West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

The Nationals offense picked up where it left off last week. Though the team did not match its record setting 31 run effort, it did reach double figures in each of its two victories Saturday night. In game one's 14-7 triumph, the fireworks began only after Lifetime Financial had jumped to a 6-1 lead. Leading the comeback effort was Jake Paige, who managed three safeties after the third inning. Jake Koutnik and James Herkowski added a pair of knocks as the team took advantage of Lifetime starter, Jim Downer's, wildness in and out of the strike zone. Game two was a bit easier as the team jumped to a 4-1 first inning lead en route to a 17-1 5 inning mercy rule thumping. Alex Franson led the way with 4 hits while Jake Koutnik had two triples. Trevor Koepp and red-hot Tim Spata added three hits each. Nick Kibler continued his dominance on the hill, limiting the opposition to 5 hits and one unearned run while striking out 7. The Nationals next face an improved McGuire's Cats squad on Sunday at Zirkel Field. First pitch is scheduled for 6PM.

Listen up, boys and girls. The time has again come for the West Allis Nationals to determine their FATMAN of the year. Past award winners, Nick Kibler and Chris Marks (aka Frosty the Snowman) had this to say: Kibler: "That's a bull#@&* award given by a bunch of sally salad eaters." Said Marks: "What! Leave me alone!" This year both appear to have strong competition from #41. Since joining the 5-0, #41 has had to purchase several bullet-proof vests before finally settling on one with spandex and elasticity. Needless to say, you won't find this guy at the salad bar. Have a look at our contestant in this 2001 photo. Rumor has it that he will have to add another digit to his uniform to account for the real estate he has since added. PLACE YOUR VOTE ONLINE. JUST GO TO OUR GUESTBOOK AND OFFER YOUR OPINION.

The West Allis Nationals broke out of their offensive funk Saturday night in a doubleheader sweep of Landmark Inn Tavern. The 5 inning mercy rule was employed in both ends of the doubleheader as the Nationals streaked to victories of 12-1 and 31-0. The local nine broke open game one with an eight run third inning, highlighted by home runs from Trevor Koepp and Alex Franson. Jim Dettman took advantage of the cushion, limiting the opposition to a single hit in 5 innings of work while gaining the victory. Game two was also decided early. A record-breaking seventeen run first inning was the story of the game. Trevor Koepp's grand slam gave the team a 5-0 lead and the rout was on. Nick Kibler was dominant on the hill. Kibler threw a no-hitter while striking out nine in 5 innings of work. The Nationals return to action on Saturday night versus Lifetime Financial at Harvey Kuenn Field at Rainbow Park. First pitch is 6PM.

After taking game one with a 14-4, 5 inning mercy rule victory, the Nationals found runs to be scarce in game 2. Limited to just 4 hits by the Sox starter, the Nationals fell to the Sox 8-2. The teams remain tied in the loss column and in their battle for second place. Efficient batting helped the Nationals in game one. Hitters worked deep into counts and chased the Sox starting pitcher early in the game. The patient plate approach led to six bases on balls and a hit batsman, nearly as many runners as reached base via hits. Jake Paige scored 4 runs in the victory while Chris Marks added three RBI. Jake Paige led the Nationals with two hits in game 2, but the team only managed two others as the bats wilted in the summer heat. The Nationals are back at it Saturday night at Zirkel Field in McCarty Park. A doubleheader versus the Landmark Inn Tavern begins at 6PM.

Saturday night the Nationals did something that the opposition had not been able to do for 32 consecutive league games. Suffering a 9-4 loss to the Cubs, the Nationals beat themselves in game 1, and ended the third longest winning streak in team history. Loose defense put the Nationals in an early 4-0 hole, and cold bats failed to produce a baserunner until the fifth inning, when the team broke through on consecutive singles by Paige, Franson, and Dettman. Despite adding another run in the sixth and two in the seventh, the team fell for the first time since July 2000. The team responded admirably in game two and played its best overall game of the young season. Unfortunately, the offense continued to struggle and the team fell 4-3 in 10 innings. Nick Kibler was the story in game two. Pitching 9.3 innings, Kibler held the potent Cubs offense to 7 hits with pinpoint control and exceptional command. Chris Marks' two run homer in the sixth inning sent the game to extra frames. A Brian Gibson single gave the team a one run lead in the eighth, but the Cubs matched in the bottom half of the inning before scoring on a single in the tenth for the victory. The team next faces the rival White Sox on Sunday night at Kuenn field. Game one starts at 6PM.