Baseball: Svanson settles in as Lake Zurich handles Lake Forest

Here's the scouting report on Lake Zurich senior pitcher Matt Svanson. Doing the evaluation in this case is Bears second baseman Austin Matuszewski:

"He's been clocked at 86 and 87,'' Matuszewski said. "He painted the corners well today. And he let his defense make plays behind him."

Svanson took on the Lake Forest Scouts on Monday. The Lehigh University-bound right-hander lost his perfect game to the first Scouts hitter.

Drew Golde then added a hit, and there went Svanson's no-hit bid.

But in the second inning, Svanson fanned the side as his strikeout streak reached 5 in a row.

Matuszewski doubled and singled in a run. Rising standout sophomore Tyler Snep doubled twice and drove in 2 runs, and the Bears (15-5, 7-3) beat Lake Forest 6-1 in North Suburban Conference play.

"I felt loose today,'' Svanson noted. "I made some adjustments after the first inning. And it was nice to get the run back after they scored on me."

Lake Zurich coach Rick Erickson seems to be enjoying this season.

"This is a very talented group,'' Erickson said. "They love playing together. It's really a fun team to be around."

After Lake Forest tallied in the opening frame, Matuszewski opened the home team's at-bat with a booming double to center. Snep singled him home and this game was tied. The Bears scored all 6 runs in the first four frames. They also took advantage of 6 walks from the Lake Forest pitching staff.

In the meantime, Svanson was breezing before running into a little trouble in the Lake Forest fourth. After an infield hit, he started his own double play.

Lake Forest catcher Paul Turelli next roped a double to center. Again, Svanson closed the frame with another strikeout. He finished with 7 strikeouts and walked just one, in the seventh inning.

"Svanson is our No, 1,'' Erickson said.

The fourth inning effectively ended this contest. Again, it started with a walk, this one to shortstop Michael Chialdikas. Matuszewski took one for the team (hit by a pitch) and the Bears were in business.

The first of the 2 doubles by Snep brought in 1 run, and Snep trotted home on an RBI triple by Dylan Niedzwiecki which traveled far down the right-field line.

The Bears have added freshman Noah Deluga to the varsity effort. He adds another arm for the Bears pitching staff.

With six games on the schedule last week, the Bears needed some pitching help, but Deluga batted second for Lake Zurich in this win.

The Scouts took advantage of a Lake Zurich error and single by second baseman Jonathan Salm to again to pose a threat in the fifth. This time, third baseman Josh Anderson ended the rally with a strong throw to first.

"We've had a good start to the season,'' Erickson said.

Snep led all hitters with 3 hits. Matuszewski reached base three times and scored twice. Niedzwiecki walked twice to go with his three-bagger, and all of the Lake Zurich starters reached base at least once.