Potomac Nationals Prepare For Back-to-Back Doubleheaders

by Bobby Oler

If you've never made it to a Potomac Nationals game in Woodbridge, Va., this Memorial Day weekend may be your best bet. The Nationals will play four seven-inning games in two days starting Saturday at 5:35 p.m. The second game will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first. The second pair of games will be on Sunday.

Potomac hosts the Lynchburg Hillcats, who snapped a three game losing streak with a win against Winston-Salem on Wednesday. They will send Cory Rasmus to the mound. The 23-year-old right-hander is 1-5 in seven starts with a 7.09 ERA. Potomac will counter with Paul Demny. Demny has won just one of his eight starts, but he has allowed only 18 earned runs, including two games in which he did not give up a run.

Demny will be challenged by a Hillcats lineup that includes three of the Carolina League's top 15 batting averages. Lynchburg shortstop Andrelton Simmons has hit in three straight games and in seven of his last eight, knocking in four runs in the process.

Potomac currently sits one half game above Lynchburg in the Carolina League Northern Division. However, the Nationals have lost four in a row, and remain 9.5 games behind league-leading Wilmington. Potomac will look to use a rare homestead to their benefit. Of their 45 games played, only 14 have been home games, which is six fewer than any other team in the Carolina League.

The double header on Saturday is a make-up of a rainout on the first game of the season. There will be a special fireworks display at the conclusion of the second game. Sunday's game will be a make-up of Friday night's contest, which was also postponed because of weather. Sunday's double-header begins at 12:05 p.m.

The Potomac Nationals play at the G. Richard Pfitzner Stadium, 7 County Complex Court, Woodbridge, Va.