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Nats Fail to Redeem League Prominence

Posted by Steve Elliott at May 29, 2004 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )
By Steve Elliott

The Southeastern Wisconsin Baseball League officially began play on Saturday afternoon with the defending champion Angels coming to Zirkel Field.  Though morning rains created a challenge, players from both teams went to work.  After diligent raking and the spreading of a dozen bags of kitty litter, the field, though soft, was playable.  Whether all of the Nationals were ready to play, however, is subject to debate.  The team never recovered from a first inning 5-0 hole, losing the opener 10-8.

With neither team able to take pre-game infield or batting practice, the opening results were predictable.  The teams combined for 5 walks, 2 hit batsmen, and a wild pitch in the opening inning as the Angels jumped out to a 5-2 lead.  As the game wore on, playing conditions improved a bit as did execution on the field.  The Nationals cut the lead to 9-8 on an 8th inning single by Jimmy Dettman, but victory was not to be had on this day.  The Angels added an insurance run in the top of the ninth and closer Dave Kosvuta finished the job.

Joe Kissler and Chris Marks led the Nationals with 2 RBI's each.  Jake Paige and Alex Franson contributed 2 hits a piece.  On a challenging day to pitch, Pat Bovee was again impressive.  Pat threw 3 scoreless innings of relief before giving way to Corey Berndsen.  In his Nationals mound debut, Corey went 3 strong innings, allowing one run on two hits, striking out three.

Next up for the Nationals are the Madison Moo.  Game time is 7PM at Ahuska Park in Madison.


By Steve Elliott

The rallying cries of  "We're not playin'!" ceased on Tuesday night at Harden Field in Milwaukee.   The sea parted long enough for the State League's Kings to come in for the first game of a home and home interleague series.  At 7:23pm, the Nationals officially opened their 29th season.

Unfortunately, "We're not playin'" took on a whole new meaning.  Despite putting runners in scoring position in eight of the game's nine innings, the team managed only one run - that coming on the third of three consecutive wild pitches by the Kings starting pitcher.  The result was predictable, a 3-1 opening day loss.

Wasted were several memorable efforts.  Alex Franson set a new franchise record blasting a ninth inning double.  The hit was his 200th of his Nationals career, eclipsing Harvey Kuenn's mark of 199.

Lefthander Pat Bovee pitched 6 stellar innings in relief of starter Tim Ustruck.  Bovee allowed no runs on two hits, walking one and striking out 8.

The game came down to lost opportunities, however.  Consecutive one out walks to Franson and Herkowski were wasted in the first when Marks and Koepp were retired.  In the second rookie Corey Berndsen led off with a single and stole second.  Two batters later,  he was doubled off of second when Jason Koconis lined to third.  Similar double plays ended the sixth and ninth innings.  Tom Donovan was doubled off of second when Mike Wajerski lined to third, and James Herkowski was doubled off of first to end the game after Chris Marks' liner to right field was stolen by the Kings' second baseman.

Next up for the Nationals are the defending Milwaukee Independent League champion Milwaukee Angels.  Saturday's game at Zirkel Field begins at 2PM.



Kenosha Kings at West Allis Nationals 5/26/04 at Milwaukee, WI (Harden Field) Kenosha Kings 3 West Allis Nationals 1 (0-1) Player AB R H BI Player AB R H BI --------------------------------------- --------------------------------------- Jason Dennis p/2b.......... 4 1 2 0 Mike Wajerski ss........... 5 0 0 0 Mark Lesnik ss............. 2 1 0 0 Alex Franson c............. 4 0 1 0 Mark Cibrario 3b........... 2 1 0 1 James Herkowski 1b/3b...... 4 0 2 0 Luke Martin cf............. 4 0 2 2 Chris Marks lf............. 5 1 1 0 Adam Weber c............... 4 0 0 0 Trevor Koepp cf............ 3 0 0 0 Jamie Karow 2b/p........... 4 0 0 0 Corey Berndsen 2b.......... 2 0 1 0 Tim Pulizzano 1b........... 4 0 0 0 Jimmy Dettman dh........... 1 0 0 0 Jeff Schnar lf............. 3 0 0 0 Jason Koconis 3b........... 2 0 1 0 John Meier rf.............. 3 0 0 0 Tom Donovan ph/1b......... 2 0 2 0 Joe Reisinger rf........... 2 0 0 0 Tim Ustruck p.............. 0 0 0 0 Pat Bovee p............... 0 0 0 0 Totals..................... 30 3 4 3 Totals..................... 30 1 8 0 Score by Innings R H E ------------------------------------------- Kenosha Kings....... 102 000 000 - 3 4 0 West Allis Nationals 001 000 000 - 1 8 2 ------------------------------------------- E - Wajerski; Bovee. DP - Kings 3; Nationals 1. LOB - Kings 4; Nationals 12. 2B - Dennis; Martin; Franson. SH - Lesnik; Dettman; Reisinger. SB - Weber; Berndsen(1); Reisinger(1). CS - Karow. Kenosha Kings IP H R ER BB SO WP BK HP IBB AB BF FO GO ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jason Dennis W............ 5.0 4 1 1 7 6 6 0 0 0 18 25 4 4 Jamie Karow S............. 4.0 4 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 15 3 7 West Allis Nationals IP H R ER BB SO WP BK HP IBB AB BF FO GO ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Tim Ustruck L,0-1......... 3.0 3 3 3 2 2 2 0 0 0 13 15 3 4 Pat Bovee ................. 6.0 1 0 0 1 8 0 0 0 0 17 19 3 5 WP - Dennis 6; Ustruck 2. Strikeouts - Dennis; Lesnik; Cibrario; Pulizzano 3; Schnar 2; Meier 2; Wajerski; Franson 2; Marks; Koepp; Reisinger. Walks - Lesnik; Cibrario 2; Franson; Herkowski; Koepp; Berndsen 2; Dettman 2; Reisinger. Umpires - HP: Lee Hardee 1B: Paul Barno Start: 7:30 PM Time: Attendance: Game: 42604N -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Play-by-Play The Automated ScoreBook Kenosha Kings at West Allis Nationals - Play-by-Play 5/26/04 at Milwaukee, WI (Harden Field) Score by Innings R H E ------------------------------------------- Kenosha Kings....... 102 000 000 - 3 4 0 West Allis Nationals 001 000 000 - 1 8 2 ------------------------------------------- Kenosha Kings starters: 24/p Dennis; 13/ss Lesnik; 21/3b Cibrario; 5/cf Martin; 77/c Weber; 35/2b Karow; 32/1b Pulizzano; 10/lf Schnar; 99/rf Meier; West Allis Nationals starters: 7/ss Wajerski; 21/c Franson; 41/1b Herkowski; 8/lf Marks; 13/cf Koepp; 10/2b Berndsen; 1/dh Dettman; 27/3b Koconis; 29/rf Reisinger; 33/p Ustruck; Kenosha Kings - inning 1 Dennis struck out. Lesnik grounded out to ss. Cibrario walked. Cibrario advanced to second on a wild pitch. Martin doubled, RBI; Cibrario scored. Weber flied out to rf. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. West Allis Nationals - inning 1 Wajerski grounded out to 2b. Franson walked. Franson advanced to second on a wild pitch. Herkowski walked. Marks struck out looking. Koepp flied out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Kenosha Kings - inning 2 Karow reached on a throwing error by ss. Pulizzano struck out looking. Schnar popped up to 2b. Meier grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB. West Allis Nationals - inning 2 Berndsen singled. Berndsen stole second. Dettman walked. Koconis hit into double play 3b to 1b; Dettman advanced to second; Berndsen out on the play. Dettman advanced to third on a wild pitch. Reisinger walked. Reisinger stole second. Wajerski struck out looking. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Kenosha Kings - inning 3 Dennis singled. Lesnik walked; Dennis advanced to second. Lesnik advanced to second on a wild pitch; Dennis advanced to third on a wild pitch. Cibrario grounded out to 2b, RBI; Lesnik advanced to third; Dennis scored. Martin singled, RBI; Lesnik scored. Weber reached on a fielder's choice; Martin out at second ss to 2b. Weber stole second. Karow flied out to cf. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB. West Allis Nationals - inning 3 Franson struck out looking. Herkowski grounded out to ss. Marks singled. Marks advanced to second on a wild pitch. Marks advanced to third on a wild pitch. Marks scored on a wild pitch. Koepp struck out. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Kenosha Kings - inning 4 Bovee to p for Ustruck. Pulizzano grounded out to 2b. Schnar struck out. Meier struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. West Allis Nationals - inning 4 Berndsen popped up to ss. Dettman walked. Dettman advanced to second on a wild pitch. Koconis singled; Dettman advanced to third. Reisinger struck out looking. Wajerski popped up to ss. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Kenosha Kings - inning 5 Dennis doubled. Lesnik grounded out to p, SAC; Dennis advanced to third. Cibrario walked. Martin hit into double play 2b to ss to 1b; Cibrario out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB. West Allis Nationals - inning 5 Franson struck out. Herkowski singled. Marks flied out to cf. Koepp walked; Herkowski advanced to second. Berndsen walked; Koepp advanced to second; Herkowski advanced to third. Dettman grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 3 LOB. Kenosha Kings - inning 6 Weber reached on an error by p. Karow reached on a fielder's choice; Weber out at second ss to 2b. Karow out at second c to ss, caught stealing. Pulizzano struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 0 LOB. West Allis Nationals - inning 6 Dennis to 2b. Karow to p. Donovan pinch hit for Koconis. Donovan singled. Reisinger grounded out to p, SAC; Donovan advanced to second. Wajerski lined into double play 3b to 2b; Donovan out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Kenosha Kings - inning 7 Herkowski to 3b. Donovan to 1b. Schnar struck out. Meier struck out. Dennis grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. West Allis Nationals - inning 7 Franson popped up to 2b. Herkowski grounded out to 2b. Marks grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. Kenosha Kings - inning 8 Lesnik struck out. Cibrario struck out. Martin flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. West Allis Nationals - inning 8 Koepp grounded out to 2b. Berndsen walked. Dettman grounded out to p, SAC; Berndsen advanced to second. Donovan singled; Berndsen advanced to third. Reisinger reached on a fielder's choice; Donovan out at second 3b to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB. Kenosha Kings - inning 9 Weber popped up to ss. Karow popped up to 2b. Pulizzano struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB. West Allis Nationals - inning 9 Wajerski grounded out to 3b. Franson doubled. Herkowski singled; Franson advanced to third. Marks lined into double play 2b to 1b; Herkowski out on the play. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
The West Allis Nationals Baseball Club's Board of Directors are proud to announce the addition of veteran James Herkowski to the team's web site editorial staff.

Herkowski, now in his 8th season, brings with him a wealth of "Book" experience as well as proficiencies in the newest digital and web technologies.

James' flair and wit is unmistakable.  As lead scribe on the Nationals beat, you are sure to be entertained.  And remember boys and girls:  just because you likes gay sex, doesn't mean you're gay.
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Hall of Famer

Posted by James Herkowski at May 23, 2004 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )
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"Hey what if a really hot girl...

Posted by James Herkowski at May 22, 2004 5:00PM PDT ( 0 Comments )
The race for the 2004 Top Comment has already given way. Do you remember these quotes from the trip? "You gooed my eye." "This is a Travishamockery...Burgelfickel!" "I was doing so bad until the leg flip." "There is no fucking way we're playing." "Goulet!" "I dare you to hit me..." "Hey what if a really hot girl put on a strap on and did you in the ass.  Would you be gay if you liked it?" image