Evans, Lake Zurich win again
Lake Zurich's baseball team maintained sole possession of first place in the North Suburban Lake Division and Chas Evans kept intact his perfect season on the mound.
Evans fired a 3-hit shutout with 9 strikeouts to lead the Bears to a 4-0 win over host Lake Forest on Tuesday.
Evans improved to 7-0 in helping Lake Zurich capture its 20th win and move its NSC Lake mark to 8-2, a game better than Stevenson.
Lake Zurich (20-8-1) and Stevenson play a home-and-home series next Monday and Tuesday to decide the NSC Lake championship.
Evans also starred at the plate against Lake Forest 4-6, going 3-for-4 with an RBI. He got defensive support from infielders Sam Aslan, Tanner Witt and Parker Asmann. Evans had a no-hitter through four innings.
Aslan and Asmann each had 2 hits, while Logan Matthews contributed a double.
Stevenson 4, Mundelein 3: Brad Sorkin allowed 4 hits and 3 runs over 6 1/3 innings, and Scott Firth nailed down the save by recording the final two outs in the North Suburban Lake game.
Mundelein (5-5 NSC Lake) stranded the tying run in scoring position.
Sorkin (6-1) had 5 strikeouts and 2 walks, as Stevenson improved to 23-5, 7-3. Kyle Ruchim had a double and 2 RBI.
Mundelein got doubles from Colin Franklin and Jay Mueller.
Libertyville 3, Zion-Benton 2: Adam Quinn's sacrifice fly scored Brad Martin in the bottom of the seventh inning, as the Wildcats beat the Zee-Bees for the second day in a row in North Suburban Lake action.
A.J. Schurr went 2-for-3 with a double, stolen base and run scored for Libertyville (8-4 NSC Lake). Quinn also had a double.
Brooks McDowell allowed an unearned run in the top of the seventh and picked up the win. Troy Barton pitched 6 innings, striking out 10 and allowing 2 hits for the Wildcats. The 1 run he allowed was unearned.
Grant 11, Round Lake 2: The Bulldogs had 12 hits in the North Suburban Prairie game and were led offensively by Nate Lucas (3-for-3, 3 runs scored), Thomas Gier (2-for-3, home run, 2 RBI) and Ryan Magnuson (2-for-3, 3 RBI).
David Dickinson was the winning pitcher, allowing just 1 earned run on 4 hits in 5 innings of work.
Grant improved to 14-8-1 and 7-2 in the division.
Antioch 13, Woodstock 7: Cameron Jerina, Joe Gregory (3 doubles, 2 RBI) and Alex Grimm were both 3-for-4 for the Sequoits in their nonconference win.
Andy Danna homered and knocked in a pair for Antioch (8-16), while Logan Kent also belted a home run. Dillon Healy (2-2) earned the win.
Grayslake North 8, Johnsburg 1: Vinnie Licciardello and Brandon Schroth homered for the Knights in the Fox Valley Fox Division game.
Grayslake North (8-18, 3-6) got 2 hits apiece from Licciardello, Schroth and Jim Butler. Licciardello, Butler and Ryan Gutierrez each had 2 RBI. Butler and Ed Tatera doubled.
Tatera pitched 5 innings, allowing only 1 unearned run, in earning the win.