Nationals Schedule

On a hot, humid and sunny morning Brian Wolcott was his masterful-self on the mound, pitching a complete game versus the Firebirds.  Mike Carter as usual was everywhere in the infield making plays at shortstop, leading a stellar defense.  The play of the game was a forward diving catch in left field by John Ouellet, a critical play in a tightly contested game pitting the league leading Nationals and second place Firebirds.  John’s thrusting of a his arm in the air after a few tumbles, flat on his back, revealing a clutched ball, was right out of a Hollywood feel-good sports movie.

The Nats bats were silenced for the first time in 43 games by Tony Escamilla, who had an excellent fastball and command of the strike zone over 7 innings.  After the Nats were unable to plate a run with bases loaded in the top of the first. The Firebirds fabricated a single run in the bottom of the first inning with a Mike Lane leadoff infield grounder that resulted in an errant throw to first just past the full stretch of the All-Star Jim Howland, Lane then advanced to second base. Two outs later, the speedy Lane would score on a hit to RF that “had eyes” to find the smallest of gaps between the well positioned first baseman Howland and the speedy Gary Parsons at second.  In right field McHenry played the hot grounder as if he were in the outfield at Hazel Park (instead of the pristine and best field in the league) and went into full goalie mode, causing him to delay before charging the ball in hopes of holding the speedy Lane at third. Firebirds 1, Nationals 0.

In the second inning the Firebirds would score their second run.  Fortune smiled on their resilience and good technical base running. With a leadoff batter on first and a sharp ground ball to Jack DiGiovanni at 1B, one of the softest gloves in the league and an RBI machine, he fielded and turned to second to start the double-play. But Fortune was aligned with the Firebirds, as fielding the ball took DiGiovanni directly in the path of the runner.  Jack, technically sound in game decisions, avoided the risky throw and took the out at first.  That runner on second would eventually advance to third and score on a clutch bloop single to the outfield.  Firebirds 2, Nationals 0.

That was the scoring of the game, a real baseball game complete with some great plays and superb pitching by both pitchers. The Nats had base runners in several additional innings, smoked the ball several time but a Firebird was there to make the play. Today for the Nats it was not meant to be. But to a man the Nationals identified it was fun to compete in a well-played and tight game. 

On to the next game, BATTER UP!

After the first loss in a season and a half the Nats returned to the field to face last years’ runner-ups for the league title, the Tigers.  The game was decided before the first pitch as Manager Mark Henderson uncharacteristically called the team together for a speech that would’ve made Knute Rockne proud. “The Team…the Team…the Team…” he began (not channeling his inner Bo, Mark just stutters a lot.) He identified our greatness was not our win-loss record but “having each-others’ backs” (though I’ve never cared for Eddie Klieman;) The game was never in doubt after that.

The Nats bats were thunderous as the dark clouds of a coming storm made the perfect backdrop for the whirlwind scoring that was occurring in the top of each inning for the Away Nats. Clutch hitting was on display by every member of the team taking advantage of traffic on the bases when at the plate. Two bombs stood out among many solid hits, both to Left Field, by Gary Parsons and Jeff Britton who shared duties tonight while playing flawless at Second Base. Both hits had the Tigers concerned the boys were “juiced” and the Nats concerned that balls that high and far into the clouds would bring rain and prematurely end the game! Jim Bowers skills, recent Gold Medal in the Senior Triple Jump, contributed to a clutch catch in Centerfield when the Tigers had the bases loaded to stymie a scoring effort.

The Tigers had their moments, rebounding well to score 4 runs in the second inning and put the Nats on notice. Greg McGlone was consistent on the mound for the Tigers, spotting the ball at will and with late movement. However, the Nats were up to the challenge on this day with Henderson’s words always ringing as they stepped into the batter’s box (not because we remembered but because Henderson kept repeating his speech to each batter throughout the entire contest.)  McGlone was relieved by Jess Monticello.

The Nats continued to display defensive prowess with hustle and skill. Mike Carter, for the second game in a row from the shortstop position, moved quickly on a sharply hit ground ball, backhanded the ball on the second base side of the field, showed his hops to position himself in the air while flipping a rainbow throw to first. Most of the Nats had not seen that move since the Winnepeg Ballet was in town and we attended as a team (without our significant others.)  Nats hustle was even more apparent when with runners on first and second a Tiger batter smoked a double to LF over the head of the Nats John Ouellet. John quickly turned and chased the bounding ball, collected it near the warning track, fired a strike to Carter who was perfectly positioned as the cut off. Mike’s one hop throw to Henderson at the plate was ahead of the charging Pat Brainard who was attempting to score from first. The ensuing collision would make any Sumo wrestling fan cheer! Henderson held onto the ball and Brainard was OUT.

The Tigers would score big in one more inning, when Ed Klieman walked more people than a Boy Scout troop stationed at a crosswalk in a retirement community. Ed finished the inning strong however and Carter closed out the game in relief.

A rare appearance by John Tagliavia (“Hi! I’m John, played with you in June, remember?”) and the clinical hitting displayed by the usual suspects; Howland, DiGiovanni, Fioroni and Harper all contributed to another Nats victory.

PS Clinical Hitting: Medicated, operated on, taped up or otherwise requiring professional medical attention until able to swing a bat and then requesting release to get to a game.

The Nats showed up for the third consecutive game in 90+ temps. Far from wilting the Nats today would all contribute in a sound victory.  Ed Klieman, leading the league in wins as a pitcher, continued to lead the Nats early offensive barrages by hitting a sharp lead off shot to the outfield for a single. Ed was ever-present on the base paths for the rest of the game.  Ed’s exuberance on the base paths had to be tempered by the Home Plate Umpire who identified his dancing was fine but singing to the opposing pitcher, Earl LaFontaine, while doing the 2 Step was beyond the pale. Joe Fioroni continued his stellar hitting with a 3 hit 3 RBI performance while holding down the hot corner at third. Jeff Britton, continuing to flex his elevated testosterone levels, contributed a bases clearing bomb to left-center.  John Tagliavia went 2/3 with a double.

It would have been hard to select the player of the game with so many contributing … except that Mark Henderson showed up today with a spectacular performance. Mark not only threw a shutout 2 hitter but kept the outfield alert by popping thunderous fast balls into the waiting mitt of the catcher Gary Parsons. With few balls making it out of the infield during the game, the outfielders looked like dogs when someone yells “Squirrel!” each time that fastball popped. Several Cardiinals were seen wearing noise canceling ear buds to protect their hearing in their later inning plate appearances. When the fastballs weren’t popping Marks wicked curve ball kept the Cards off balance, culminating in a 3K inning where the last out was a curveball that froze the hitter as the Umpire punched him out! Not to be outdone by Klieman’s versatility, Mark drove in Ed with the first run of the game, a two out clutch hit in the first inning, capping a 2/2 night with a walk in three plate appearances.

The Cards battery was strong, as Earl LaFontaine seems to have extra gears on his fastball whenever needed. Catcher Andy Lukacs spotted LaFontaine throughout the game using the full strike zone in an effort to thwart the Nats attack.  Andy singled off Henderson in his second at bat, making it to third before Henderson shut the door on the inning.  Steve Lezotte contributed the only other hit for the Cards. Steve’s plate appearances gave the Nats outfield its most activity as they repositioned to the shouts from the infield “Good Hitter, give him some room.”

The Nats victory was without the benefit of its two RBI leaders; Jack DiGiovanni and Mike Carter. Carter was seen with his leg in a bucket of ice behind the bench and benefitted from the massages as Nats went fishing for beers that weren’t there. Mike said it helped the circulation and expects to play in the next game. John Bosch was keeping score with one eye looking for the camera man. At one point John leaned over to Jim Howland on the bench and said “If my public calls, you’ll have to take the scorebook!” John was later added to the line-up and was seen forcing his helmet on his expanded cranium! Finally the rock of the team, Willie Boyd, continued to coach up each player on the bases, adding valuable critiques at the plate and in the field. He recently told McHenry after a particularly awkward third strike swing to end a game “leave that bat, don’t take it with you, there’s something wrong with it.” The Nats return to action this weekend against those same Cards.

Go Nats, BATTER UP!

90+ Temps and 90+ Humidity was matched with 9.0+ MPH fastballs by the live arm of Mike Carter who took the mound for the league leading Nationals on this 21^st game of the season and second in a row against the competitive Cardinals. In his first start of the season, Carter one-upped Henderson’s 2 Hitter in the Nats previous game with a one hit gem.  Mike’s dominant performance resulted in a single ball making it out of the infield the entire game. Mike confused and intimidated Cardinal batters with off-speed changes and curves complimenting his flaming fastball. Striking out batters in every inning except the 1-2-3 last inning, it was a thing of beauty to see Mike - Set, Rock and Deliver to the spot of catcher, Jim Cuthrell. In one of his rare appearances at catcher, Cuthrell stayed true to the positon and was HBP in his first at bat!

The Cards threw the crafty Robert Custard against the Nats and he was able to keep the scoring down in the early innings on a day that would have lesser men looking for a reason not to pitch.  Gavlinski relieved for the last two innings and showed signs of his usual brilliance with the “Big Hook” taking advantage of batters not disciplined. However the Nats bats were the victors on this day!

RBI’s today were plentiful with Howland contributing 3; Carter delivered a clutch two RBI single; McHenry breaking out of a slump added 2 more. Klieman with a 3/3 and a walk performance added another RBI.  Cuthrell and Britton one each to round out the scoring.  John Tagliavia reached base all three times at the plate, 2/2 and a walk. Tags continues to impress his teammates with new and creative ways of creating outs on the base paths as he did in the second inning.  The Nats are starting to believe Tags isn’t short for Tagliavia but rather a baseball nickname for how he seems to run the basepaths until he gets Tagged!

The outfielders has gotten so little work this season (Wheeler’s single the only action today) that they are seeking legal guidance to file a class action law suit of neglect against the Pitching Staff of Wolcott, Klieman, Henderson and Carter.  It’s so bad, career centerfielders Carter and Klieman, have never ventured past the SS position this season (sounds like collusion!)

The Nats are next up against the Tigers.  BATTER UP!

The Nats continued to roll on a perfect evening under the lights at Capitol Park.  The vista of a beautiful field and the cool breeze inspired the Nats after several previous games in onerous high heat and high humidity. Like the evening weather, beautiful was the delivery of Ed Klieman on the mound. Dealing a variety of pitches that had the Tiger batters off balance, Ed was hitless in his first three innings and scoreless until the fifth when a couple of runs were plated by the Tigers. But those runs came with little pressure as the Nats bats were channeling the cool breeze with smooth swings that created runs in every inning for a total of 14 runs. Klieman threw a complete game with 6 K’s and helped his gold glove chances by recording five 1-3 put outs and initiating a 1-6-3 double play to end the game! In all Eddie K recorded 12 of the 18 outs for the 6 inning game called on time.

The highlight at the plate was John Ouellet’s bomb over the Tiger left fielders head, a shot that was fielded at the fence allowing two runners to score easily.  Ouellet’s double was the only extra base hit recorded by either team as he contributed 3 RBI’s in the game. Jim Bowers and Jack DiGiovanni each added 2 RBI’s in their 3 plate appearances. The remainder of the 14 RBI’s were scattered among the well balanced offensive attack of the Nats.  Defensively, Bill Harper, bad back and all, played CF and charged a dying pop up to shallow center with a great catch on the full run.  Less theatrical than John “The Natural” Ouellet, Billy simply laid out, made the catch, got up and threw the ball in!

Greg McGlone was on target with a variety of pitches for the Tigers. His early breaking curve often had Nats batters on their heals as the ball broke over for a called strike. Coupled with a late breaker and good fast ball McGlone did his best to make it a contest. However the potent hitting all season of the Nats has caused many a good outing to be chronicled with a mark in the loss column by their opponents.  This completed a season sweep of the pesky Tigers.

The first place Nats close out the season with a double-header against the Firebirds as NHS.

September 11 memories were on every players mind as the mighty Nationals faced the powerful Firebirds in a season ending doubleheader that would decide first place in the 62 Division.  The Nationals dominance throughout the season had only one blemish, a Firebird victory in the previous meeting of the two teams.  The Firebirds with only three losses on the season, by sweeping the doubleheader today, could tie the Nats in record and enjoy a tie-breaking 3-2 head-to-head win margin for a first place finish. The Nats needed only to split the doubleheader to secure the first place spot they have occupied since they joined the 62 Division two seasons ago. There is a reason the Nats have never been any place but first: yes, talent; but talent is fueled by motivation and the Nats cohesiveness makes every day we gather on the field a special day enjoying the positive energy of friends/teammates ready to face a challenge together.

League hitting champion, Mike Carter, put the day in perspective by addressing the team prior to the first game saying “We don’t need anyone’s “A” game today, just no “D or E” games and we will be The Victors.” That comment took all the tension out of the day and the Nats would play free and easy on the field and at the plate.

Brian “Wally” Wolcott would take the mound for the fourth consecutive time against the Firebirds.  Wally has been asbestos to Motor City, deadly on location, snuffing out their fire, making them just Birds! His only loss to Motor City came on a day he gave up the fewest runs (2) but the Nats bats didn’t muster even one in that meeting just a few weeks ago. So the Firebirds came with hopes of a repeat performance by their ace, Tony Escamilla, who would be on the mound in the opener.

Bill Harper, led off for the Nats and delivered a single to left-center. The Nats are rolling! But Escamilla wasn’t going to allow that and put down the next three batters to end the top of the inning.  After a scoreless first the Nats bats exploded in the top of the second. Five of the first six batters would reach base and five runs would be plated in the inning. Not surprising it started with a sharp single off the bat of Jack DiGiovanni, Top 5 in the league in RBI’s this season. The monster hit of the inning came via the bat of the league homerun leader, Joe Fioroni.  A “POP” off the bat that would have OSHA investigating decibel levels, Joe delivered a double over the RF’s head that nearly broke the sound barrier as it rocketed through the air. 5-0 Nats, they were rolling again!  The Firebirds having no lack of competitiveness or talent, responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own, serving notice, this game is not going to be easy. Nats 5, FBirds 2

The Nats would not add additional runs until recording two outs in the 5th. Eddie Klieman starts us off with a two out single; Jimmy Cuthrell pounds a double scoring Klieman; Mike Carter doesn’t see a strike from Escamilla and walks; then … who else … Jack DiGiovanni steps in and delivers an RBI single. Nats 7, FBirds 2!

The Firebirds would not record an extra base hit in the game but added two more runs in the sixth. Brian Wolcott would leave the game with two out in the sixth with a sore throwing shoulder to be relieved by the league Champion for wins by a pitcher this season, lefty Ed Klieman. Ed would record the final out to end the inning and continue on the mound for the final deciding seventh inning. Nats 7, FBirds 4

Bottom of 7^th, Firebirds down, 7-4, leading off the inning Mike Kirunchyk slaps a clutch single to left. Next batter goes down swinging on a Klieman fastball. The runners would advance on a ball in the dirt and a subsequent single would plate the 5^th and final run for the Firebirds as Klieman would record the last two outs on line shots to Mike Carter at short and Bill Harper at Third.  Final: Nats 7, FBirds 5

Hitters were on display for both teams in the game. Doc Welby was 2/3 with an RBI, Jerry Cockrell was 3/3, the mighty Escamilla brothers; first and fourth in the league in RBI’s this year; were held in check. If a collective 3/6 can be considered “held in check.”

Four Nats delivered extra base hits: Ed Klieman, Mike Carter, Joe Fioroni and Jim Cuthrell. Jack DiGiovanni was unstoppable in two key at bats going 2/2 and a HBP in a third appearance.  Thespian Jim Howland is going back to acting classes after not being able to sell a HBP in the second inning, Lee Strousbourg rolled over in his grave as Jim was nailed on the hand and looked at the umpire and feably identified “I was hit by the pitch.” Mike Carter was pumped the entire game, covered his SS position, running the bases; he had so much energy he even assisted the umpire calling balls, strikes and HBP’s!

Nats clinch First Place for the season … oh but there is one more game….

Jim Bowers was suspended horizontally in the air, about 18 inches above the ground, arms projected forward in a pose only George Reeves could truly appreciate. Jim would touch down at home plate and continue many feet beyond that as the home plate umpire, Scott Misuraca, flashed the “SAFE” sign. Winning run scored in the bottom of the last inning on a single by lead off hitter Bill Harper with Jim on second. Yet that is not the story of the game.  The story involves every National player and began a few hours before that fateful slide.

The Nats had taken the first game of the doubleheader versus the loaded Firebirds sealing a first place finish in the 62 league for the second year in a row. The Firebirds only hope to usurp the Nats as Leaders and Best was to sweep the DH. A first game victory meant the Nats second game would be played for pride. Several hours later the Nats team pride would be on full display.

League leader in wins by a pitcher, Ed Klieman, would take the mound in the second game for the Nats. Before the day was out, Mike Carter and Joe Fioroni would toe the rubber.  The Firebirds would start flamethrower, Dave Noonan and add Chaz Quatrine and first game starter Tony Escamilla during the contest. The Nats would hold a 3-2 lead entering the fourth inning when the Firebirds would score two and take a 4-3 lead. The Firebird scoring would continue through the next two innings without the Nats responding.  The Firebirds would grow their lead to 12-3 entering the final at bats for the Nats. That’s when the unbelievable would happen.

In their last half inning of the season the Nats did what they always do; encourage each other to play to their potential, no pressure, just be you, it’s good enough! The result was all 12 players in the line up made a plate appearance. Only one out was recorded, AND 10 RUNS!!!  Nats 13, FBirds 12

Clutch, talented, leaders, playmakers, sportsmen are all earned adjectives by the Nats.  But only one matters: Teammates. Congrats boys! We did it again! 23W - 1L. On to the playoffs. Batter Up!

Epilogue

Of all the spectacular moments this year for the Nats the greatest occurred two games before the end of the season when Willie Boyd, sidelined with shoulder surgery the entire season, played catch for the first time. The 2022 season is already looking promising knowing one of the leagues most talented players and a quality person is coming back.