Senior right-hander Adam Gerl threw what he thought was his best pitch for Lincoln-Way West.
It turned out to be the only time Shepard came close to breaking up the no-hitter.
“My style is very fiery — the most amped guy on the team,” Gerl said afterward. “I love mixing things up because my fastball is not always on. My slider was not great (Tuesday).
“The best one I threw was the one they put on the ground.”
It still ended up as an out as Gerl, who totaled eight strikeouts in three innings, guided the Warriors to a 13-0 nonconference victory in five innings over the host Astros in Palos Heights.
Senior reliever Ben Joynt struck out two to close out the no-hitter for Lincoln-Way West (2-0).
Kentucky-bound senior outfielder Conor Essenburg went 2-for-2 with three runs, two walks and two RBIs. Junior infielder Jackson Mansker drove in three RBIs with an inside-the-park home run.
Junior pitcher Blake Bartczak struck out two and allowed just two hits in 2 2/3 innings for Shepard (1-1). He was hampered by control issues, surrendering five of the Astros’ 11 walks.
Gerl, however, was virtually untouchable. The Wisconsin-Parkside commit coaxed a 4-3 putout after striking out the first eight batters. He recorded strikes on 28 of his 46 pitches.
“I was able to get ahead with the fastball,” said Gerl, who notched half of his strikeouts on called strikes, with Shepard’s batters frozen by his location. “Go to two strikes, work high fastballs.”
During the game, Gerl’s fastball was clocked at 88 mph, a personal best.
“I shocked myself with that,” he said. “I take every hitter and I treat them all the same. I just try to get the strikes across, no matter what the catcher calls, and get my defense involved.
“(Tuesday) I didn’t really need to do that.”
Gerl’s focus and drive are legendary among his teammates, according to Joynt.
“It doesn’t matter who he’s facing out there, he never thinks anyone is better than him,” Joynt said. “He is capable of striking out anybody if he puts his mind to it. He goes after every single player.
“Coming out in relief is always a good position to be in with Adam.”
As the team’s top offensive threat, Essenburg understands the mentality of pitchers.
“Adam works at a great tempo,” he said. “It’s good to be able to work quickly, and he’s gotten really good at that. If you watch him in between innings, he’s really locked in.
“He’s not getting too excited or really talking to anybody. He stays focused.”
A two-year varsity regular, Gerl pitches exclusively. He doesn’t have to worry playing infield or outfield or batting. He also credited the influence of his older brother, Ben.
Ben, a Lincoln-Way West product, played Division I baseball at Northern Kentucky.
“My brother’s a big part of my life,” Adam said. “He’s five years older than me, and I grew up watching him. My brother is one of my best friends. I can talk to him about anything, sports or school, and he’s helped me a lot with the mental side of the game.
“I knew I wouldn’t go to college for hitting. Starting last year, I just focused on being a pitcher.”
A self-described introvert off the field, Gerl is the team’s loudest booster when he’s not pitching.
“Getting those strikeouts are great, but I really like watching my teammates make good plays or get nice hits, the big home run,” he said. “My biggest thrill is just running into the dugout and getting the other guys fired up.”
Patrick Z. McGavin is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
