Lutz, LZ edge Nickell, Warren

Lake Zurich’s Mike Lutz and Warren’s Jimmy Nickell were both dealing in Gurnee on Tuesday.

Warren held a late lead, but Lake Zurich broke through in the top of the sixth and held on for a 5-2 win in a North Suburban Lake Division opener.

The Purdue-bound Lutz finished with a complete-game 2-hitter, striking out 12 and walking four, as Lake Zurich improved to 9-2 overall.

“The great thing about this team is that they go into every game expecting victory,” Bears coach Gary Simon said.

Tanner Kiser’s single tied the score at 2-2 in the sixth, and John Orlando’s 2-run base hit put the visitors in front. Kiser and Orlando each finished with 2 hits, helping Lutz improve to 3-0.

Nickell threw 6 innings, allowing 5 runs, including four earned. He allowed just 5 hits, walked three and struck out a pair.

Anthony Garza had a single and an RBI for Warren (3-5-1), and Ben Dinter had the Blue Devils’ other hit.

Mundelein 6, Lake Forest 0: Jared Mandel struck out nine and 6 innings, earning the win in the Mustangs’ North Suburban Lake opener.

Jordan Bregenzer had a 2-run double for Mundelein (11-2), which received 2 hits apiece from Ryan Dolan and Nate Avis. Bryan Wiener also contributed a double.

Vernon Hills 12, Round Lake 0: In his first varsity start, Connor Dickman went 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored and an RBI to give the Cougars a lift in the North Suburban Prairie opener.

With one out in the first inning, Dickman hit a line-drive single. He crossed the plate one batter later on Chris Marras’ towering home run over the left-field fence.

Those runs would be all that starter Tyler Feece would need. Feece (3-1) threw 4 scoreless innings, allowing 2 hits, and struck out six. Pat Quinn tossed 1 inning in relief.

MJ Crowley and Steve Nelson added 2 hits a piece. Austin Hagen, Dylan McNamara and Jarrett Henson each had a hit and drove in a run for the Cougars.

Stevenson 9, Zion-Benton 1: Matt Allen threw 5 shutout innings, allowing 3 hits while striking out three and walking three in the visiting Patriots’ North Suburban Lake opener.

Stevenson (4-3) got a triple and single from Illinois-bound Adam Walton and 2 doubles from Steve Galanopoulos.

Grant 18, North Chicago 0: Jake Ring earned the win, as the Bulldogs captured the North Suburban Prairie opener in 5 innings.

Grant (5-2) has won four in a row.