West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

There is no such thing as a comfortable lead when playing a rival.

Those Nationals who didn't know this, learned quickly on Saturday night at Zirkel Field.

Jim Jungbauer started on the hill for the Nats and made quick work of the West Allis White Sox in the top of the first inning, striking out two.  One of those strikeouts came against his own brother. 

The Nats, on the other hand, burst out of the gate.  The team batted around in the first inning, scoring 5 times against one-time National pitching great, Mark Sura.  Timely hits by new National Jesse Hart, Johnny Arnold, and Tom Donovan keyed the rally.

5-0 did not stand long.  Jungbauer began losing command in the third.  Coupled with some kicks and errant throws, the White Sox threw three runs on the board.  After trading runs, The White Sox tied the game 6-6 in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly.  

The damage could have been far worse if not for a stellar defensive play by Mike Wajerski and Tom Donovan.  With one out and runners on the corners, the White Sox hitter smoked a sinking liner off of relief pitcher, Nick Kibler, that seemed destined to fall in.  Wajerski laid out in right center field for a diving catch, quickly sprung to his feet, and fired to Tom Donovan at first base,  who alertly took away a nasty short hop and made a sweeping tag of runner, Andy Tuler, for the third out of the inning.

With this momentum shift, the Nationals never looked back.  The team added a couple runs in the sixth and three in the seventh, ultimately prevailing in the contest 16-9.

Next up for the Nationals are the undefeated Appleton Legends (9-0) at Zirkel Field on Sunday at 1PM.