West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

Each game provides unique challenges. The McGuire's Cats,with their 1-11 record coming in to Saturday's DH at Zirkel, would not have seemed to be a formidable opponent. Funny how records can lie. McGuire's, despite its lopsided mark, fielded a competetive and fundamentally strong squad on Saturday night. In addition, they offered two southpaw starting pitchers, a look few other teams offer. The result were two crisply-played, tight games. In the end, the Nationals prevailed by scores of 3-1 and 4-0. Game one had the makings of a blowout early. Nationals rookie and starting pitcher, Jim Jungbauer, cruised through three innings, yielding two hits and striking out three. Meanwhile, the offense plated three early runs in support. However, a third inning rally was cut short when the Nationals had two runners thrown out on the bases. Mike Wajerski led off with a single. Following a walk to Alex Franson, Kellen Haynes singled to put the Nats on the board. With Franson on third and Haynes at second, James Herkowski bounced back to the mound. Franson was caught between home and third and tagged out for the first out in the inning. After a Tom Donovan flyout and Jared Stengal RBI, the team looked to be in position to do more damage. That was not the case. After stealing second, Stengal tried to take advantage of what appeared to be a defensive lapse. He was cut down going to third base, though to end the inning. McGuire's did not go down quietly. Jungbauer took a shutout into the bottom of the seventh, but then struggled with command. Two walks and an error loaded the bases with no outs. After a force out at the plate, Kurt Wolf lined an RBI single to left and the game was in peril at 3-1. Jungbauer promply struck out the three hitter, though, and coaxed a pop to short to end the game. Game two also saw rookies leading the way. The game was scoreless until the fourth. After a James Herkowski single and Adam Kaufman sacrifice bunt, Phil Gnacinski stepped up. A passed ball moved Herkowski to third and Gnacinski responded with an RBI ground ball to the right side. McGuire's chose to throw home on the play - unsuccessfully - opening the gates for an extended rally. With Gnacinski now on first, fellow rookie James Riebe smoked a triple to the right field wall. A Wajerski ground out scored him with the Nats third run. The Nats were not done, though. Another rookie, Joe Riebe, coaxed a two out walk and promptly stole second. Alex Franson then delivered a two out double to put the Nats comfortably ahead at 4-0. This was more than enough offense for starting pitcher, Tim Spata. Spata pitched a 7 inning shutout with 7 K's and 3 walks shortly after coming off the DL with a severe ankle injury. Next up is a non-league opponent. The Green Bay Billys make their first ever appearance in Milwaukee, taking on the Nationals in a 1PM Sunday tilt at Zirkel Field.