West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

The Natties turned the page quickly on a sour performance in Sheboygan Tuesday night, downing the West Bend 7Up 15 -5 in an important Wisconsin State League/Langsdorf Nite League divisional contest.

The game shaped up early to be a low scoring pitchers duel, with West Bend starting Tyler Thicke and West Allis starting Jimmy Jungbauer.

That changed quickly, though, as West Bend's defensive lapses allowed West Allis to score 4 unearned runs in the second inning.   Compounding the early hole was the fact the Thicke's pitch count climbed quickly and he was forced to exit after only 4 innings of work.

The Nats added 3 more in the fifth and the team entered the latter innings with a comfortable 8-1 lead.

West Bend wouldn't go easily, however.   Jungbauer appeared to be in cruise control after getting a popout to start the bottom half of the 7th, but West Bend took advantage of some inopportune wildness and a couple of well placed knocks to post four runs and draw back to 8-5. 

West Allis responded with 3 runs in the eighth and 4 in the ninth to put the game out of reach.

Jungbauer earned the win with 7 strong innings and 10 strikeouts.  Newcomer Drew Worth shut the door, striking out 6 in the final two innings.

Curt Pryal led the offense with 3 hits and 3 RBI's.  Chad Tindall reached base 5 times and scored 3 runs.

Next up are the Pewaukee Muskies in Langdorf Nite League Action on Thursday at Kuenn Field at Rainbow Park in West Allis.  First Pitch is set for 7:30pm. 

Offense had been trending in recent Nationals / A's contests.   Tuesday night was no different as the host A's downed the Nationals 15-9.  

The Nationals loaded the bases in the first and threatened to push across the game's first tallies, but Curt Pryal's frozen rope was hit right at the left fielder to retire the side.

Not to worry, fans of offense....after a two run, two out single plated two first inning runs for Sheboygan, the A's erupted for seven more in the second to jump to an early 9-0 lead.   The Nats responded with the first of Matt Richer's four hits plating Kyle Kalkopf in the third, but the real excitement came in the fifth.

With two outs Matt Richer reached on an infield single.  After that, the next 7 Nationals reached base and when the dust cleared, Sheboygan's lead had been reduced to 9-8.   Curt Pryal (2 run single) Paul Archambault (RBI single) Jimmy Jungbauer (RBI single) and Kyle Kalkopf (3 run double) each delivered key blows.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Sheboygan responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning.   A three run sixth and single run seventh put the game away. 

The Nationals have no time mourn the loss with important league games in West Bend on Wednesday night and in West Allis (Kuenn Field) against Pewaukee on Thursday night.   First pitch for both games is set for 7:30pm. 

Kyle Kalkopf scored from second on an infield fielder's choice in the eighth to give the Nationals the lead and the locals held on for a hard fought 7-6 victory over the rival Kenosha Kings.

The teams matched scores in first and fourth innings and the teams entered the 7th inning tied at 3.  In the bottom of the 7th the Nationals took a 5-3 lead with patience at the plate, but the Kings countered with 3 of their own in the top of the 8th to gain a 6-5 advantage.   The edge proved to be short lived as the Nationals plated two and held on for the win.

The Nationals offense was well-balanced with 9 different players contributing hits.    Mike Merritt led the way with a homer and 2 RBI's.

Curt Pryal went the first six for the Nationals, allowing no earned runs and striking out 6.   The win went to Tom Starck in his Nationals debut, throwing a scoreless final inning and two thirds and striking out 2.

The Nationals are back in action Friday night in Sheboygan against Wisconsin State League Divisional rival and Langsdorf Nite League member Sheboygan A's.  First pitch is set for 7:30pm. 

The West Allis Nationals broke open a tight game with an 8 run 4th inning en route to a 14-4 win over the West Bend 7 Up.   The contest was the first Wisconsin State League game for each team.

Matt Richer led the Nationals offense with 4 hits, including 2 doubles, and 6 RBI.   Jake Kosalinski and Cody Griebling added 3 hits a piece and Jimmy Jungbauer contributed 4 RBI's.

Curt Pryal earned the win, his second of the young season, going 5 innings, and the Nationals bullpen held West Bend scoreless the rest of the way.

Next up for the Nationals are the Kenosha Kings on Thursday May 28 at 7:30pm at West Allis' Harvey Kuenn Field in Rainbow Park. 

The West Allis Nationals offense never got going on Sunday in Marinette, and that, coupled with three tough breaks on defense led to a disappointing 8-0 loss in the trip finale.   Matt Richer led what there was of the Nationals offense with 2 knocks.   Starter Bobby Herrick, coming off a two inning stint Friday night, battled for the first four innings, allowing only one earned run.

Next up for the Nationals are the West Bend 7 Up in the Wisconsin State League debut for both teams.   The game will also be counted in the Langsdorf Nite League standings.  First pitch is set for 7:30pm at Zirkel Field in West Allis.