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In a surprising development the Nationals performed well in a Sunday afternoon baseball game and defeated the Marinette Redbirds 5-1 at Pedersen Ballpark in Marinette.
Starting pitcher and Redbird alum Aaron Woods might have had something to do with that. On one days rest Woods went a strong 5 innings, allowing only one run while striking out six, to earn his first Natties win. Nick Lingvay threw two scoreless to close out the game.
The middle of the lineup generated the bulk of the scoring. In the fourth, Brian Huntzinger led off with a single followed by a Matt Richer double. With runners on second and third, Curt Pryal hit a ground ball to the right side to plate the games first run. Alex Elliott folllowed with an RBI triple to push the lead to 2-0.
In the following inning the same cast of characters found success again. After Bob Herrick singled, Huntzinger reached base on an error, scoring Herrick. Matt Richer then dumped a single to left. Pryal followed with a line drive single to left to score Huntzinger and extend the lead to 4-0. Elliott next connected with an opposite field single to score Huntzinger and give the Nats a comfortable 5-0 lead.
The Nationals open up the 2016 Wisconsin State League season on Friday night in Sheboygan vs the A's. First pitch is set for 7:30pm. They follow with a State League DH on Saturday in West Allis vs the Kenosha Kings. First pitch for game one is 3pm.
The West Allis Nationals bounced back from a tough 6-4 opening game loss to Marinette with a hard-fought 5-2 ten inning victory over Menominee in the nightcap.
The Nats took an early 2-0 lead in game one with Chad Tindall and Nick Lingvay drawing bases loaded walks. Unfortunately, the bats couldn't build on the lead and Marinette hung close. The game turned in the fifth, with Marinette scoring 6 runs on a variety of well placed, if not well struck, balls. The Nats added single tallies in the sixth and seventh, but to no avail.
Game two featured an exceptional performance from reliever Bob Herrick, called into duty as a spot starter. Herrick went six plus innings allowing only five hits and striking out 6. Chad Tindall and Dan Putnam each threw 2 innings of relief, with Putnam earning the victory.
Matt Richer led the offense with three hits, including two doubles. Adam Karas hit the Nats first homer of the year and later drew a key walk and scored the team's 4 run.
Sunday at noon those left standing will play Marinette again. On the bump will be Nationals newcomer and hometown hero, Aaron Woods. He'll be matched up against his younger brother. Vegas hasn't issued a line on the game, but Nats gambling guru Kyle Kalkopf has indicated local bar bets are in favor the younger sibling on his home turf with umpires paid in full in advance.
Patience Rewarded in Nationals Victory
The Nationals waited for strikes in the first inning Thursday night at Kuenn Field in West Allis and that patient approach resulted in 4 early runs which distanced them from the visiting West Bend 7Up en route to a 8-1 Southeastern Wisconsin Baseball League victory.
Will Johnson, Chad Tindall, and Paul Pulera all drew bases loaded walks before Jason Kezman closed the scoring with a sacrifice fly. A late outburst that included a double by Brian Huntzinger, a run scoring double by Matt Richer, and a run scoring triple by Will Johnson closed the scoring.
Jim Jungbauer earned the win, going six strong innings, allowing one run. Bobby Herrick, Aaron Woods, and Kyle Kuntzler pitched scoreless frames to secure the victory.
After taking this Saturday off for longtime National Adam Karas' wedding, the Nats return to action next weekend with a 4 game slate starting Friday night May 20 in Menasha and ending Sunday afternoon May 22 in Marinette.
In a crisply played 96 minute game, the Pewaukee Muskies beat the West Allis Nationals 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at Monches Recreational Park.
Neither team generated much offense - the Nats had only 6 hits and Pewaukee 3; the difference in this game was defense. 2 second inning Nationals miscues led to 3 unearned runs. Pewaukee, conversely, threw out 2 would-be base stealers and turned two 5-4-3 double plays to suppress scoring opportunities.
Next up for the Nationals are the West Bend 7Up on Thursday May 12 at Harvey Kuenn Field at Rainbow Park in West Allis. First pitch is set for 7:30pm.
