West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

Each game provides unique challenges. The McGuire's Cats,with their 1-11 record coming in to Saturday's DH at Zirkel, would not have seemed to be a formidable opponent. Funny how records can lie. McGuire's, despite its lopsided mark, fielded a competetive and fundamentally strong squad on Saturday night. In addition, they offered two southpaw starting pitchers, a look few other teams offer. The result were two crisply-played, tight games. In the end, the Nationals prevailed by scores of 3-1 and 4-0. Game one had the makings of a blowout early. Nationals rookie and starting pitcher, Jim Jungbauer, cruised through three innings, yielding two hits and striking out three. Meanwhile, the offense plated three early runs in support. However, a third inning rally was cut short when the Nationals had two runners thrown out on the bases. Mike Wajerski led off with a single. Following a walk to Alex Franson, Kellen Haynes singled to put the Nats on the board. With Franson on third and Haynes at second, James Herkowski bounced back to the mound. Franson was caught between home and third and tagged out for the first out in the inning. After a Tom Donovan flyout and Jared Stengal RBI, the team looked to be in position to do more damage. That was not the case. After stealing second, Stengal tried to take advantage of what appeared to be a defensive lapse. He was cut down going to third base, though to end the inning. McGuire's did not go down quietly. Jungbauer took a shutout into the bottom of the seventh, but then struggled with command. Two walks and an error loaded the bases with no outs. After a force out at the plate, Kurt Wolf lined an RBI single to left and the game was in peril at 3-1. Jungbauer promply struck out the three hitter, though, and coaxed a pop to short to end the game. Game two also saw rookies leading the way. The game was scoreless until the fourth. After a James Herkowski single and Adam Kaufman sacrifice bunt, Phil Gnacinski stepped up. A passed ball moved Herkowski to third and Gnacinski responded with an RBI ground ball to the right side. McGuire's chose to throw home on the play - unsuccessfully - opening the gates for an extended rally. With Gnacinski now on first, fellow rookie James Riebe smoked a triple to the right field wall. A Wajerski ground out scored him with the Nats third run. The Nats were not done, though. Another rookie, Joe Riebe, coaxed a two out walk and promptly stole second. Alex Franson then delivered a two out double to put the Nats comfortably ahead at 4-0. This was more than enough offense for starting pitcher, Tim Spata. Spata pitched a 7 inning shutout with 7 K's and 3 walks shortly after coming off the DL with a severe ankle injury. Next up is a non-league opponent. The Green Bay Billys make their first ever appearance in Milwaukee, taking on the Nationals in a 1PM Sunday tilt at Zirkel Field.

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 5-2 9th inning lead was nearly squandered against and resilient Sox squad.

Details to follow.

It was a 1-2-3 first inning for the Nats bats Monday night at Simmons Field in Milwaukee.  Kings starting pitcher, Randy Johnson, was sharp and the game had the makings of another tight pitchers' duel.

That changed quickly.  The Nats sent 14 men to the plate in the second inning, scoring 9 runs on 7 hits and blew the game wide open.  Singles by Tom Donovan and Jared Stengel preceded a walk to Johnny Arnold to bring Phil Gnacinski to the plate.  Phil hit a slow bouncer on the concrete infield, eluding the backhand of the Kings' third baseman and scoring two runs.  Johnson sandwiched in a couple of outs around walks to Franson and Hart and a hit by Joe Riebe, but the Nationals were far from finished.  Tom Donovan produced his second hit in the inning, a two out, two-run single.  Not to be outdone, Stengel followed with an RBI single followed by Johnny Arnold's two run double.

Kenosha did not go away quietly, tallying a run or runs in each of the game's first four innings, but the Nationals refused to yield the cushion.  A 5 run fourth inning pushed the lead to 16-6.  Key blows were delivered by Johnny Arnold with an RBI double and newcomer James Riebe with a two run triple.

Nationals starting pitcher, Corey Berndesen, settled in at this point.  Shaking some rust, Berndsen held the Kings to one run over his final three innings of work before yielding to Curt Pryal who pitched the final two.

Seven Nationals collected two or more hits in the contest, led by Phil Gnacinski with three.

Next up is another divisional foe, and local rival, West Allis White Sox.  The two teams square off on Tuesday night July 12 at Zirkel Field.  First pitch is set for 7PM.

Don't blink.  You might miss a lineup or roster change.

Friday night a Zirkel Field the Nats unveiled yet another lineup in their seasonlong effort to find stability.  Mike Wajerski moved from centerfield to his natural position, shortstop, as the team made adjustments to compensate for absences.  Youngster and new National, Joe Riebe took over for Wajerski in centerfield.  Both players shined defensively, keying a Nationals sweep of the Milwaukee Mets by scores of 12-1 and 9-5.

Game one was decided early.  The Nats jumped to 2-0 and 4-1 leads, taking advantage of the Mets' starting pitcher's poor command and defensive indifference to baserunners.  The Nats displayed patience and plate discipline while running at will.  Nats starting pitcher, Jim Jungbauer, found a groove after the third inning and cruised to the victory. 

Game two was a different story.  The Nats jumped to a 3-0 first inning lead, with two runs scoring on a wild pitch and errant throw back to the pitcher covering the plate.

The Mets, though, showed resolve, chipping away and taking a 5-3 lead in the fourth.  Nats starting pitcher, Phil Gnacinski, who struggled with location from the start of the game, gave way to newly signed righthander,Curt Pryal, for damage control.  Pryal gave up a couple knocks in the fourth, but settled in afterwards, shutting out the Mets and earning the victory in his Nationals debut.   

The offensive comeback occurred in the fourth.  James Herkowski started it with a bloop RBI single.  Jesse Hart followed with a line shot RBI single to right center and the team had a precarious lead.  Steve Schulte, back from the DL, gave the team two insurance runs in the fifth with a two-out, pinch hit, 2 run single to left. 

Next up for the Nats are the Kenosha Kings on Monday night at Simmons Field in Milwaukee.   The game is a makeup of one postponed by lightning on June 24.