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The West Allis Nationals jumped to an early lead and withstood a late RedDog rally to escape with an 7-6 victory in the season opener for both squads.
The Nats struck early. After a leadoff walk to Adam Karas and another to Justin Molle, Paul Archambault ripped a double to left to plate the first run of the game. After a walk to Alex Elliott, Ryan Hoffman singled to score Molle and push the lead to 2-0. Curt Pryal then followed with a sharp grounder down the third base line which was gloved for a force at third, scoring Archambault on the play. After one inning, the Nats led 3-0.
The Nats added to their lead with three more runs in the third on RBI singles by Eric Schrader and Jordan Koutnik and a bases loaded walk to Lance Longhenry.
In the seventh the Nats scored their last tally when Paul Archambault scored on an RBI single by Ryan Hoffman.
Brian Henschell stymied Genoa City's offense for the first 5 innings, allowing only an unearned run on 5 hits while striking out 4. Curt Pryal followed for 3 innings, holding the RedDogs to 2 runs and departing with a 7-3 lead.
Genoa City made it a game in the ninth inning. A run scoring double closed the gap to 7-4 with one out and runners on second and third. Catcher Paul Archambault then picked off the runner at second for the second out of the inning and that play proved to be critical and Genoa City's Brian Dohse homered on the next pitch, plating two runs rather than three.
With the score 7-6 and two outs, Chad Tindall singled. That brought GC's three hitter, Jason Dennis, to the plate. Dennis lifted a ball to center that appeared to be going for extra bases, but the Nationals' Eric Schrader made a over the shoulder catch with his back to the infield to end the game.
Next up for the Nationals are the Kewaskum A's on Thursday night at Carl Kuss Field in West Bend. First pitch is set for 7:30pm.
Nats Close Out Regular Season with Victory
The Nationals travelled to Sheboygan Tuesday night looking to eliminate the sour taste of Saturday's loss to Racine and did just that with a come-from-behind 8-5 victory over the Sheboygan A's.
The Nats fell behind 3-0 in the first but got back in the game with a single tally in the third and three runs in the fourth. Colby Gee started the fourth inning rally by reaching on an errant throw. Mike Merritt then followed with an RBI double and Jared Stengel brought him home with an RBI single. Adam Karas' bases loaded walk closed out the scoring, but the Nats had a lead they would never relinquish.
The Nats added to that lead when Nick Lingvay scored from third on a balk after reaching on a single, the second of his three hits on the night. The Nats broke the game open in the seventh. After a Matt Richer single and Lingvay walk, Jared Stengel delivered a clutch 2 out 2 run single to right center to give the Nats a 7 -3 lead. Eric Schrader's RBI single in the eighth scored a running Nate Martin, closing out the scoring and pushing the lead to 8-3.
After a slow start in the first, Jimmy Jungbauer shut down the A's. He retired 15 straight batters between the first and the sixth innings before allowing Tim Patzman to reach on a base on balls.
The resilient A's threatened the Nationals lead in the 7th, loading the bases with no one out. Jungbauer struck out the next two hitters and appeared to have the next hitter K'd as well before allowing a 2 out 2 RBI single to Drew Pearson. Adam Widder then came on and retired the next hitter on a fly to right, defusing the rally. After a quick eighth, Widder escaped a jam in the ninth with no runs, earning the save of Jungbauer's 5th victory, and giving the Nationals a hard-fought 8-5 win.
The playoffs begin Friday for the Nationals at 7:30pm at Kenosha-Simmons. They'll host the winner of the playoff game between Burlington Barons/Kenosha Bobcats on Thursday.
Luke Mason threw a complete game three hitter, shutting down the Nationals 4-1, and dealing the locals a serious blow to their hopes for a #2 playoff seeding.
The Nationals were unable to generate any offense. Andy Kovarik's seventh double followed later by Kyle Knaust's sacrifice fly saved the Nationals from being shut out on the day.
Curt Pryal suffered the loss despite allowing no earned runs in 6 innings. Andy Kovarik pitched three scoreless innings to close out the game, but the offense was silent.
The Nationals next travel to Sheboygan on Tuesday to close out the regular season. The game may or may not have a bearing on the Nationals playoff seeding. Sheboygan plays two games today against Genoa City and can secure the second seed with a sweep.
Jimmy Jungbauer went 8 strong innings and Mike Merritt broke open the game with a grand slam as the Nationals secured an important 8-1 victory over the Kenosha Bobcats at Zirkel Field on Tuesday night. The victory assures the Nationals of no worse than a #3 seeding in the championship playoffs which begin next week.
The game was much closer than the final score indicates. Scoreless through 5 innings, the Bobcats got on the board first on a fielders choice groundout by ex-National Johnny Meier. The Nationals answered, however, with three runs of their own. With two outs, Curt Pryal walked. Mike Merritt followed with a line single to center and after a Jared Stengel walk to load the bases, Nate Martin delivered his second hit of the game, a two run single to right center to give the Nats a 2-1 lead. The Nats picked up a third run on a double steal - Martin stealing second and Stengel scampering home.
The Nats put the game away in the seventh. After Matt Richer was hit by a pitch and Nick Lingvay walked, Colby Gee lined an RBI single to left to put the Nats up 4-1. A Curt Pryal walk then set the stage for Mike Merritt's monumental blast to left to put the Nationals safely ahead 8-1.
Jungbauer was sharp all night. He allowed only 4 hits while striking out 5 and walking 3. Eric Schrader pitched a scoreless ninth.
Next up for the Nationals are the Racine Kiwanis at historic Horlick Field on Thursday. First pitch is set for 7:30pm.
