Announcement
Nationals Sweep Annual Road Trip
The West Allis Nationals made their annual trip north on Friday night. First up were the Menasha Macs. Led by the dominant pitching of Jimmy Jungbauer and power of Brandon Hall, the Nationals prevailed 9-4. Hall gave the Nats a first inning lead on a two run blast to left and Jungbauer took it from there, throwing 7 strong innings of two hit baseball.
Hall finished the night with 3 hits and two RBIs. Curt Pryal added 3 hits and an RBI, while Dean Mlachnik and Adam Karas each contributed two knocks.
The weary Nats were back at it early Saturday driving further north to Marinette to take on the Redbirds at Petersen Ballpark. Despite the fatigue, aches, and injuries the skeleton squad wrestled away two more victories, sweeping a DH by scores of 7-4 and 6-1.
The opener was a back and forth affair that was knotted at 4 going into the seventh inning. In the top half of the inning, Erik Martwick reached on an error with one out. James Herkowski and Austin James then followed with consecutive singles to plate the lead run. After the second out of the inning was recorded, Jared Stengel stepped to the plate and knocked in two insurance runs.
Alex Kingsley earned the victory in his first Nationals start. Kingsley went 6 strong innings, allowing two earned runs on seven hits. Kingsley struck out 7 and walked none. Curt Pryal pitched the seventh for his first save of the year.
Herkowski led the offense with 3 hits and 2 RBI. Austin James and Brandon Hall added two hits.
The nightcap of the DH got underway after 4pm, by which time most of the squad was running on the fumes of the previous eve's High Lifes. Despite that, the team was able to overcome an early 1-0 deficit with a 4 run third. Adam Karas reached with one out and later scored on a single by Jared Stengel. Curt Pryal followed with an RBI single to give the team the lead and James Herkowski matched him afterwards. A bases loaded walk to Erik Martwick closed the scoring.
That would prove to be more than enough for Nationals starting pitcher Kyle Knaust. Knaust cruised to a complete game victory, allowing only 3 hits and one earned run.
The resourceful offense generated 6 runs on just 4 hits in the nightcap but the results were most favorable, making the Saturday night High Lifes even more enjoyable.
Those who survived the long weekend will be back at it on Tuesday night at 7:30pm. The Nats will open league play against the West Allis White Sox at Zirkel Field.
