Triples-Threat Lake Zurich Knocks Off Host Wauconda 12-7

The Lake Zurich American Legion baseball team kicked off their first non-tournament game with a solid 12-7 win in a non-conference match-up against Wauconda last Tuesday.

The contest was played at Wauconda High School. Mark Dorfman and Jeremy Reusch were the team’s two leading hitting stars; Dorfman went 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run, three RBI and a run scored; and Reusch went 3-for-3 with two triples, a single, three RBI and three runs scored.

“I’m very happy with the way the team played,” said Lake Zurich coach Dan Grant. “I’m still getting a sense of how or where different players can help the team. Every year there's a new group of players, so to some degree it's a work in progress as far as figuring out the batting order. But I think it worked out fine tonight.”

Grant did just fine batting the power-hitting Dorfman in the cleanup spot, but he might want to consider moving up Reusch from the eight-spot, where he batted against Wauconda. On the other hand, it might just be a nice luxury to keep Reusch's potent bat so deep in the lineup.

In the top of the first inning, Lake Zurich managed an infield single by Tanner Kiser and a walk to Mike Schnur, but Dorfman and Tim Sayre struck out to quell the threat. Wauconda then responded with three runs in the bottom half of the inning when Matt Felicilli led off with a single and took second on a wild pitch by Lake Zurich pitcher Dan Johnsen. After a walk to Erik Maki, Tommy Ryan drove in Felicilli with a sacrifice fly. Later in the inning, Emery Pasanski knocked in a pair with a single.

Lake Zurich answered back with a big five-run second. Brian Wiest started the inning with a walk, and after Mitch Tuthill popped to second for the first out, Reusch reached on an error when Wauconda’s right fielder dropped the ball. After Jacob LaRue was hit by a pitch to load the bases, a wild pitch scored Wiest. Kyle Sanders then tripled, driving in Reusch and LaRue. Kiser followed by lacing a double, driving in Sanders. Mike Schnur extended the rally with a single to score Kiser, giving Lake Zurich a 5-3 lead.

Wauconda tied it at five when they scored two runs in the bottom of the second. After Felicilli walked with two outs, Dave Cook doubled him in. Maki then singled, driving in Cook and took second on a throw to the plate.

Lake Zurich went back up by a run in the top of third when Reusch hit his first triple to the deepest part of center. LaRue then drove him in when he grounded to second.

Another run was added to Lake Zurich’s lead in the fourth. Kiser led off with a walk but was caught stealing on a botched hit-and-run as Schnur struck out. Dorfman then singled and came in on Schnur’s triple.

Wauconda made it 7-6 when they scored a run in the bottom of the fourth as Vince Badino, batting for Brandon Stang, hit a pinch-hit homer to left-center.

Lake Zurich roared back with another five-spot in the top of the fifth. Tuthill started things off when he lined a double into the left field corner. Reusch then hit his second triple, a line drive shot to deep center, driving in Tuthill. After Reusch scored on a wild pitch, Sanders tripled to center. Kiser followed with yet another triple, driving in Sanders, but was thrown out at home when he tried to score. After Dylan Antonides came in to relieve starter Kevin Fessler, he was greeted by a sharp single by Schnur. Dorfman then launched a towering two-run shot to complete the scoring.

“How many triples did we hit in the game?” asked Grant afterwards. “I know we had the back-to-back (by Sanders and Kiser in the fifth inning) and what, three all together in the inning? Very impressive offense.”

Wauconda added a run in the bottom of the sixth to make it 12-7. Mitch Everett led off with a walk and stole second with two outs. He then stole third and scored on a wild pitch by Johnsen. Wauconda seemed to be on the verge of staging a two-out rally after Tyler Kaplan singled and Maki walked, but Ryan Karagiorgas whiffed to end the threat.

Lake Zurich was well on their way to doing more damage in the top of the seventh, including another run-scoring three-bagger by Dorfman.  But the game was halted on account of darkness, and the score reverted to what it had been at the conclusion of the sixth inning.

Post Script: Pitcher Dan Johnsen went the distance for Lake Zurich, pitching six innings and giving up seven runs with seven strikeouts and three walks. Lake Zurich pounded out 12 runs on 13 hits, including five triples. It would have been six, but Dorfman’s seventh-inning triple was erased when the game was called. Tanner Kiser reached base all five of his at-bats, and flirted with hitting for the cycle. He hit a single, a double and a triple and also reached on an error and walked.

Correction: Adam Warkenthein is the sole player on Lake Zurich that attended Carmel Catholic High School.

Next Up: Lake Zurich plays four games this week, Monday through Thursday. On Monday, they host Deerfield at Lake Zurich High School; on Tuesday they play Barrington at the varsity field at Barrington High School; on Wednesday, they play a rematch against Wauconda at Wauconda High School; and on Thursday, they host Grayslake at Lake Zurich. All games start at 6PM.