West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

Sunday afternoon the Nationals took the field in Manitowoc knowing that the game would be their final one of the season. Because Janesville held the tiebreaker in Pool B, a victory would only earn the squad an identical 2-1 record in the round robin format. Lesser teams would have lacked enthusiasm, effort, and motivation. This year's squad is greater than that. Playing inspired baseball for one final game in 2005, the locals sent Sheboygan home with an 8-0 dismantling. After Corey Berndsen set down Sheboygan 1-2-3 in the first, the Nats pushed two runs across in their half of the frame. After Adam Karas was hit by a pitch and stole second, Jesse Hart singled him home. Hart advanced to second on a passed ball and stole third, later scoring on a ground out by Tom Donovan. Berndsen cruised through the second and third, giving the team momentum. It the bottom of the third the Nats broke the game open with a three spot to take a commanding 5-0 lead and squash what remained of Sheboygan's spirit. Three runs in the fourth served as gravy as this was Corey Berndsen's finest day in a Nationals uniform. He went the distance in the one hit, shutout victory, striking out 9 of the final 12 batters he faced. The Nats finish the year with 26 victories, second most in team history, and an eighth League Title. Next up for the squad will be the season concluding golf outing and awards ceremony. The public is invited to attend, but be warned - it will be a Nationals weekend to rival those produced by the boys of the 80's era.

We've never before played a 10am game.    There are several reasons.  First, most players believe all games start at 6PM.  Second, players who can tell time and read schedules often prefer to sleep beyond noon.  Third, it is too close to bar time and veterans often don't sober up until the mid to late afternoon.

Today the Nationals played a 10am game. 

It was one of the finest games the team has played this season.  So much for preparation.

Behind  the dominant pitching performance of Jim Jungbauer, the Nationals defeated the Appleton Legends 6-0.  Jungbauer struck out 13 in route to the complete game shutout, dominating the offensive titan previously known as the Legends. 

We've played 12noon games before.  They, too, are filled with peril.   It is another early start that challenges the sensibilities of our youth.   Acting or reacting at this hour of the day cannot be taken for granted.

Janesville saw this.  They jumped early and often, taking a 5-1 lead after 2 innings, cruising to a 6-3 victory over the local boys.    Jared Stengal hit a two run homer and a double off the top of the wall to lead the otherwise meek offensive performance.

Tomorrow Sheboygan is on the slate.  Winner gets bragging rights and an coveted 2-1 winning record in the tournament.

30 games into the season and still no resolution. Saturday night the Nats and Angels split a doubleheader, forcing a third, and deciding game for Tuesday August 9. The Angels won the opener 5-0 and the Nationals prevailed 6-4 in the nightcap. Come one, come all. First pitch is scheduled for 7PM at Zirkel Field in McCarty Park. "The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust, sweat, and blood; who stives valiently-who errs-because there is not effort without error and shortcoming, but who does actually strive to do the deeds, with great enthusiasm, great devotion, who at the best knows in the end the triumphs of high achievement and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly....so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat." Teddy Roosevelt

Multiple heros, great performances, and a team that is focused... Tuesday night the Nationals eliminated the Racine Kiwanis 17-1 in game three of a three game set. Details may follow.

Pitching and defense continue to be the story. As this goes, so go the Nationals. In game one of a best-of-three playoff series against Racine, the Nationals played solid defense and got a gutty pitching performance from Jim Jungbauer in defeating the Kiwanis 4-2. Jungbauer stuggled with command over six innings of work, but managed to make big pitches in key situations. In the first, he struck out Kiwanis clean up hitter, Jason Herzog, with a runner in scoring position to end the inning. The third inning saw Jungbauer give up a lead off single to speedy centerfielder, Joe Wendt. When Wendt tried to swipe second, though, catcher Jared Stengel was quick to nail him at the bag. This proved to be a key play. After a Jungbauer strikeout for the second out of the inning, Kiwanis leadoff hitter, Brady Knudson homered. After giving up a walk to the following hitter and then a single, Jungbauer got a big strikeout of Herzog, again, to end the third. Jungbauer's biggest challenge came in the fifth. With two outs, he allowed a single and three walks, reducing the Nationals lead to 4-2 in the process. The next hitter worked Jungbauer 3-0, but Jungbauer did not give in. He threw 4 consecutive strikes, the last of which resulted in a fly out to right field. After a 1-2-3 sixth, his first of the game, Jungbauer gave way to Curt Pryal who saved the victory with a 1-2-3 seventh. Game two was a bit of a different story. Racine struck first in the third inning, thanks to some sloppy defense. After a leadoff single, Nationals starting pitcher, Corey Berndsen, induced a tailor made double play ball to second. Unfortunately, Nats shortstop, Mike Wajerski, had trouble with the glove to hand exchange and only one out was recorded. This proved costly. After Berndsen got Herzog to fly to left for the second out of the inning, the next 5 Kiwanis hitters reached base, 4 on singles. When the dust cleared, the Nats were down 4-0. The Nats responded in the bottom half of the inning, though. Mike Wajerski singled and later scored on a Johnny Arnold RBI single. Unfortunately the rally stalled prematurely. With the bases loaded in one out, Jim Riebe hit a flair to the shortstop and James Herkowski popped to second. Things got interesting in the fourth. Steve Schulte led off with a single and moved to second on a walk to Joe Riebe. With one out, Jesse Hart lined a double to left, scoring both runners and making the game 4-3. Things stayed this way until the seventh. Curt Pryal relieved Berndsen and struggled with his command, walking 3 of the first 5 hitters he faced and an RBI double to another. The damage could have been limited if not for more difficulty with a tailor made double play ball. This error allowed a second insurance run to score and put the Kiwanis comfortably ahead 6-3. A Jim Riebe double scored Johnny Arnold, who had also doubled, to make things interesting in the seventh. But it was not to be. Final score 6-4. The third and deciding game of the series is set for Tuesday night at Zirkel Field. First pitch is 7PM.