West Allis NATIONALS Baseball

The Nats dropped their first game of the season Saturday afternoon at Genoa City, losing by a touchdown, 14-7.

The Nationals surrendered 17 hits - including 7 for extra bases, committed 7 errors, and allowed 2 walks in a thoroughly forgetful performance.  

Their were some bright signs on offense as the team produced 12 of its own knocks, 3 for extra bases.  Matt Soderlund led the way with 2 doubles, 3 walks, and 3 RBI in 5 plate appearance.  Matt Richer added three singles.   Eric Schrader added two hits and RBI.

Next up for the Nats are the Menasha Macs on Friday night in the opening game of the 14th annual pre-season road trip.   The team will then face the Marinette Redbirds on Saturday for two and finish up with those same Redbirds for one on Sunday.

Thursday's non-league game against Kewaskum was cancelled due to rain.  A makeup date has yet to be determined.

Next up for the Nationals is a Saturday game at Genoa City at 1pm.

After that its the 14th annual road trip.   This year the squad will play 4 games in 3 days.   On Friday May 17 the team squares off against the Menasha Macs at 7:30pm at Kozlo Field in Menasha.   The team then travels to Marinette for a Saturday DH vs. the Redbirds at Pederson Ballpark starting at 1pm.   On Sunday, the team then winds up its three game series with the Redbirds, playing a single game starting at noon.

The West Allis Nationals jumped to an early lead and withstood a late RedDog rally to escape with an 7-6 victory in the season opener for both squads.

The Nats struck early.  After a leadoff walk to Adam Karas and another to Justin Molle, Paul Archambault ripped a double to left to plate the first run of the game.   After a walk to Alex Elliott, Ryan Hoffman singled to score Molle and push the lead to 2-0.   Curt Pryal then followed with a sharp grounder down the third base line which was gloved for a force at third, scoring Archambault on the play.   After one inning, the Nats led 3-0.

The Nats added to their lead with three more runs in the third on RBI singles by Eric Schrader and Jordan Koutnik and a bases loaded walk to Lance Longhenry.

In the seventh the Nats scored their last tally when Paul Archambault scored on an RBI single by Ryan Hoffman.

Brian Henschell stymied Genoa City's offense for the first 5 innings, allowing only an unearned run on 5 hits while striking out 4.   Curt Pryal followed for 3 innings, holding the RedDogs to 2 runs and departing with a 7-3 lead.

Genoa City made it a game in the ninth inning.  A run scoring double closed the gap to 7-4 with one out and runners on second and third.   Catcher Paul Archambault then picked off the runner at second for the second out of the inning and that play proved to be critical and Genoa City's Brian Dohse homered on the next pitch, plating two runs rather than three.

With the score 7-6 and two outs, Chad Tindall singled.  That brought GC's three hitter, Jason Dennis, to the plate.   Dennis lifted a ball to center that appeared to be going for extra bases, but the Nationals' Eric Schrader made a over the shoulder catch with his back to the infield to end the game.

Next up for the Nationals are the Kewaskum A's on Thursday night at Carl Kuss Field in West Bend.  First pitch is set for 7:30pm.

The Nationals chose the wrong time to turn in their worst all around performance of the year.   The squad struggled in the field, on the mound, and at the plate in their quarterfinal playoff game and fell to the Kenosha Bobcats 7-1 Saturday night at Simmons Field in Kenosha.   The Nationals finished their once promising season at 17-12 overall.