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PITTSBURG —
Watco Nationals head coach Brian Freeman gave his players a pep talk in the dugout Monday night before their Frank German League tournament game against the Jock’s Nitch Athletics.
“Out of all these games, this is the most important of them all,” Freeman said. “We need to leave it all on the field, including energy.”
The Nationals followed those words and pounded out a commanding 15-5 run-rule win over the Athletics. Now, the Nationals can get no worse than fourth place and have a shot at top-seeded Comeau Jewelry Rockies (10-2) tonight in the first semifinal game played at Wild Red Berry Field.
Leaving it all on the field meant leaving one runner on base — for example, Nationals starting pitcher Jake Webb proved to be a surefire run-producer.
At the plate, he went 3-for-3 with eight RBI, two inside-the-park home runs and one triple. He scored three in the first, four in the second, one in the third and did not bat in the fourth inning. His performance at the plate alone secured more than enough runs for himself on the mound.
In the top of the first, third baseman Whit Dungan caught a line drive hit by No. 2 hitter Alex Kafka and with leadoff man Joel Kafka already halfway to second, Dungan turned and doubled off Joel Kafka at first. Webb struck out Aris Easter and momentum definitely swung its pendulum in the direction of the Nationals for the majority of the rest of the game. It was not a Kafkaesque night for the Nationals.
Nationals leadoff man Brett Freeman reached on an error, then came back-to-back hits by Dungan, Letterman and Webb. Dungan plated Freeman after he moved into scoring position on a steal of second. Dungan and Letterman each scored on the first of Webb’s smashes to center field. The Nationals gave Athletics outfielders like center fielder Garon Worrell and right fielder Cody Lawrence no end of trouble with hard-hit balls in the gaps.
The Athletics managed two runs in the second and three in the third, despite no hits against Webb in those innings. Webb struggled with his control and the combination of Dungan and Letterman behind him saved at least one more Athletics run in the third.
Dungan made a play on an Easter grounder near the bag at third and threw on to first; Letterman scooped out a low throw by Dungan for the second out of the inning. Alex Kafka scored on the play but it could have been worse. Webb then buckled down and struck out Austin Macias to pacify the threat.
Watco Nationals head coach Brian Freeman gave his players a pep talk in the dugout Monday night before their Frank German League tournament game against the Jock’s Nitch Athletics.
“Out of all these games, this is the most important of them all,” Freeman said. “We need to leave it all on the field, including energy.”
The Nationals followed those words and pounded out a commanding 15-5 run-rule win over the Athletics. Now, the Nationals can get no worse than fourth place and have a shot at top-seeded Comeau Jewelry Rockies (10-2) tonight in the first semifinal game played at Wild Red Berry Field.
Leaving it all on the field meant leaving one runner on base — for example, Nationals starting pitcher Jake Webb proved to be a surefire run-producer.
At the plate, he went 3-for-3 with eight RBI, two inside-the-park home runs and one triple. He scored three in the first, four in the second, one in the third and did not bat in the fourth inning. His performance at the plate alone secured more than enough runs for himself on the mound.
In the top of the first, third baseman Whit Dungan caught a line drive hit by No. 2 hitter Alex Kafka and with leadoff man Joel Kafka already halfway to second, Dungan turned and doubled off Joel Kafka at first. Webb struck out Aris Easter and momentum definitely swung its pendulum in the direction of the Nationals for the majority of the rest of the game. It was not a Kafkaesque night for the Nationals.
Nationals leadoff man Brett Freeman reached on an error, then came back-to-back hits by Dungan, Letterman and Webb. Dungan plated Freeman after he moved into scoring position on a steal of second. Dungan and Letterman each scored on the first of Webb’s smashes to center field. The Nationals gave Athletics outfielders like center fielder Garon Worrell and right fielder Cody Lawrence no end of trouble with hard-hit balls in the gaps.
The Athletics managed two runs in the second and three in the third, despite no hits against Webb in those innings. Webb struggled with his control and the combination of Dungan and Letterman behind him saved at least one more Athletics run in the third.
Dungan made a play on an Easter grounder near the bag at third and threw on to first; Letterman scooped out a low throw by Dungan for the second out of the inning. Alex Kafka scored on the play but it could have been worse. Webb then buckled down and struck out Austin Macias to pacify the threat.
Matt Lomshek came on in the fourth and retired the Athletics 1-2-3. Webb made a couple plays at shortstop (where Lomshek started the game) and Lomshek struck out Worrell to retire the side.
The Nationals forced a run-rule with the hustle of Freeman — at third, Freeman tagged up on a fly ball caught by Athletics first baseman Anthony Basauri just on the outfield grass and scored ahead of the throw by Basauri.
The Nationals (6-6-1) played the Rockies three times in the regular season with the Rockies winning all three games — 6-5 on Opening Day, 8-7 on June 4 and 10-1 on June 11. The Rockies have not lost a game since May 30 (against the Athletics).
In the nightcap, the Via Christi Braves (7-6) run-ruled the Knights of Columbus Cubs 10-0 and play the Rotary Orioles (6-6) in the other semifinal.
