West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

Jimmy Jungbauer went 8 strong innings and Mike Merritt broke open the game with a grand slam as the Nationals secured an important 8-1 victory over the Kenosha Bobcats at Zirkel Field on Tuesday night.  The victory assures the Nationals of no worse than a #3 seeding in the championship playoffs which begin next week.

The game was much closer than the final score indicates.   Scoreless through 5 innings, the Bobcats got on the board first on a fielders choice groundout by ex-National Johnny Meier.    The Nationals answered, however, with three runs of their own.  With two outs, Curt Pryal walked.  Mike Merritt followed with a line single to center and after a Jared Stengel walk to load the bases, Nate Martin delivered his second hit of the game, a two run single to right center to give the Nats a 2-1 lead.   The Nats picked up a third run on a double steal - Martin stealing second and Stengel scampering home.

The Nats put the game away in the seventh.  After Matt Richer was hit by a pitch and Nick Lingvay walked, Colby Gee lined an RBI single to left to put the Nats up 4-1.  A Curt Pryal walk then set the stage for Mike Merritt's monumental blast to left to put the Nationals safely ahead 8-1.

Jungbauer was sharp all night.  He allowed only 4 hits while striking out 5 and walking 3.   Eric Schrader pitched a scoreless ninth.

Next up for the Nationals are the Racine Kiwanis at historic Horlick Field on Thursday.  First pitch is set for 7:30pm.