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NATS SERVE PEWAUKEE FIRST LOSS OF SEASON
Not by James Herkowski
By most accounts the Nationals had no business winning this game. Defending Land-O-Lakes League champion Pewaukee came in with an unblemished 5-0 mark and was starting staff ace, John Arnold, on the mound. Though Tom Donovan greeted him with a run scoring triple, Pewaukee posted 3 runs in their half of the first and jumped out to a 3-1 lead. Each subsequent inning brought additional threats by the Muskies. Pewaukee consistently put runners in scoring position, but the death blow never came.
The Nationals took multiple body shots, but endured, grinding away with patient plate discipline. The reward for this discipline came in the eighth inning when the team pushed 6 runs across against tiring Muskie pitching. (Play by Play available under "2004 Statistics" link.) The unexpected outburst secured an important early-season victory for the Nats. Next up are the cross-town rival West Allis White Sox at 6PM Saturday at Zirkel Field.
NATS KNOCK OFF CATS FOR FIRST LEAGUE WIN
The race was tight, but smarter heads prevailed, enabling Alex Franson to secure this year's first Player of the Week honor.
Franson established a new franchise record for Career Hits in the team's season opening loss to the Kenosha Kings. With the team down 3-1 in the ninth inning, Franson lined a double to the left field corner, becoming the first in team history to accumulate 200 hits.
Franson, the team's senior veteran player, began playing with the Nationals in 1994 after a stint with the now-defunct West Allis Bombers. Franson has compiled 7 20 hit seasons in his career, including a career-best 34 knocks in 2000.
Much of Franson's success can be attributed to his steady, consistent approach. He rarely misses games and takes an approach or game plan into every at bat. In addition, his versatility defensively has enabled each of his managers to get his bat into the lineup regardless of personnel surrounding him. Franson has played every position for the Nationals - and done so without creating a defensive liability anywhere. Memorable "fill-ins" include 5 solid innings on the mound in 2003's league championship game and this season's excellent performance at second base.
Congratulations to the All Time Nationals Hit King.***
***All Rights Reserved, Pete Rose.
Offense Comes Alive in Victory over Moo
Because the game is baseball, expect the unexpected.
A skeleton squad of 9 Nationals was pieced together prior to Wednesday's hour drive to Madison. Considering the circumstances, a flat effort would not have been a surprise.
Not so fast, dear reader. Limited resources were no obstacle. The local "9" came out ready to play, posting a 14-7 victory. Demonstrating plate discipline and patience, the locals jumped to an early 4-0 lead. Though Madison came loaded with an arsenal of hard throwers, location and command were problems, and the Nationals took full advantage of multiple walks and wild pitches.
Starting and winning pitcher, Tim Ustruck, held Madison hitless until the third inning. Another rally in the Madison fifth gave the Moo a short-lived 5-4 lead.
This was to be the Nationals day, though. A rally in the seventh gave the team for good at 7-5 and insurance was added with 4 run eighth and ninth innings. Corey Berndsen relieved Tim Ustruck to start the seventh, earning his first Nationals save.
Offensive stars included Jim Dettman with 3 hits, 3RBI, and 5 runs scored, Joe Reisinger with 2 run scoring doubles and 4RBI, and second baseman Alex Franson with stellar defense and an RBI double of his own. Major contributions also came from "the Bullpen." Pitchers Tim Spata, Tim Ustruck, and Steve Elliott were pressed into plate duty and 2 performed admirably. Spata had a hit, 2 walks, and 3 runs scored. Ustruck walked 3 times and scored two runs. Elliott, earning his collar by the sixth inning, eventually put the ball in play with a fly to center and a sacrifice.
Next up for the Nats are the McGuire's Cats on Saturday nite at Harden Field. First pitch is 7pm.
