West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

The Cubs demonstrated Saturday that they have no plans of letting their title go undefended. Last year's champions came ready to play and handed the Nationals their first doubleheader sweep in over a year. Game one was decided late. The Cubs scored first on a bases loaded walk in second inning. The Nationals reciprocated with an RBI single by Jake Paige, but the score remain tied 1-1 until the bottom of the seventh. Pat Bovee, in relief of starter Jim Dettman, allowed a bases loaded single and sending the Nationals to a tough 2-1 defeat. The Nationals failed to capitalize on a golden scoring opportunity in the sixth when James Herkowski lined into a double play with no outs and runners on first and second. Game two was decided earlier. The Cubs took advantage of starter Nick Kibler's wildness in and out of the strike zone to jump to a 3-0 lead. After the Nationals battled back to narrow the margin to 3-2, Kibler was touched for a four run fourth inning. The key blast was a bases clearing double from Cub Mark Tomczak. The 7-2 margin proved too much to overcome, though Kibler did help his own cause with a two run homer late. Despite these runs, the Nats succombed 7-5. Next up are McGuire's Cats in a Saturday doubleheader at Kuenn Field in Rainbow Park. The Nationals can clinch a playoff spot with two victories in their final four games.