Nationals spring training minor league games begin March 15

Nationals minor league games begins March 15 with four against Marlins affiliates. Potomac and Hagerstown each play a game versus Miami's High Single-A and Low Single-A teams on the back fields in West Palm Beach. The games are free to the public.

Fresno and Harrisburg play separate games against the Marlins' Triple-A and Double-A squads at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Fla., that same day.

The Nats' Triple-A and Double-A teams play their first games at home in West Palm Beach March 16 against Cardinals counterparts.

Minor league games run from March 15 to March 26 against Miami, St. Louis, the Mets and Houston. There are camp days March 18, 20, 24 and 27-31. The minor league clubs break camp March 31.

* Double-A Harrisburg opens the regular season April 4 against Bowie, starting a seven-game homestand. The Senators will be close to the D.C. area that next week, playing at Bowie April 11-14.

High Single-A Potomac also begins April 4 with seven games at home against Fayetteville and Carolina.

The Triple-A Fresno Grizzlies open April 4 with five games in a row at home against Reno. May 7-10 the club will be in Sacramento and then at home in Fresno May 11-20, with a day off Wednesday, May 15. The Nationals will be at the Los Angeles Dodgers from May 9-12.

June 4-10 the Grizzlies will venture the closest to the East Coast as they will get in the regular season at New Orleans and Oklahoma City. Ironically, the Nationals head to San Diego for a series June 6-9.

* Third baseman Jake Noll is showing very well in his spring training game log with the Nationals. After 13 games, Noll is hitting .391 with two doubles, two homers and six RBIs. He has an on-base percentage of .500 and a slugging percentage of .739. He has hit .444 versus left-handers and .333 against right-handers.

Shortstop Carter Kieboom is also doing very well in camp, slashing .300/.400/.600 with three doubles, one homer, five RBIs in 13 games.