Nationals Schedule

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Nationals Schedule
1	Thu Oct 01	8:15 PM	Hazel Park	Expos	P

2	Sun Oct 04	2:15 PM	Novi HIgh School	Yankees	P

3	Mon Oct 05	8:15 PM	Hazel Park	Expos	L	15	3
Interesting Tidbits Quite by chance, Anthony Rizzo was plopped in the lead-off spot. What a day - 2 hits (only Nat with 2), run, RBI, and an entire bus of cheerleaders. Don't know how the kid does it. The only 1-2-3 innings were pitched by the 2 oldest guys on the team (55, 78). Nobody stayed to drink beer in the parking lot. Hooray for Fall Ball! Almost everyone went 3-for-1. 2 guys were 2-for-1. The offense was spread around like not quite enough butter for a slice of toast.
4	Thu Oct 08	8:15 PM	Hazel Park	at Woodpeckers	L	13	8
Noteable Nationals Nats had the biggest inning of the game, with a 7th inning rally scoring 6 runs. This topped the 5-run grounder / blooper scoring fest the Peckers enjoyed in the 3rd. One of the Woodpeckers hit the ball pretty damn hard. Don't remember who it was, but "nice poke." The rest of ya'll should take a shower when you get home...put on some cologne, because apparently this is your lucky night. Two Nats hurlers tossed 1-2-3 innings. Kent Katsuda was overpowering with 2 Ks and a weak grounder back to the mound. Brian Jones allowed a walk, but it was quickly erased with a double play. Oh and what a double play! If you weren't there, you don't know what you missed. Gee Willikers, this was a double play that sets the bar. This double play wouldn't even have been any better with bacon. One of those majestic, tell your grandchildren about this stuff of legend double plays. Those guys that turned it are amazing. You couldn't ask for better guys. Whatever you need. Build a shed? Jump start your car? Turn a double play? They got ya covered. Anyone know who they are? I need a new shed. The hit of the night was Larry Paladino's sacrifice bunt in the 4th inning. Not only because it is our first SAC bunt of the year, but because it put Kent Katsuda in scoring position for Mitch Katsuda. With Kent's speed, you figure a single will score him for sure. What you didn't figure was that Mitch Katsuda would hit his first triple since 2018. When he steamed in standing up at third base, 3 jets in formation flew overhead. Minutes later we were treated to a supply drop of pallets on parachutes landing in the outfield. Packed in it was ... wait, no I dreamt that last part. Out of obligation, I'll mention that Brian Jones and Kent Katsuda had big days at the plate. I won't bore you with the details, they just had big days....<yawn> Breann McWilliams returned to play for the first time since an injury shelved her in July '19. In her 3 trips to the dish she managed a run and an RBI. The first RBI of our big 7th inning rally, no less. To the tune of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK!
5	Sun Oct 11	11:00 AM	Hazel Park	at Biscuits	L	15	1
<Headline> Beautiful day to play ball in October. Kent Katsuda strikes out 4 in one inning. The old "swing and miss, ball in the dirt, beat the throw to first" trick. It's the second-oldest trick in the book. Brian Jones throws the lone Nationals' shutout inning, and no-hit inning. This, thanks in large part, to Larry Paladino making a pair of plays from second base. Brian is earning a regular turn on the mound next summer. Larry is earning his weight in pennies every year from Social Security. Brian had the Nationals' first hit, then Larry had the second. Big moment for Anthony Rizzo, getting the RBI knocking in the Septegenarian. Our only run of the day. It won't be our last runs of the day though, I saw several Nats toasting Larry's great day with solo cups of prune juice. Brian Jones tops the hit parade going 1-for-1 with a walk. The only Nat never retired ... unless you count Dave Lentz being safe on a fielder's choice, plus a walk. Nah, for him we'll use "on base every time." Gosh, we gotta dig deep for some of this stuff. Jeff Block got his bell rung pretty good blocking a pitch in the dirt. It broke his cup. It is absolutely hilarious to everyone but him.
6	Wed Oct 14	8:15 PM	Hazel Park	Yankees	W	14	3
Nationals Climb to 5th Place Neil Schliewe tosses a 7-inning CG gem. The team had only allowed pitchers to throw one inning each until today. Neil was our first to GO LONG. Oh and hey Neil, thanks for that load of firewood; I really appreciate it. BEST GAME STORY Mitch Katsuda led off the 4th inning with a walk, and Neil followed with a hit. A couple guys from the bench yelled "hey Mitch, you need to steal third." Mitch nodded and went on the pitcher's first motion. He was out by the narrowest of margins, thanks to a terrific throw from Tim Sullivan. On the bench, we savored the humor of the way Mitch just nodded, then turn and ran. It was perfect comedic timing. Breann McWilliams was up, and she had an RBI her last at-bat, so she came up feeling sassy. After Mitch was out, Neil was still on first and realized the situation...Breann used to have a runner in scoring position, and now she doesn't. Neil, ever the gentleman, stole second base on Breann's behalf. She followed with a sharp single to center. That maple bat had a nice <crack> to it. Neil, ever the gentleman, dashed around third with purpose, and scored easily - netting Breann her 2nd RBI in as many innings. Brian Jones goes 3-for-3 plus a walk and takes over as the leading Fall-Star. Don't forget that outfield catch ... "got it, whoops, still got it, hooray!" Jim McWilliams and Anthony Rizzo (the new star shortstop), pulled off the first squeeze bunt of the year. It went down like this...Jim bunted and ran to first. Then the pitcher picked up the ball and threw to first base. Then Anthony ran home. Doesn't that make you feel like you were there?
7	Thu Oct 15	6:00 PM	Hazel Park	at Cardinals	L	10	2
Colton Rocks the Bomber Colton Rutkowski not only looked the sharpest, but also was our best hitter and pitcher. That jacket...there's something magical. Brian Jones further asserts himself running away with the batting title, up to a .636 AVG, matching his license plate 636AVG. Last-minute add to the roster, Thomas "the Big P" Poma fills in with the Nationals when they unexectedly came up short-handed. Second time up he ripped a ball so hard it went between the first baseman's legs and he never got his glove on it. His first hit in a baseball game in 24 years. The Big P also played flawless right field. After the game, some dude came up to me asking if he could get Thomas' autograph. ...it was Kevin reminding us to get the waiver turned in quickly. Family Fun Our only 2 runs of the game were Kent and Mitch Katsuda, scoring back-to-back in the 6th inning. Especially coincidental because they __________ (you finish the joke, I'm tired)
8	Sun Oct 18	12:00 PM	Novi HIgh School	Juice Box Heroes	L	12	3
Sunday Highlights Breann McWilliams goes 2-for-2 to lead the Nationals' charge. Both hits came off last year's teammate Alex Dyke. Kent Katsuda pitches 2 shutout innings featuring overpowering stuff, including striking out Alex Dyke. Larry Paladino with the hit of the game. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Larry decided to bunt, even though the pitch was about a foot above his head. Not only did he lay down a great bunt for the SAC, but Jordan Hamling had the presence of mind to take home when Alex Dyke pulled a la-dee-dah on the easy grounder - to create an RBI for Larry's SAC. That's a Ty Cobb thing to do, and I love it. Jordan got to bat lead-off today by bribing the manager. Jordan offered a bag of beef jerkey and $40 in Jet's Pizza coupons. The manager accepted and JH was at the top of the lineup. In the 4th inning, Jordan had a hit off Alex Dyke. Jim McWilliams had to bat last, but got to be the starting pitcher today because he made the final out of the last game. Also the real reason Jordan got to bat lead-off. Alex Dyke is only mentioned here as a red herring.
9	Thu Oct 22	8:15 PM	Hazel Park	Bad News Bears	P

10	Fri Oct 23	8:15 PM	Hazel Park	Bad News Bears	P

11	Mon Oct 26	8:15 PM	Hazel Park	Bad News Bears	W	12	10
Things to Write Home About Breann McWilliams wallops her first career extra-base hit. It was a double down the left field line that sent the fielder back, scoring 2 runners (leads the team again) This gave us the lead, hence the game-winning RBI. Atta Girl! She also had a single the previous trip to the dish to raise her season average to .333 - this would have been good enough to win the American League batting title 14 of the last 20 years. In the 3rd inning, Colton Rutkowski drove a ball over the right fielder's head, good for a triple. When he came up to bat in the 6th, the first baseman turned to the right fielder and shouted "big stick!" Neil Schliewe made 2 outstanding catches in center field tonight. On both of them, he ran a long way, pretty fast, then caught the ball. Oddly, our leadoff hitter was the only batter that didn't score - she did have 2 RBIs though. Rookie Thomas Poma had another hit today, this was his best-hit ball so far. This drove in his first career RBI. Atta Boy!!! Last out was Colton, with Jim on deck. Jim gets to lead off tomorrow!!! Oh wait --- awwww :(
12	Tue Oct 27	8:15 PM	Hazel Park	at Woodpeckers	P

13	Wed Oct 28	8:15 PM	Hazel Park	at Woodpeckers	W	8	6
Short Game Recap Breann nets another hit and finishes the season batting .333. Coincidentally, Breann's favorite deadball era player, Cap Anson, had a lifetime .333 batting average. Thomas Poma, playing in his 4th game of baseball since he was a small boy, also had a hit in his last at-bat to bring his season average even with Breann at .333. In another twist of fate, Thomas comes up short because his favorite deadball era player is Nap Lajoie, and we all know Nap finished his HoF career with a .334 AVG. The pitching was fantastic tonight fellas, we threw a 3-hitter. In a related story, Ed Alberts was certain he had 3 hits in the 7th inning - until he heard each one of them hit the catcher's mitt. Brian Jones and Jim McWilliams pulled off a squeeze bunt. This was especially gratifying because they set it up with signs ... and nobody ever looks in for signs. But we did this time, and GLORY BE THY NAME. Colton Rutkowski played all 9 positions in just 6 innings. Long Season Recap It was great fun to have a completely egalitarian team system. We also got to see just about the whole team play out of position, and find out everyone can play anywhere. I'll also mention that the umpires did a great job in absolutely every game. These are my personal take-aways from the season: Breann spanked the snot out of the ball quite a few times, and led all the McWilliams in hits, runs, doubles, and RBI. Larry Paladino really impressed pitching. 3.00 ERA (4th), 1.67 WHIP (2nd). He also struck out twice as many batters as he walked. MVP candidates were Colton Rutkowski, Brian Jones, Neil Schliewe and Kent Katsuda. Because they were all lights-out pitchers, and the top of the batting charts also. It was fun to watch Anthony Rizzo and Kent Katsuda switch from outfield to infield because that's where we needed them, and they both played GREAT. Brian Jones and Colton Rutkowski, long-time summer-ball teammates, do not normally pitch much in the summer. Brian finished with a 0.00 ERA, and Colton was right there until the last game when he was touched for 1. This will translate into alot more innings in the summer. LEAGUE LEADERS Brian was one of 6 pitchers in the league to finish with a null ERA. Brian also led the league in stolen bases with 7. He also finished 2nd in a few things, like hits. Jim McWilliams led the league in saves, with 2. He would have led the league in strikeouts if he had struck out 17 more batters. TEAM LEADERS AVG .583 Colton Rutkowski OBP .667 Colton Rutkowski SLG .750 Colton Rutkowski OPS 1.417 Colton Rutkowski Hits 10 Brian Jones Runs 7 Brian Jones RBIs 6 Colton Rutkowski Walks 7 Mitch Katsuda Stolen Bs 7 Brian Jones SAC bunt 3 Larry Paladino Wins 1 Brian Jones, Kent Katsuda, Neil Schliewe Saves 2 Jim McWilliams ERA 0.00 Dave Lentz, Brian Jones Ks 13 Kent Katsuda WHIP 1.57 Jim McWilliams Opp-AVG.179 Kent Katsuda BB/9 0 Ian McWilliams (Larry and Jim each walked one)