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Jimmy Jungbauer came within one out of a no-hitter Saturday as the West Allis Nationals took game one of a DH vs the Marinette Redbirds by a score of 8-0.
Jungbauer was sharp from the outset, striking out 9 and walking none. Unfortunately, with two outs in the bottom of the final frame, a line drive through the middle hit Jungbauer in the thigh and deflected to short right field giving Marinette its only safety of the game.
In game two the Nats scored early and often, posted 2 runs in each of the first two frames. The key blow was a two out, two run single by Curt Pryal that put the Nats ahead 4-0.
Marinette's starting pitcher settled in from there, striking out 12 in a complete game performance. Nationals starter, Alex Kingsley went 5 innings, allowing 2 runs, to get the win. Kyle Knaust held the lead in the sixth and Chad Tindall closed the door in the seventh for the save.
Next up for the Nationals is the third and final game of the annual series versus Marinette. The two teams square off for a single game at noon on Sunday.
Will Debruin's one out single in the bottom of the ninth scored Jon Schlemmer from third, breaking a 9-9 deadlock and giving the Menasha Macs a comeback victory over the West Allis Nationals on Friday night at Greenville Ballpark.
Early on it appeared the Nats would have little problem securing victory. After single runs the first and second, the Nats posted a four spot in the third to take an early 6-0 lead. Chad Tindall's two run triple capped the rally.
The Macs came back with two of their own in the bottom half of the frame, though, and after a single run in the fourth, put up four runs of their own in the fifth to narrow the margin to 8-7.
The Macs took the lead in the sixth, but Jared Stengel responded for the Nats with a solo homer to left in the eighth and the teams entered the ninth knotted at 9.
Despite the loss, several Nationals made impressive debuts. Brian Huntzinger went 4 for 4 with a double and a triple; Mike Merritt went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs; and Andy Kovarik with 2 for 4 with an RBI.
The Nationals now head to Marinette for a three game set against the Redbirds. The two teams will play a twinbill on Saturday starting at 1pm and single game on Sunday starting at noon.
Kings take the long road; Team claims fifth straight Langsdorf championship
Randy Johnson notched two victories in one day as the Kings finally finished off the West Allis Nationals Tuesday at Carthage Field.
The right-hander pitched four dominating innings in Game 2 and remained on the mound to toss five effective innings in the title game. Johnson had previously pitched eight shutout innings in Game 1.The performance earned Johnson the Championship Series MVP.
39 innings of ball
The Kings completed the suspended Game 2 with a 5-4 victory in 17 innings before claiming an 8-4 win in the championship game.
17 inning victory
In Game 2, Johnson pitched four perfect innings with two strikeouts as the Kings finally broke a 4-4 deadlock with a run in the 17th inning.
Kyle Frye led off with a single, advanced to second on a throwing error and eventually scored from third on a wild pitch from West Allis pitcher Kyle Knaust.
Johnson retired the Nationals in order in the 17th inning and benefited from a game-ending, diving catch by Frye in right field.
Big fifth does it in game 3
Dennis ripped a two-run double to left-center field just moments after botching the Kings’ second of two failed suicide squeeze attempts in the game.
Johnson allowed four hits and two runs (both earned) with one walk and eight strikeouts.
Jared Stengel and Marcos Cruz had 2 RBI's each for the Nationals. Danny Putnam had 2 hits and scored 2 runs.
The Nationals' Matt Soderlund scored the game's only run and the Nationals escaped Kenosha with 1-0 victory and a leg up in the Langsdorf League Best-of-Three Championship Series.
The Nationals scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 13th inning when Soderlund drew a leadoff walk, stole second base and scored on a two-out, RBI single by Nick Lingvay.
The four-time defending Langsdorf champion Kings put runners at first and second with two outs in the bottom half of the inning only to come up empty once again, ending the game on a strikeout from Joe Ferro.
Jimmy Jungbauer pitched ten scoreless innings for the Nationals before giving way to rookie Adam Widder who threw the final three to secure his first Nationals victory.
Randy Johnson took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and tossed eight scoreless innings in a no-decision. Jason Bunton (3-4) took the loss with five innings of relief.
Both teams had several scoring opportunities earlier in the contest, but pitchers stepped up with timely strikeouts with men in scoring position to defuse the rallies.
“It just came down to who was going to get the clutch hit,” Kings’ manager Tim Pulizzano said. “They were the ones that had it.”
Johnson allowed just two hits and finished with two walks and eight strikeouts. The right-hander allowed back-to-back singles to start the seventh inning — a leadoff blooper and a bunt single — before answering with three straight strikeouts to end the rally.
“We’ve faced (Jungbauer) many times and he’s the type of guy you have to get to early,” Pulizzano said. “When he settles in, this is what he has the potential to do. There were four great pitching performances (from both starters and relievers) and it was a case of two teams standing toe-to-toe. I don’t think you’ve seen the last of us.”
With Jungbauer out of the game, the Kings appeared to be on the verge of ending the marathon. Mark Cibrario and John Hasser led off with back-to-back singles to put runners at the corners with no outs. After Pinch hitter Jason Acevedo struck out on three pitches, Kyle Frye fouled off a first-pitch, suicide squeeze attempt and then hit a weak dribbler to short that forced Cibrario into a pickle.
Cibrario was tagged out for the second out of the inning and Ferro struck out on a called check swing to end the rally.
Game two of the three-game series is scheduled 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Zirkel Field in West Allis. A potential third and deciding game is slated for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Simmons Field.
Nats down Bobcats; Championship Series Rematch Set
Tyler Eickmeyer, Marcos Cruz, and Nick Lingvay each had multi-hit games and Curt Pryal pitched 7 strong innings as the West Allis Nationals downed the Kenosha Bobcats 6-1 in the Langsdorf League Semifinals on Saturday at Zirkel Field in West Allis. The victory earned the Nationals a return trip to the Langsdorf League Championship Series where they'll face a familiar foe - the four time defending champion Kenosha Kings. The Kings defeated the Nationals 2 games to 1 in a hard-fought championship series last year.
The Nationals struck first with two runs in the second. Marcos Cruz walked and Nick Lingvay singled and Jared Stengel singled them home. The Nats tacked on two more runs in third. Erik Martwick and Jared Fon each were each hit by pitches with one out. Cruz then plated his first RBI of the contest, bringing in Martwick and Fon later came home on a wild pitch.
In the fourth, after walking, Adam Karas scored on a wild pitch. Marcos Cruz closed the scoring in the sixth, knocking in Erik Martwick and providing the Nats with a comfortable cushion leading into the late innings.
Pryal was effective throughout his outing, and most effective in crisis. His top moment came in his final inning of work. After the Bobcats rallied to load the bases with no outs in the seventh, Pryal struck out the meat of the Bobcats order - hitters 3,4,and 5, to end the rally and close out his night. Kyle Knaust pitched two scoreless frames to end the game.
The Championship Series begins on Tuesday night at Simmons Field in Kenosha. First pitch is set for 7:30pm.
