West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

The weather was hot and the bats were hotter on Tuesday night at Horlick Field in Racine.   Staked by 6 players with two or more hits, the Nationals cruised to a 9-2 victory.  2012 All Star Adam Karas led the way with 3 knocks and Luke Maldonado, fellow All Star Matt Richer, Colby Gee, Mike Merritt, and Nick Lingvay added two each.

Jimmy Jungbauer pitched seven innings for the Nationals to earn the win.  Jungbauer allowed no earned runs on 7 hits, striking out 4 and walking 2.   Bobby Herrick pitched two perfect innings of relief.

The Nationals next face the Burlington Barons on Thursday night at Zirkel Field in West Allis followed by the Kenosha Bobcats on Friday night at Simmons Field in Kenosha.  Both games begin at 7:30pm

The West Allis Nationals and Genoa City Red Dogs played late into the evening on Tuesday and when the 12th inning was completed without resolution, the lights went out and the game was suspended at 6-6.

The game will be resumed and concluded on July 14 in Genoa City.

The Nats returned to Simmons Field in Kenosha Saturday afternoon after a successful Friday night tilt against the Bobcats, but the Kings proved to be a more formidable foe.

The Kings swept the Nationals by scores of 11-1 and 5-3 to move to a perfect 10-0 in Langsdorf League play.   The Nats slipped to 4-6.

The Kings scored 3 runs off of Nationals starter Curt Pryal (2-2) in the second; the key blow being a 2 out, two run single by ex-National Tyler Eickmeyer.   From there, it was an uphill climb.  The National managed a tally in the fourth on doubles by Andy Kovarik and Jimmy Jungbauer, but Kings starter Randy Johnson held the Nats down from there.   The Kings put the game away with two runs in fourth and five more in the fifth.

Game two provided more promise.   The Nats took a 1-0 lead in the first.  After a Nate Martin double and Colby Gee fielder's choice, Mike Merritt hit a sacrifice fly to center.   The Kings responded with three of their own in the bottom of the second off of Nationals starter Mitch Lochen (0-2) but Lochen settled in after that point.  

A two run fourth by the Nationals knotted the game at 3.   Nick Lingvay, Jared Stengel, and Kyle Kalkopf singled to plate one run and after Adam Karas reached on an error, Luke Maldonado just missed a bases clearing extra base hit, instead settling for a sacrifice fly, to plate the second run.

In the fifth the Kings scored the two runs that proved to be the difference.   With two outs, Tyler Eickmeyer stole second.  JT Schneider hit a single in the hole between short and third to give the Kings a 4-3 lead.  After a Schneider steal, Billy Johnson plated him with a single.

Next up for the Nationals are the Genoa City Red Dogs.   The Red Dogs come to Zirkel Field on Tuesday for a 7:30 game.    The Nationals hope to avenge a doubleheader sweep suffered to the Red Dogs in late May. 

Andy Kovarik threw his second complete game shutout in three starts as the West Allis Nationals downed the Kenosha Bobcats 3-0 on Friday night at Simmons Field in Kenosha.   Kovarik allowed only 4 hits and three walks while striking out 6 and improved his record to 2-1 on the year.   Kovarik benefitted from a strong defense, including several highlight reel catches 2 inning ending double plays.

The Nationals scored the only runs they would need early in the game.   Curt Pryal singled home Bobby Widenski with two outs in the third to put the Nats up 1-0.  The Nats tacked on two more runs in the fourth on consecutive RBI singles by Luke Maldonado and Colby Gee.   Gee led the team with 4 hits and Nick Lingvay contributed 2 hits and 2 walks.  

Next up for the Nationals are the first place and undefeated Kenosha Kings.   The two squads will square off for a DH on Saturday June 23 in Kenosha.   First pitch is scheduled for 3:30pm.