West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

On saturday night at Fred Zirkel field the 1st place Racine Kiwanis paid a visit to the West Allis Nationals. Game 1 put two of the leagues veteran pitchers against each other (RHP's Kevin Sowinski and Tim Spata). The Nats squandered early opportunities to go up by striking out looking to end two potential big innings. The Kiwanis were up 3-1 for much of the game, until the 5th, when they broke it wide open with 5 runs. The Nats put up 2 more runs, but couldn't climb out of the hole and took the loss 8-3. Game 2 started like many others, until Kiwanis pitcher Mike Jacobson (UW-Whitewater) decided to make it interesting. He came high and tight on a few Nationals hitters and then even asked leadoff man Adam Karas "if he wanted one", and then proceeded to follow through on his promise. The Nats put up a run on a James Herkowski single and held that lead behind Jim Jungbauer, who looked to regain his stuff of last summer in his contract year. Jungbauer, in uncharacteristic fashion, didn't walk or hit a batter during the entire game. West Allis added another run in the 5th on an error and lead 2-0. The 7th inning started rather ominously when Kiwanis catcher Ryan Schmidt hit a high pop fly to center. Karas, initially broke back, then slipped and let the ball fall in for a leadoff single. The next hitter worked a 3-1 count and ripped a single down the left field line. With 2 on and nobody out, Racine tried a sacrafice bunt, but CF Brady Knudsen popped the bunt up to the catcher Jared Stengal, who then fired a rod down to second to double off the runner. The last out was recorded on a pop up to the mound and Jungbauer and Stengal decided to fight over the it. Jungbauer, who has maybe an inch on Stengal had the ball fall into his glove for the ballgame. The big K (Karma) was in effect for this game in regards to Jacobson, who didn't pitch a bad game. Maybe a little slice of humble pie would do him well. Next up: Nats @ Janesville, Tuesday