field at 5 p.m. today.

Game 1

AAL pitching: Dylan See-Rockers (L) 4 1/3 IP, 7 H, 8 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 2 K; Jacob Kempen 1 IP, 6 R, 6 ER; Zach Huntley 1 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

AAL hitting: Johnathan Fleek 2 H, 1 2B; Dylan See-Rockers 2 H, 2 2B, 3 RBIs; Gabe Kasak 2 H, 2 RBIs, 1 2B, 1 SB; Zach Huntley 2 H

Dylan See-Rockers of the Albert Lea/Austin American Legion baseball team is congratulated by his teammates after scoring a run Monday against Winona at Hayek Field. — Micah Bader/Albert Lea Tribune

Game 2

AAL pitching: Marcus Stoulil (L) 7 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 6 BB, 7 K

AAL hitting: Chris Enderson 1 H, 1 2B, 1 RBI; Jake Thompson 1 RBI; Johnathan Fleek 1 RBI; Gabe Kasak 2 SB