West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

The West Allis Nationals defeated the Kenosha Kings Tuesday night 2-0 at Zirkel Field. Rain threatened, but both teams were determined to play Tuesday - so determined that 400 pounds of kitty litter was utilized as a drying agent to ensure the field was playable. Why such zealous determination? Neither team wanted to waste the opportunity to throw their ace on a pitcher-friendly night. The air was chilly, the wind was blowing in, the grass was high, and the infield was soft, wet and slow. The Nationals sent Johnny Arnold (1.41 ERA) to the mound against Kings ace, Kyle Obenauf (0.92 ERA) Both pitchers lived up to the billing. The Kings had legitimate scoring opportunities in the first, second, fifth, eighth and ninth innings, but Arnold and the Nationals rose to the occasion each time. In the first, Jesse Hart threw a strike to the plate to nab Kings' first baseman, Chris Sadjack, for the final out of the inning. The Kings loaded the bases in the fifth with one out, but Arnold induced an infield popup and ground ball to third to get out of that inning. The biggest threat of the night, though, came in the eighth. The Kings loaded the bases with no one out, trailing only by one run. After an Arnold strikeout, Kings' pinch-hitter, Andy Heller, hit a one hopper to mound which Arnold quickly relayed to catcher Steve Schulte for force out. Schulte's subsequent toss to first completed the 1-2-3 DP and ended the inning. The Nationals had few true scoring chances, but were able to capitalize twice. Jesse Hart lead off the fourth with a double and was sacrificed to third by Alex Franson. An infield ground out by Johnny Arnold scored him and gave the Nats an important 1-0 lead. In the sixth, the Nationals put runners on first and third with no outs, but Jesse Hart's smash to third was quickly converted into a DP and the rally fizzled. In the eighth, Steve Schulte was hit by a pitch with one out. After advancing to second on a passed ball and third on a ground out by Joe Riebe, Mike Wajerski stepped to the plate. Working the count full, Wajerski lined a single to right field, scoring Schulte, and giving the Nats an important insurance run. Next up for the locals are the Kiwanis of Racine. Racine won the North Division regular season championship and earned a first round playoff bye. They hold a 2-1 edge vs. the Nationals in 2005, both losses coming in 10 innings. The Best-of-Three Series begins Saturday night at Zirkel Field. The teams will play two seven inning games, the first starting at 6PM.

The West Allis Nationals bounced back quickly from Tuesday's disappointing loss to Kenosha.  In a game shortened to 7 innings due to the slaughter rule, the Nationals defeated the league leading Racine Kiwanis 12-0.

With home field advantage for Tuesday's Play-In Playoff game on the line,  The Nats wasted little time taking charge, jumping to a 3-0 first inning lead.   Jesse Hart lead off the game with the first of his three doubles.  Alex Franson followed with a sacrifice bunt that was botched and the Nats had runners on the corners with no outs.  After a Jim Riebe strikeout and passed ball, Jared Stengal ripped a double to left, scoring both Hart and Franson.  Tom Donovan then singled Stengal to third, and was brought home on a two out RBI by Kellen Haynes.

The Kiwanis threatened in the first, due in part to Nats starting pitcher, Jim Jungbauer's wildness.  However, Jungbauer battled and stranded runners on second and third to end the inning and preserve the 3-0 lead.   It would prove to be one of the Kiwanis' only scoring opportunities of the game. 

After notching two more runs in the second, Jesse Hart knocked his second double of the game, collecting an RBI.  That put the Nats up 6-0. 

A four run fifth put the game out of reach.  Hart, again, was at the center of the rally.  He smacked his third double and fourth hit of the game to plate two more runs.  Alex Franson then followed with a run scoring double of his own before James Herkowski lined a single to right, scoring Franson, and pushing the lead to 10-0.

The highlight of the last two innings was the Nationals debut of  rookie Mike Kenseth.  Kenseth connected for an infield single in his first plate appearance, impressing the modest gathering at Harden Field.

Next up in an elimination playoff game against the Kenosha Kings on Tuesday July 26 at 7PM at Zirkel Field.  The Kings hold the all time series lead at 4 games to 2, but will have the red ass based on the Nationals' 2-1 edge in 2005. 

Playing their 4th game in 4 days, the Nationals arrived in Kenosha Tuesday a bit sluggish and flat. Add an opponent with a score to settle and a pitcher with excellent command and you have the recipe for a loss. And a loss it was with the Nationals falling 6-0. The Kings, riding the momentum of a 7 game league winning streak and enjoying a rare home date were more than ready for the boys from Milwaukee County. They jumped on Nationals starting pitcher, Corey Berndsen, for 6 runs in the second inning and never looked back. Though Berndsen settled down to shutout the Kings over the final eight innings, Kings starter, Scott Evosovich, was nearly perfect from the start, allowing only one runner to reach second base in throwing seven shutout innings. The loss was even more painful considering that league leader, Racine, was upset by the West Allis White Sox. A Nationals win would have put the squad in the division lead with one to play. As it stands, the Nationals will need a win on Saturday versus Racine to secure the second seed and home field advantage in the first round of the league playoffs.

A four-run sixth inning rally proved to be the difference on a hot Sunday afternoon at Zirkel Field. RBI's from Kellen Haynes, John Ellenberger, Mike Wajerski, and Joe Riebe propelled the squad to a 6-4 victory. Phil Gnacinski posted the win with 6 strong innings, yielding eight hits and two runs. Next up is a key league battle against the Kenosha Kings at Simmons Field in Kenosha on Tuesday July 19. First pitch is 7PM.

A four-run sixth inning rally proved to be the difference on a hot Sunday afternoon at Zirkel Field. RBI's from Kellen Haynes, John Ellenberger, Mike Wajerski, and Joe Riebe propelled the squad to a 6-4 victory. Phil Gnacinski posted the win with 6 strong innings, yielding eight hits and two runs. Next up is a key league battle against the Kenosha Kings at Simmons Field in Kenosha on Tuesday July 19. First pitch is 7PM.