Lake Zurich Puts Up Wins in Baseball, Lacrosse, Volleyball and Track

Finally, the Lake Zurich Bears baseball team broke through its offensive drought with a solid 14-4 win over host Antioch this past Thursday. What made the Bears win more impressive is that the Sequoits were 8-2 on the season going into the game between North Suburban Conference foes.

The three principle hitting stars for Lake Zurich were Taylor Asmann, Mark Dorfman, and Jeremy Reusch. Dorfman homered, and Asmann and Reusch were both 2-for-3 including a walk. Asmann had a triple and three RBI. Danny Minogue also chipped in with a double.

Many of the big hits for the Bears were with two outs, something that they’ve been unable to do with any degree of consistency up to this point in the season. “Key two-out RBI have been lacking in our offense until today,” said Bears coach Gary Simon after the game.

Asmann had a pair of two-out RBI for Lake Zurich, and Ben Gullo, Minogue and Reusch each contributed one.

Lake Zurich pitcher Mike Irgang improved to 2-1 in the young season, striking out 10 and walking one in a complete game victory. He yielded three earned runs on four hits.

Meanwhile, on the softball diamond on the same afternoon, Lake Zurich’s girls softball team knocked off the Sequoits, 5-2 in a matchup between North Suburban Conference rivals. The game offered some payback for the Bears, who have lost to Antioch in the conference championship the last two years.

Paige Goldberg, Alli McGinnis and Maria Schroeder each had a pair of hits for Lake Zurich. Goldberg had a single, a double and a walk, and also drove in and scored a run. McGinnis singled and doubled, scored a run and had three RBI, and Schroeder had a single, a triple and a run scored.

Bears pitcher Megan Mattera fanned 10 and walked two while allowing three hits while going the distance.

The Lake Zurich High School boys lacrosse team continues to roll; the team handily defeated Vernon Hills on Wednesday, April 6, followed by a solid 10-5 victory over Schaumburg on Friday, April 8.

Ryan Faetz and Ross Williams were crazy-good against the Cougars on Wednesday, as each scored three goals. Thomas Logan, Ryan Miller, Shawn Newman and Ryan Wagoner chipped in with one goal apiece. Goalie Markus Hofer also aided the Bears by making six saves.

Faetz turned in a repeat performance against the Saxons with another three goals, and teammate Sean Learas had a trifecta as well. Williams added two goals, and Billy Clement and Logan each had one.   

On the volleyball court, the Lake Zurich boys volleyball team edged Lakes Community High School, 26-24 and 25-23 in a home contest on Wednesday, April 6. The Bears’ solid offense was highlighted by Tom Doherty (11-for-12 hitting, 3 kills), Coulton Every (10-for-12, 3 kills), Chris Carmody (8-for-9, 3 kills) and Kyle Miller (8-for-9, 3 kills).  Carmody was also a perfect 12-for-12 in serve-receive, as was Savio at 9-for-9, while Doherty was 12-for-13.

The Bears also put on a clinic in serving, as Mike Savio was 11-for-12, Jeremy Anderson was 7-for-8, Miller was 6-for-8, Doherty was 6-for-6, Every was 6-for-7 with an ace, and David Lee was 5-for-6 with an ace. Anderson paced the team with 15 assists.

The Lake Zurich High School girls track team won the 400-meter relay in the Buffalo Grove Invitational on Saturday, April 9. Seniors Kelly Doheny and Marissa Wagner combined with sophomores Teagan Hough and Lindsey Moritz for a time of 49.9 to clinch a win at the event.

Meanwhile, Doheny and Hough teamed up with seniors Amy Polhemus and Emily Trittschuh to place second in the 800 relay with a time of 1:47.6. Usually a stalwart presence in the 400 relay, Polehemus was a solid competitor in the 800, and then went on to win the 300 intermediate hurdles.

Doheny and Wagner were part of Lake Zurich’s 400 relay runners that qualified for the state meet last year, while Hough is a solid newcomer, replacing Olivia Allen, who graduated last year.

"We have some big invitationals coming up, so we look forward to seeing what that group can do,” said coach Lance Pacernick

Polehemus, who is committed to Lewis University, finished with an outstanding 46.2 to take the 300 hurdles contest. She just misses tying or beating her personal best, 46.1, which was achieved in a sectional-qualifying meet last year in Palatine. She also finished fourth in the 100 hurdles with a time of 16.40.

"Amy is good in just about every event we put her in," Pacernick said. "She is one person we can plug in a lot of places and she can help us."

The 400 meters race was critical for the Bears. Wagner finished second (59.20), Moritz was third (59.80) and Madeline Jordan was sixth. In the 200, Moritz place fourth, and in the 100, Hough, Doheny and Wagner finished third, fourth and fifth.

Overall, Lake Zurich finished third in the meet behind Cary-Grove and champion Fremd.