News and Announcements
Career Statistics and Records Updated
Posted by Steve Elliott at Aug 17, 2004 5:00PM PDT
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Click on TEAM RECORD BOOK in the left hand menu and double click on the appropriate file. Congrats to Alex Franson and James Herkowski for becoming the first NATIONALS to surpass 200 hits in their careers. (Apologies to Mike Wajerski - McGuire's stats don't count here!)
Doyne Open Registration: Click Here
Posted by Steve Elliott at Aug 5, 2004 5:00PM PDT
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Get together one last time before another long, cold off-season.
Sunday August 22 at 10am
Come out to Doyne Park at 53rd and Wells, Milwaukee, to participate in a fun, Par 3 golf tournament. Meet ex-Nationals, wanna-be Nationals, posers, and other fools while enjoying the view of Milwaukee's Miller Valley.
Participation fee is a mere $25 and includes greens fees, food, and drink.
Register by clicking on the link above.
Be there or hand in your jersey. Team building for next year starts now.
Errors Doom Nationals in Game 1 loss to Racine
Posted by Steve Elliott at Jul 27, 2004 5:00PM PDT
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By Steve Elliott
Slow and steady wins most races. That rule held true on Tuesday night.
Defensively, the Nationals were anything but slow and steady. Outstanding, run-preventing plays by Chris Marks in left and Kellen Haynes at second were offset by a variety of defensive miscues sending the Nationals to a tough 8-5 defeat in the semi-final playoff series opening game at Harden Field.
Marks' glovework prevented Racine from taking a lead in the bottom of the first. After leadoff hitter Chase McCulloch singled, Josh Barrett stepped up and ripped a line drive to deep left field. Marks broke back, lunged near the fence, tipped the ball, and caught his own rebound with his back to the infield. Thinking the ball was dropped, McColloch was easily doubled off. The play took on extra significance when the next hitter lined a single to the outfield. After an error put runners on first and second, pitcher Brandon Kellbach struck out Joe Wendt to end the inning.
The game remained scoreless until the third. Racine pushed two runs across on three hits and one costly Nationals throwing error. A hit batter, error by shortstop Jake Page, and an errant pickoff throw by Kellbach produced another Racine run in the fourth.
The Nationals, though, were able to respond in the fifth. After walking with one out, Joe Reisinger advanced to second on a single by Jake Paige. Two passed balls later, Reisinger was home with the first Nationals run of the game. Paige then scored when Mike Wajerski's ground ball between third and short was mishandled for an error.
Racine nearly broke the game open in their half of the inning. A walk, single, and sacrifice put runners on second and third with one out. Kellbach hit the next batter to load the bases. The following hitter singled to center, but Mike Wajerski successfully deked the baserunners into believing the ball would be caught. Playing the ball on one hop, Wajerski threw to second to get the force and hold Racine to one run. With two outs and runners now on the corners, Racine sent the runner from first on a hit-an-run. The play would have been successful if not for an excellent effort by Kellen Haynes. Haynes, who broke to cover second on the play, reversed direction on contact, sprinted to his left, dove to knock the ball down, and made the throw to first to nip the runner by a hair. All said, the Nationals escaped allowing only one run and keeping the game close at 4-2.
A three run sixth gave the Nationals their first lead of the game at 5-4. Taking advantage of uncustomary wildness by Kiwanis' starter Justin McGuire, Chris Marks and James Herkowski walked to lead off the inning. When Tom Donovan and Jared Stengel each lined run scoring singles, league ERA champion McGuire was pulled. Jake Paige later knocked in the third run of the inning, but the rally was halted when Kellen Haynes grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
That would be it for the Nationals' offense. Racine kept the pressure on. After a lead off strikeout, Joe Wendt homered to left to tie the game. With two outs, a single and another error doomed the Nationals. Racine capitalized, scoring both runs on a single by Tyler Pratt.
Joe Wendt, who knocked in 4 runs on the night, gave Racine insurance with a run-scoring single in the eighth to push the lead to 8-5. With the exception of a Wajerski one out walk, the Nationals went quietly in the ninth.
Game two is set for Friday night at 7PM at Zirkel Field. The Nats hope their home surroundings aid them in producing better results.
Slow and steady wins most races. That rule held true on Tuesday night.
Defensively, the Nationals were anything but slow and steady. Outstanding, run-preventing plays by Chris Marks in left and Kellen Haynes at second were offset by a variety of defensive miscues sending the Nationals to a tough 8-5 defeat in the semi-final playoff series opening game at Harden Field.
Marks' glovework prevented Racine from taking a lead in the bottom of the first. After leadoff hitter Chase McCulloch singled, Josh Barrett stepped up and ripped a line drive to deep left field. Marks broke back, lunged near the fence, tipped the ball, and caught his own rebound with his back to the infield. Thinking the ball was dropped, McColloch was easily doubled off. The play took on extra significance when the next hitter lined a single to the outfield. After an error put runners on first and second, pitcher Brandon Kellbach struck out Joe Wendt to end the inning.
The game remained scoreless until the third. Racine pushed two runs across on three hits and one costly Nationals throwing error. A hit batter, error by shortstop Jake Page, and an errant pickoff throw by Kellbach produced another Racine run in the fourth.
The Nationals, though, were able to respond in the fifth. After walking with one out, Joe Reisinger advanced to second on a single by Jake Paige. Two passed balls later, Reisinger was home with the first Nationals run of the game. Paige then scored when Mike Wajerski's ground ball between third and short was mishandled for an error.
Racine nearly broke the game open in their half of the inning. A walk, single, and sacrifice put runners on second and third with one out. Kellbach hit the next batter to load the bases. The following hitter singled to center, but Mike Wajerski successfully deked the baserunners into believing the ball would be caught. Playing the ball on one hop, Wajerski threw to second to get the force and hold Racine to one run. With two outs and runners now on the corners, Racine sent the runner from first on a hit-an-run. The play would have been successful if not for an excellent effort by Kellen Haynes. Haynes, who broke to cover second on the play, reversed direction on contact, sprinted to his left, dove to knock the ball down, and made the throw to first to nip the runner by a hair. All said, the Nationals escaped allowing only one run and keeping the game close at 4-2.
A three run sixth gave the Nationals their first lead of the game at 5-4. Taking advantage of uncustomary wildness by Kiwanis' starter Justin McGuire, Chris Marks and James Herkowski walked to lead off the inning. When Tom Donovan and Jared Stengel each lined run scoring singles, league ERA champion McGuire was pulled. Jake Paige later knocked in the third run of the inning, but the rally was halted when Kellen Haynes grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
That would be it for the Nationals' offense. Racine kept the pressure on. After a lead off strikeout, Joe Wendt homered to left to tie the game. With two outs, a single and another error doomed the Nationals. Racine capitalized, scoring both runs on a single by Tyler Pratt.
Joe Wendt, who knocked in 4 runs on the night, gave Racine insurance with a run-scoring single in the eighth to push the lead to 8-5. With the exception of a Wajerski one out walk, the Nationals went quietly in the ninth.
Game two is set for Friday night at 7PM at Zirkel Field. The Nats hope their home surroundings aid them in producing better results.
Nats Defeat Angels 6-3; Playoffs Up Next
Posted by Steve Elliott at Jul 24, 2004 5:00PM PDT
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By Steve Elliott
The inaugural regular season of the Southeastern Wisconsin Baseball League came full circle last night at Zirkel Field. The Nats and rival Angels squared off just as they had on May 29 in the league opener. Much had occured during the interim. The stable Angels had reeled off victories in 12 of 13 games to claim the regular season crown.
The Nationals, on the other hand, struggled to win 8 of 13 games while seeking an identity. Personnel changes had been abundant. Gone were Trevor Koepp and Jason Koconis. In were Kellen Haynes and Brandon Kellbach. Missing then were Mike Wajerski, James Herkowski, and Nick Kibler. Missing yesterday were Joe Kissler, Corey Berndsen, and Nick Kibler.
Tom Donovan? Yes to both games. Joe Reisinger? Joe Reisinger?? Joe Reisinger??? Will somebody please tell me how a supposed Engineering major can be tardy and/or miss the first pitch of key games twice in a fifteen game schedule?
Anyway, there was a game to be played. A fine game it was. When management determined Kellen Haynes unfit to assume leadoff duties on the day, Mike Wajerski stepped in and responded. His leadoff bunt single in the top of the first sparked a crooked-number first inning. Alex Franson followed with a single and when Chris Marks walked, James Herkowski stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and none out. His sacrifice fly scored Wajerski. After Tom Donovan grounded to second, Jared Stengel stepped up and delivered. Jared blasted a line-drive double to the left field wall scoring Franson and Marks. Up 3-0, the Nats had a chance to blow the game open, but the rally was snuffed out when Stengel was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on Jimmy Dettman's single.
Pat Bovee then took the mound. Bovee set the Angels down in order in the first and worked in and out of trouble for another 5 plus innings before giving way to Tim Spata. Spata entered with a runner on second and one out in the seventh. The Nats held a 5-2 lead, but the Angels were gaining momentum. Spata overcame adversity -both self induced (hanging 0-2 curveball) and external (missed call on a 2 strike curveball) and finally induced an inning-ending 5-4-3 DP. Fire suppressed, the game was 5-3.
Insurance was added in the eighth. Wajerski, again, was the focal point of the rally. A leadoff walk and stolen base put Mike at second with none out. Alex Franson then singled, putting runners on the corners with none out. After Chris Marks popped to short, Herkowski came through again. Herkowski's liner to left, though snared by Soto with a great diving catch, proved sufficient to get Wajerski in from third with the team's 6th run.
Tim Spata put the Angels down in order in the eighth and gave way to Kellen Haynes. Haynes struggled with command, but as had been the case all game, the defense came through. Tim Spata and Jake Paige each lunged to snare line drives outs and the Nats walked off the field with a hard-earned victory.
Up next for the improving squad are the Racine Kiwanis in Game 1 of the Southeastern Wisconsin Baseball League Semi-Finals. First pitch is 7PM at Harden Field in Milwaukee.
The inaugural regular season of the Southeastern Wisconsin Baseball League came full circle last night at Zirkel Field. The Nats and rival Angels squared off just as they had on May 29 in the league opener. Much had occured during the interim. The stable Angels had reeled off victories in 12 of 13 games to claim the regular season crown.
The Nationals, on the other hand, struggled to win 8 of 13 games while seeking an identity. Personnel changes had been abundant. Gone were Trevor Koepp and Jason Koconis. In were Kellen Haynes and Brandon Kellbach. Missing then were Mike Wajerski, James Herkowski, and Nick Kibler. Missing yesterday were Joe Kissler, Corey Berndsen, and Nick Kibler.
Tom Donovan? Yes to both games. Joe Reisinger? Joe Reisinger?? Joe Reisinger??? Will somebody please tell me how a supposed Engineering major can be tardy and/or miss the first pitch of key games twice in a fifteen game schedule?
Anyway, there was a game to be played. A fine game it was. When management determined Kellen Haynes unfit to assume leadoff duties on the day, Mike Wajerski stepped in and responded. His leadoff bunt single in the top of the first sparked a crooked-number first inning. Alex Franson followed with a single and when Chris Marks walked, James Herkowski stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and none out. His sacrifice fly scored Wajerski. After Tom Donovan grounded to second, Jared Stengel stepped up and delivered. Jared blasted a line-drive double to the left field wall scoring Franson and Marks. Up 3-0, the Nats had a chance to blow the game open, but the rally was snuffed out when Stengel was thrown out at the plate attempting to score on Jimmy Dettman's single.
Pat Bovee then took the mound. Bovee set the Angels down in order in the first and worked in and out of trouble for another 5 plus innings before giving way to Tim Spata. Spata entered with a runner on second and one out in the seventh. The Nats held a 5-2 lead, but the Angels were gaining momentum. Spata overcame adversity -both self induced (hanging 0-2 curveball) and external (missed call on a 2 strike curveball) and finally induced an inning-ending 5-4-3 DP. Fire suppressed, the game was 5-3.
Insurance was added in the eighth. Wajerski, again, was the focal point of the rally. A leadoff walk and stolen base put Mike at second with none out. Alex Franson then singled, putting runners on the corners with none out. After Chris Marks popped to short, Herkowski came through again. Herkowski's liner to left, though snared by Soto with a great diving catch, proved sufficient to get Wajerski in from third with the team's 6th run.
Tim Spata put the Angels down in order in the eighth and gave way to Kellen Haynes. Haynes struggled with command, but as had been the case all game, the defense came through. Tim Spata and Jake Paige each lunged to snare line drives outs and the Nats walked off the field with a hard-earned victory.
Up next for the improving squad are the Racine Kiwanis in Game 1 of the Southeastern Wisconsin Baseball League Semi-Finals. First pitch is 7PM at Harden Field in Milwaukee.
FINAL 2004 REGULAR SEASON STATS & BOX SCORES
Posted by Steve Elliott at Jul 24, 2004 5:00PM PDT
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Click on this link for final regular season statistics and box scores from each game.
