LZ Post 964 Tops Lake Forest 3-1 In Playoffs

Thanks to a masterful, complete game effort by starting pitcher Mike Irgang, Lake Zurich Post 964 will play a third end-of-the-season playoff game tonight against Zion-Benton in Zion.

Irgang yielded a run on just four hits as Lake Zurich defeated host Lake Forest 3-1. It was a gutsy performance by the hard-throwing righty, who continuously challenged Lake Forest’s hitters from beginning to end.

Irgang’s one rough patch was in the bottom of the fifth, but it was also his finest moment, as he pitched himself out of a difficult, two-on, no-outs jam.

Center fielder Jacob Hellinga started the inning by grounding a solid single up the middle. That was followed by an infield hit by shortstop Brett Bartuch, when second baseman Collin Roto couldn’t find the handle on the ball.

Third baseman Brandon Moccia then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt along the third base line, advancing the runners to second and third with one out. That’s when Irgang got tough, striking out first baseman Luke Turelli and catcher Tyson Pethlefson to close out the inning.

“I knew we were up two (runs),” said Irgang.

“I just worked with Jeremy (Reusch) behind the plate and had fun. I’ve been playing with him for nine years, so that was a big part of it. I just wanted to go out there and have fun today, because it was my last start,” Irgang said, reflecting on his time spent playing high school-level baseball in Lake Zurich. In just a few weeks, Irgang is heading to Benedictine College, whose team he’ll be playing for, along with Lake Zurich teammate Mitch Tuthill.

Lake Zurich lost 12-4 to Libertyville on Wednesday in their playoff opener; because it’s double elimination, the team must win out to survive.

In the loss to Libertyville, the team continued to shoot itself in the foot with miscues, committing six errors, including three by shortstop Jacob LaRue.

Kyle Sanders hit his first homer of the season, and Brian Wiest continued his hitting tear, going 3-for-4 against Libertyville. All three of Wiest’s hits were doubles. Adam Warkenthien was the loser, giving up seven runs on seven hits in four and one-third innings. Reliever Eddie Szarkowicz was tagged for an additional five runs in two innings of work.

Thursday’s contest remained scoreless until Lake Forest put across its lone run in the bottom of the third inning. After second baseman Alex Ehrens fanned, left fielder Anthony Prousis reached on an error by LaRue. Hellinga also reached on an error by LaRue, who overthrew first baseman Brian Wiest, and the runners moved up to second and third. Bartuch then hit a fly to right, driving in Ehrens.

Lake Forest sustained the rally when Moccia walked and stole second. But with runners on second and third and two outs, Irgang struck out Turelli for the second time to stymie the threat. Turelli ended up fanning all three times he batted against Irgang.

Until their half of the fourth, Johnsen’s single was Post 964’s only hit off Lake Forest starter Henry Wolff. But the team scored two runs in an almost-unheard-of fashion – a two-run sacrifice fly, courtesy of Dan Johnsen. The rally started when designated hitter Tanner Kiser drew a walk. Kyle Sanders then slugged a double to deep center, with Kiser holding at third. That’s when Johnsen hit his rarest of sacrifice flies to the deepest portion of center field, and suddenly Lake Zurich led 2-1.

Unfortunately, the team couldn’t further capitalize after Mike Schnur lined a single to left, as Collin Roto lined out to end the inning.

Post 964 did add an important run in the top of the fifth inning to up the lead to 3-1. After Mitch Tuthill drew a walk, Jeremy Reusch reached on an error by the shortstop Bartuch, who up to that point had flashed some leather on several solid defensive plays. Playing heads-up baseball, Tuthill never broke his stride, and motored to third as the ball bounced into short center.

Wiest then reached on a fielder's choice with Reusch getting forced out at second, as Tuthill crossed the plate for the final run of the game. That set the stage for Lake Forest’s attempt to get back into the game in their half of the fifth – and Irgang’s fearless gun-slinging.

Lake Forest went quietly in its half of the sixth. After two quick outs in the bottom of the seventh, Bartuch slammed a triple to deep left field. He was stranded there when Moccia popped up to Johnsen in foul territory to end the game.

“We’ve got to keep winning in order to stay alive,” said Post 964 manager Dan Grant, adding, “but we can do it if we keep playing like we did today."

Post Script: Irgang was thoroughly dominant against Lake Forest, striking out 10 and walking just two in what might have been the best outing by a Post 964 pitcher all season. Tuthill, Sanders, Johnsen, Schnur and Roto each had one hit against Lake Forest.

Next Up: Lake Zurich plays Zion-Benton in Zion tonight at 5:30.