Brad Rindfleisch did everything he could Tuesday night against the Nationals.
Rindfleisch threw a complete game, two-hit, 10 strikeout performance, in a game the A’s needed to win to have any realistic hope of hosting the WSL step-ladder playoff next week against these same West Allis Nationals.
But a third-inning groundout that scored one for West Allis turned out to be the difference as the A’s fell 1-0 in their WSL finale Tuesday night.
With the loss, the A’s finish the WSL regular season with a 14-12 record. West Allis moves to 14-10, and has a 4-1 record against the A’s this season. In order for the A’s to host the step-ladder playoff next Wednesday, July 31, they will need West Allis to lose their three reaming WSL games this week (Thursday vs. Kenosha, Saturday vs. Lombard in a doubleheader).
The offense for both teams was limited on Tuesday, with the A’s collecting just three hits, two doubles by Jacob Neese and a single by Alex Perez. A’s batters walked five times, but were unable to cross home plate.
The A’s have two remaining regular season home games, Thursday in a non-league tilt against the Milwaukee Tropics for Fan Appreciation Night, and Sunday against the Kewaskum A’s to close out NEWBL play. The 2024 season is presented by Meijer.