Congratulations to those Nationals who have been nominated to represent the Frank Langsdorf Baseball League in the 2008 All Star Game and Home Run Derby in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.   This year's game will be held on July 11.

2008 Langsdorf All Star Team

Manager:

Tim Pulizzano (Kenosha)

Pitchers:
1.Jack Olson (Kenosha)
2.Evan Berns (Angels)
3.Vince Sottile (Angels)
4.Curt Pryal (Nats)
5.Joe Munn (Nats)

Catchers:
6.Matt Abraham (Kenosha)
7.Tyler Fitzsimmons (Angels)
8.Matt Bartz (Burlington)

Middle Infielders:
9.Nick Rechlitz (Angels)
10.Mike Fuchs (2B) (Kenosha)
11.Jon Paul Cloutier (Racine)
12.Kevin Zalnis (SS/2B) (Kenosha)

3B:
13.Paul Archambeau (Angels) 
Curt Pryal (Nats)** 
Kevin Zalnis (Kenosha)** 

1B:
14.John Hasser (Kenosha) 
15.Tom Zimmerman (Nats) 

OF:
16.Dave Hermes (Kenosha)
Joe Munn (Nats)**
17.Jared Stengel (Nats)
18.Boe Baitinger (Sox)
19.Brad Collins (Angels)

HR Derby:
Jared Stengel (Nats)
Tom Zimmerman (Nats)
Dave Hermes (Kenosha)
Paul Archambeau (Angels)
Kevin Zalnis (Kenosha)

**Named at another position

The June 27 Rainouts versus Racine have been rescheduled as follows:

Thursday July 24   7:30PM at Zirkel.   Nationals are the home team

Monday July 28    7:30PM at Zirkel.    Nationals are the home team

Over the course of a season most teams experience highs and lows.

Thursday night was not a high.   After struggling to tally runs in a DH sweep of the Angels the team hoped to bounce back strong against the league leading Kings.   That would not be the case.   

A strong pitching effort from Jeff Donovan was wasted as the team could not find a way to generate any offense.   Jeff shut down the Kings for four innings before giving up a solo homer to Jason Acevedo in the fifth.   Unfortunately, the offense was able to generate just one baserunner during that period.   Jim Jungbauer singled in the fourth to break up the perfect game but was quickly erased on a 6-4-3 DP.    

The Nats showed some life in the sixth as Matt Soderlund singled and advance to second on a wild pitch.    A sacrifice by Mike Kenseth put him at third with one out, but he was stranded and the team went to the bottom of the sixth still down 1-0.

The Kings then broke the game open, sending 12 men to the plate and scoring 6 runs before the dust cleared.   

Down 7-0 with two outs in the ninth, the Nats showed life.   Singles by Mike Kenseth and Jim Jungbauer, doubles by Curt Pryal and Jared Stengal, and a 2 run homer by Tom Zimmerman pushed 4 runs across but the rally ended when Tom Donovan popped up to end the game.

Next up are the Racine Kiwanis.   The Nats and Kiwanis are scheduled to play 2 starting at 6PM at Zirkel Field on Friday night.

MONDAY, June 23, 2008, 3:06 p.m.
By Stefanie Scott

Man stabbed in Zablocki Park fight

A 27-year-old man was stabbed after a fight broke out at Zablocki Park, 3717 W. Howard Ave., about 6 p.m. June 21. He was taken to Froedtert Hospital for treatment.

According to a Greenfield police report:

The perpetrator in the stabbing is still at large.

However, two men, ages 20 and 40, were arrested for carrying a concealed weapon and vandalism for hitting several vehicles in the parking lot with a baseball bat. The 40-year-old man also was cited for having open intoxicants.

A 31-year-old man said he had been hit in the leg with a baseball bat.

Over the course of a season, most teams have ups and downs.   Successful teams find a way to win when up and survive when down.

On Saturday the Nationals survived two games against a scrappy Angels squad, winning by scores of 4-2 and 1-0.

Sloppy baserunning hurt the Nationals all night as the team ran into 6 outs on the bases.   Despite that and some defense miscues, the locals were able to squeeze out just enough offense to support strong pitching performances by starters Curt Pryal and Joe Munn.

Pryal allowed 1 earned run and 7 hits, walking 4 and striking out 7.   Munn was even stronger, shutting out the Angels on 1 infield hit while walking 3 and striking out 10.  Equally as impressive, Munn did not allow a single ball to reach the outfield.   All outs were recorded on the infield or via strikeout.

Though the Nats had multiple scoring opportunities in game 1, few produced fruit.   In the first, Jordan Stine was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and Danny Putnam followed with a single.   After Joe Munn struck out, James Herkowski lined a ball that was speared by the Angels second baseman who got a force on play as a run scored.  With two outs and the bases loaded, Mike Kenseth also hit a line drive, but it, too, was speared by the shortstop, preventing the Nats from breaking the game open.

The Nats were successful posting two in the third on a sac fly by Kenseth and a fielders choice groundout by Kellen Haynes, but the Angels answered with their second run of the game in the bottom half of the inning.   Adam Karas RBI single scored Matt Soderlund in the fifth to close out the team's scoring and Curt Pryal closed strong, striking out 5 of the last 10 hitters he faced.

Game two was a pitchers duel.   With offense at a premium - there were only 4 hits in the game - execution made the difference.   The game's only run came in the second inning.  After Curt Pryal led off with a single and Matt Soderlund reached on an error, Tom Donovan sacrificed them over and Jimmy Jungbauer brought Pryal home with a Sac Fly.   That was all Munn needed in throwing one of the most dominant games in recent Nationals memory.

Next up are the first place Kings.   Game is set for 7:30pm on Thursday at Zirkel Field in West Allis.