Announcement
Nats Defeat Angels 6-3; Playoffs Up Next
Posted by Steve Elliott on
Jul 24 2004
at
05:00PM PDT
in 2019 Season
By Steve Elliott
The inaugural regular season of the Southeastern Wisconsin Baseball League came full circle last night at Zirkel Field. The Nats and rival Angels squared off just as they had on May 29 in the league opener. Much had occured during the interim. The stable Angels had reeled off victories in 12 of 13 games to claim the regular season crown.
The Nationals, on the other hand, struggled to win 8 of 13 games while seeking an identity. Personnel changes had been abundant. Gone were Trevor Koepp and Jason Koconis. In were Kellen Haynes and Brandon Kellbach. Missing then were Mike Wajerski, James Herkowski, and Nick Kibler. Missing yesterday were Joe Kissler, Corey Berndsen, and Nick Kibler.
Tom Donovan? Yes to both games. Joe Reisinger? Joe Reisinger?? Joe Reisinger??? Will somebody please tell me how a supposed Engineering major can be tardy and/or miss the first pitch of key games twice in a fifteen game schedule?
Anyway, there was a game to be played. A fine game it was. When management determined Kellen Haynes unfit to assume leadoff duties on the day, Mike Wajerski stepped in and responded. His leadoff bunt single in the top of the first sparked a crooked-number first inning. Alex Franson followed with a single and when Chris Marks walked, James Herkowski stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and none out. His sacrifice fly scored Wajerski. After Tom Donovan grounded to second, Jared Stengel stepped up and delivered. Jared blasted a line-drive double to the left field wall scoring Franson and Marks. Up 3-0, the Nats had a chance to blow the game open, but the rally was snuffed out when Stengel was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on Jimmy Dettman's single.
Pat Bovee then took the mound. Bovee set the Angels down in order in the first and worked in and out of trouble for another 5 plus innings before giving way to Tim Spata. Spata entered with a runner on second and one out in the seventh. The Nats held a 5-2 lead, but the Angels were gaining momentum. Spata overcame adversity -both self induced (hanging 0-2 curveball) and external (missed call on a 2 strike curveball) and finally induced an inning-ending 5-4-3 DP. Fire suppressed, the game was 5-3.
Insurance was added in the eighth. Wajerski, again, was the focal point of the rally. A leadoff walk and stolen base put Mike at second with none out. Alex Franson then singled, putting runners on the corners with none out. After Chris Marks popped to short, Herkowski came through again. Herkowski's liner to left, though snared by Soto with a great diving catch, proved sufficient to get Wajerski in from third with the team's 6th run.
Tim Spata put the Angels down in order in the eighth and gave way to Kellen Haynes. Haynes struggled with command, but as had been the case all game, the defense came through. Tim Spata and Jake Paige each lunged to snare line drives outs and the Nats walked off the field with a hard-earned victory.
Up next for the improving squad are the Racine Kiwanis in Game 1 of the Southeastern Wisconsin Baseball League Semi-Finals. First pitch is 7PM at Harden Field in Milwaukee.
The inaugural regular season of the Southeastern Wisconsin Baseball League came full circle last night at Zirkel Field. The Nats and rival Angels squared off just as they had on May 29 in the league opener. Much had occured during the interim. The stable Angels had reeled off victories in 12 of 13 games to claim the regular season crown.
The Nationals, on the other hand, struggled to win 8 of 13 games while seeking an identity. Personnel changes had been abundant. Gone were Trevor Koepp and Jason Koconis. In were Kellen Haynes and Brandon Kellbach. Missing then were Mike Wajerski, James Herkowski, and Nick Kibler. Missing yesterday were Joe Kissler, Corey Berndsen, and Nick Kibler.
Tom Donovan? Yes to both games. Joe Reisinger? Joe Reisinger?? Joe Reisinger??? Will somebody please tell me how a supposed Engineering major can be tardy and/or miss the first pitch of key games twice in a fifteen game schedule?
Anyway, there was a game to be played. A fine game it was. When management determined Kellen Haynes unfit to assume leadoff duties on the day, Mike Wajerski stepped in and responded. His leadoff bunt single in the top of the first sparked a crooked-number first inning. Alex Franson followed with a single and when Chris Marks walked, James Herkowski stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and none out. His sacrifice fly scored Wajerski. After Tom Donovan grounded to second, Jared Stengel stepped up and delivered. Jared blasted a line-drive double to the left field wall scoring Franson and Marks. Up 3-0, the Nats had a chance to blow the game open, but the rally was snuffed out when Stengel was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on Jimmy Dettman's single.
Pat Bovee then took the mound. Bovee set the Angels down in order in the first and worked in and out of trouble for another 5 plus innings before giving way to Tim Spata. Spata entered with a runner on second and one out in the seventh. The Nats held a 5-2 lead, but the Angels were gaining momentum. Spata overcame adversity -both self induced (hanging 0-2 curveball) and external (missed call on a 2 strike curveball) and finally induced an inning-ending 5-4-3 DP. Fire suppressed, the game was 5-3.
Insurance was added in the eighth. Wajerski, again, was the focal point of the rally. A leadoff walk and stolen base put Mike at second with none out. Alex Franson then singled, putting runners on the corners with none out. After Chris Marks popped to short, Herkowski came through again. Herkowski's liner to left, though snared by Soto with a great diving catch, proved sufficient to get Wajerski in from third with the team's 6th run.
Tim Spata put the Angels down in order in the eighth and gave way to Kellen Haynes. Haynes struggled with command, but as had been the case all game, the defense came through. Tim Spata and Jake Paige each lunged to snare line drives outs and the Nats walked off the field with a hard-earned victory.
Up next for the improving squad are the Racine Kiwanis in Game 1 of the Southeastern Wisconsin Baseball League Semi-Finals. First pitch is 7PM at Harden Field in Milwaukee.
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