Bergmann, Glenbard North keep chasing Wheaton North

Glenbard North’s baseball team isn’t about to give up on the DuPage Valley Conference title.

Monday was proof of that.

The Panthers formed the ideal combination of pitching, defense and timely hitting to claim a 2-1 victory over Naperville Central in Carol Stream in the first of three games against the Redhawks.

Combined with Wheaton North’s 12-1 win over Glenbard East on Monday, the Falcons hold a 1-game advantage over Glenbard North and Naperville Central with two games remaining.

The Panthers (19-9, 13-6), behind a 4-hit gem from senior ace Andrew Bergmann (7-2), thrived under pressure in the opener against Naperville Central (18-11, 13-6).

“Anytime you’re going for a conference championship, playing great teams, it just feels great when things work out for you,” said Panthers catcher Brandon Clark, who drove in the go-ahead run and threw out two runners trying to steal second base. “We played solid offense and defense, and Andrew was solid again.”

Jake DeVoy put Naperville Central ahead 1-0 in the top of the first with an RBI double, and the Redhawks were poised for a big inning after Bergmann hit a batter and walked another. Bergmann, however, struck out the next batter to end the bases-loaded threat.

Naperville Central didn’t get another runner to second base until the seventh inning when a dropped popup put the tying run on second with two outs. Another pop up ended the game.

“We knew it was going to be a game like this ... 2-1, 1-0, 3-2,” said Redhawks coach Bill Seiple. “And when you play a game like this you’ve got to bunt, you’ve got to run, you’ve got to put the ball in play, and you’ve got to defend. We didn’t make enough plays and we didn’t do enough things offensively.”

Glenbard North tallied 2 unearned runs off Ian Lewandowski (7-2) in the third inning on run-scoring singles by Anthony Keener and Clark. Tyler Schwichtenberg scored an acrobatic run to tie the game when he jumped over Brian Schiemann’s tag and managed to touch the plate.

Bergmann struck out six and walked two while Lewandowski struck out six, walked three and scattered 5 hits in a classic pitchers’ duel.

“There are three teams right now going for conference, and we’re one of the top three teams,” said Panthers coach Rich Smelko. “We’ve just got to take care of our business and whatever happens, happens.”