News and Announcements
Nats Fade Late; Fall in WSL Opener
The skies parted over Sheboygan on an otherwise tumultuous day as our Heavenly Father showed His sense of humor and infinite authority over all matters. How else does one explain persistent and heavy rain thoughout the rest of the state and non-stop on the hour drive up only to find a playable field in Sheboygan....er God's country. God also showed His favor on the A's this day as they took the WSL opener for both teams by a score of 5-3. Not sure how many Natties have been in a pew for anything other than the Karas nuptuals recently, so the team is hiring a new team chaplain to bring God to them.
Jonah Meidl picked up where he left off last season, getting hit by a pitch to lead off the game. He advanced to third when Matt Richer reached on an error by the second baseman. Will Johnson, who swings like only Bob Herrick, then lined a single to right to plate the game's first two runs.
Pressed into an emergency spot start on the bump, the artist formerly known as CP 14 in the 15 showed off his finest early. Now simply known as pickoff symbol ©®™, number 14 picked off not one, but two baserunners from first base in the first inning in keeping the A's off the board.
A Matt Richer double plated Meidl again in the third inning, increasing the Nats lead to 3-0, but the offense blacked out after that - literally and figuratively. As most visiting teams know, night ensues quickly once the sun goes down at Wildwood Park.
The A's tied the game in the fifth after consecutive knocks from the heart of their lineup, ending the night for pickoff symbol ©®™.
Aaron Woods pitched a clean sixth, but encountered command challenges on the wet field in the seventh. Though he did not allow a hit, he walked two, hit two more, and through a wild pitch as the A's took a 5-3 lead.
That lead held; the Nats went down in order in the eighth and ninth innings.
Following the game the team convened to review the "hit" and "score" signs never flashed from the third base coaching box. Also, after a brief appearance by false idol Budweiser - aka A's #19 - post game order was restored and High Life flowed like mother's milk.
Next up for the Nats are the Kenosha Kings in a WSL DH on Saturday at 3pm at Kuenn Field in Rainbow Park, West Allis. BP will be at 1pm, followed by a silent prayer service lead by the team's new chaplain. It will be a time of reflection and penance. Attendance by all bats is mandatory.
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.
