Irgang, Reusch help Bears move on

Updated: March 22, 2011 3:54PM

Lake Zurich's depth was on display all summer, and then again on Monday.

The Bears had so many players they fielded two summer teams, which were combined for the state playoffs.

Because of travel team commitments and vacations, Lake Zurich had just three regulars on hand for its Phil Lawler Summer Classic opener against St. Laurence.

Luckily for the Bears, two of them were Mike Irgang and Jeremy Reusch, who supplied the pitching and hitting needed for Lake Zurich to win 5-3 at Benedictine University.

The Bears (26-12) will play Neuqua Valley Tuesday at 10 a.m. at North Central College, with the winner advancing to Wednesday's semifinals.

Reusch (2-for-3) drove in four runs as the Bears jumped ahead 5-0 through two innings. He singled home Mitch Tuthill in the first and doubled home three runs in the second.

"I've been feeling pretty good at the plate lately," Reusch said. "I just wanted to put it in play and help the team out."

Irgang did his part as well, taking a shutout into the seventh inning. He gave up eight hits and a walk in six-plus innings, striking out one.

"We had a bit of a scouting report on them," the incoming senior right-hander said. "I knew the meat of their order could hit. That was my main focus."

Irgang had help from a defense that turned five double plays.

"I didn't have anything to worry about," he said. "The guys had my back."

"That was the story," St. Laurence coach Pete Lotus said. "That's frustrating, because I think we're a better hitting team than we showed today."

The Vikings (22-4) finally broke through against Irgang in the seventh. Kyle Wood's RBI triple made it 5-1 and after Mike Solofra walked, Eddie Szarkowicz relieved Irgang.

Szarkowicz induced another double-play grounder, which brought home Wood. The Vikings pulled within 5-3 on Kevin Smith's RBI single before Szarkowicz closed it out.

Bryan Villanova and losing pitcher Charlie Naso had two hits each for St. Laurence. Naso finished with a five-hitter, two walks and five strikeouts.

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