West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

WHITEWATER UPDATE  (29-5):

• • Jeff Donovan - Jeff's settled in as the starting first baseman.   4/5:  Jeff was 3-10 with an HR in a DH sweep of Oshkosh.   4/6:  Jeff was 5-9 with an HR, SB, and 2 RBI as the squad was swept by Oshkosh.  4/10:  Jeff was 1-7 in a DH sweep of Platteville.   4/12  3-8 with an HR, 4RBI and 3 runs scored in a sweep of Stout.  4/14  Continued to swing hot bat going 4-7 with 2HR's, 6 RBI's, and 4 runs scored while leading team to a DH sweep of Stout in the Metrodome.   4/15:  1-8 with 2 runs scored in DH sweep of Luther, Iowa.  4/20:  1-4 in 12-0 no hit victory over Superior. 4/21:  1-10 in rare tripleheader sweep of Superior.   4/23:  6-9 with 3 runs and 3 RBI in DH sweep of Platteville.  4/27:  1-9 with a double and walk in DH split with La Crosse.  4/28:  3-10 with 2 RBI and a run scored in DH sweep of La Crosse.  5/4:  Jeff had a big day in a DH split with Point.   In two games he went 2-7 with 3 runs, 2 HR's and 7 RBI.

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  • Mike Kenseth - Mike's been starting at Shortstop.  4/6:  Mike was 1-2 with a walk in a DH sweep of Oshkosh.  4/10:  Mike started at SS in game two, playing flawless defense and going 1-3 with a walk.  4/12:  Mike started both ends of a DH vs Stout at Shortstop, going 2-4 with 2 doubles and 3 walks.  4/14:  1-4 with 3 BB's and a HBP in DH sweep of Stout.   Also knocked in 2 runs and scored 3.   4/15:  2-7 with HBP in DH sweep of Luther.   Also scored and knocked in a run.  4/20:  2-4 in 12-0 no hit victory over Superior.   4/21:  2-6 with an RBI in tripleheader sweep of Superior.   4/23:  3-7 with 4 runs a BB and an RBI in DH sweep of Platteville.  4/27:  3-8 with 2 runs, 2RBI and HBP in split with La Crosse.  4/28:   0-3 in DH sweep of La Crosse.  4/30:  0-4 in DH sweep of Concordia.  5/4:  Mike went 0-3 in a DH split with Point.

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  • Greg Donovan - Greg's been working out of the bullpen.   4/6:  Greg pitched 5.1 innings in relief of the starting pitcher in the team's game 1 loss to Oshkosh.  Greg gave up 5 hits and 2 walks, striking out 3 and surrendering 3 runs.  4/12:  Greg threw 2.1 innings of perfect relief versus Stout, striking out 3.  4/14:   Back on the hill for a short stint against Stout in the Metrodome.   Went two thirds of an inning allowing a hit and 2 runs while walking 2 and striking out one.  4/21:  1 inning in victory over Superior, allowing 2 hits 2 walks and 2 earned runs.   4/28:  4 innings in relief versus La Crosse.   Allowed 4 hits, 2 walks and two earnies while striking out 5.  4/30:  1 perfect inning of relief in DH sweep of Concordia.

• • Tom Donovan - .333    Tom's been serving in a reserve role at 1B.  4/6:  Tom was HBP as a pinch hitter in the team's DH sweep of Oshkosh.  4/21:   Appeared as a PH.  4/28:  Appeared as a PR.  4/30:  0-1 as a PH vs Concordia.

• • Tom Zimmerman - .000   Tom's been serving in a reserve role in the OF.   4/20:  0-1 as a PH/DH in 12-0 victory over Superior.

VALPARAISO UPDATE  (16-28)

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  • Jason Brunelli-    Jason's a regular OF hitting in the middle of the Valpo lineup.   Week of 3/31:   Jason was 1-10 as the team split games with Youngstown State.  4/10:  0-4 with a walk as the team lost to Notre Dame.   4/16:  1-1 with an RBI in a 10-9 victory over St. Francis.  4/18:  2-3 with BB and HBP, 3R, 2RBI in victory over UIC.   4/23:  0-3 with a walk in victory over Judson.  4/26:  2-5 with 2HR and 3RBI in victory over Butler.  4/27:  2-11 with a run and an RBI in DH split with Butler.  4/28 and 5/2:  Big week:  1-5 with a 3 walks vs. IFPW and 4-9 with a double, HR, and 8 RBI vs. UW Milwaukee.

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  • Matt Soderlund - .000.    Matt walked on to the squad this year as a Freshman out of Racine Park and has made the Varsity travel team at Catcher.  Week of 3-31:   Matt was 0-1 as a pinch hitter and defensive replacement in a game versus Youngstown State.   4/19:  0-1 as pinch hitter and defensive replacement vs. UIC.  5/2:  0-2 vs UW Milwaukee in 20-5 victory

A limited supply of tickets to the Nationals 2008 Fundraiser are available for purchase.

On Monday July 7 the team will host a Brewer Game outing with the support of Club Paragon.   

Included:

• Sandwich, chips, and drinks at Club Paragon
• Bus Ride w/drinks from Club Paragon to Miller Park and back.
• Club Level ticket to the Brewers/Rockies game at 7PM.
• One raffle ticket for a Brewer memorabilia raffle after the game.   (Additional raffle tickets will be available for purchase)

Package price is $50 per person.

All proceeds go to the West Allis Nationals Baseball Club.

To purchase your package, contact Steve Elliott at 414-305-2104.

The West Allis Nationals Baseball Club held its 2008 Winter Planning Meeting recently:

Here are the 2007 Player Award Winners:

MVP:                                    Jimmy Jungbauer

Veteran of the Year:           James Herkowski

Rookie of the Year:             Jeff Donovan (unanimous)

Neibauer Spirit Award:       Andy Gerhartz

Kuenn Batting Award:        Tom Donovan

Kuhnke Pitching Award:     Jimmy Jungbauer

Also discussed were plans and schedules for the upcoming season.  

Once again the team will host an Old Timers Game.   This year's game will be held on Saturday May 10 at Harvey Kuenn Field at Rainbow Park in West Allis.   First pitch is 1PM 

The team's annual Road Trip will be Memorial Day weekend and the team will again play a Friday game in Menasha followed by a three game series in Manitowoc on Saturday and Sunday.

Regular Season play begins in Burlington on May 31 with the team playing a DH beginning at 6PM.

This year's All Star Game will again be held in Manitowoc.   Those unable to attend in person will be able to catch the game on Time Warner Cable Sports, channel 32 in West Allis as well as other Time Warner markets.

Playoffs begin the week of July 26.   A new stepladder format will be used with the league's champion earning a bye to the Championship Series.

Gather round the computer boys and girls.   Who needs My Space, Facebook, or any other network when you have the NATIONALS GUESTBOOK.

 Yes, that's correct.  The team's Guestbook is back and fully functional.  Chime in today!