Zunkel, Willowbrook shut out Naperville North
Willowbrook senior Cam Zunkel pitched so well in his first start of the baseball season Monday that he felt a little disappointed.
Zunkel was one strike from a shutout at Naperville North, but as agreed upon entering the seventh inning with coach Vic Wisner, Zunkel was allowed to continue but relieved following his walk on a full-count borderline pitch.
"I was pumped up all day today in school, all week leading up to this start," Zunkel said.
"I had looked at him (for the seventh) and said, 'Coach you've got to let me have this game. It's my first start of my senior season.' And he just said, 'OK.' "
Zunkel watched the final out from shortstop as the Warriors beat the Huskies 5-0 in the season opener for both teams in Naperville.
Zunkel and senior Matt Pizur combined on a 4-hitter with 9 strikeouts, 8 by Zunkel. The Warriors held a 2-0 lead since a 2-run double by Kyle Ferguson in the fourth inning before adding 3 runs after two outs in the seventh. Pizur was 3 for 3 with a walk, Kyle Martyniuk also had 3 hits and Ferguson and T.J. Geritano each had 2.
"They came off the bus ready to swing at anything. They were so jacked up, the first game," Wisner said.
"I think (Zunkel is) one of the best pitchers in the area. He was last year, but I still think he flies a little bit under the radar. We wanted to get him about 80-85 pitches and he talked me into the last inning. But I told him if anybody gets on, he's out automatically. I kept him under 100 at least."
Zunkel, headed for Division II Illinois-Springfield, threw 97 pitches with 67 strikes and just two walks and fanned five of the first 11 hitters he faced.
Pizur struck out the one hitter he faced after relieving Zunkel from left field.
"I felt bad I had to take (the ball) from him. He deserved it," said Pizur, who will play at North Park.
"We got the win. We didn't give up a run. That's a plus, but the two walks and everything, there's still things to work on," Zunkel said. "With the team behind me, all of the defensive plays that were made. It's the great effort that we always give."
The Huskies remained within two runs most of the game because of a solid complete-game performance by Matt Pillatsch, who had 4 strikeouts, 1 walk and 2 hit batters.
Naperville North could have easily tied the game in the sixth with runners on third and first and no outs for their Nos. 3-4-5 batters. Leadoff hitter Colin Rivard beat out an infield grounder for his second hit and Jack Ginzkey bunted for a single after doubling in the first.
Zunkel got an infield popout, a full-count called third strike and flyout to escape.
"Even if we could have got one run there, it would have made all of the difference in the world," Naperville North coach Carl Hunckler said.
"I thought (Zunkel) was very good and Matt threw well. We just did not hit the ball. It's the first game and we'll try to get better. Our (hitting) approach was not real good. We don't strike out nine times. That's typically not us."
What should be typical for Warriors are consistent pitching and offense. Their Nos. 1-5 hitters combined for all 11 hits and 4 doubles, 2 by Geritano.
"We have a good enough pitching staff that where if we put up a couple of runs, we'll be able to hold them and they'll be close games," Pizur said.