Nationals win two to earn tourney’s top seed

The Niagara Nationals scored a pair of victories today to earn the No. 1 seed for Sunday’s championship round in the Gatorade Nationals Tournament at Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Improving to 4-0 at the tourney, the Nationals first blanked the Oakville, Ontario A’s 3-0 and then downed the Illinois Chargers 10-2.

Two runs in the first inning ignited the Nationals past Oakville. A triple by Nate Sherman sparked that uprising as Liam Ward and Aiden Johnston followed up with singles and David Belsito a double.

The Nationals other run came in the sixth as Trevor Luthart singled and came home on a single by Mitchell Holtz.  Luthart and Holtz both finished with a pair of hits.

Sam Murphy and Chris Goyette shared in pitching the shutout combining for 5 strikeouts and scattering 6 hits.

Two big innings then sparked the Nationals past the Chargers. A double by Ward and a single by Johnston highlighted a 5 run third inning. Doubles by Murphy and Johnston along with singles by Goyette and Luthart then keyed a 4 run fifth frame.

Carson Harper and Johnston shared there mound duties allowing 4 hits and striking out 5.

The Nationals will open the championship round of competition at 8 a.m. Sunday.