Hersey baseball is in its 54th season and accomplished something Saturday that they have achieved just one season before.
Hersey picked up their 28th win to tie the school record for wins in a season as they moved to 28-8. They matched the win total from the 1992 team that went 28-5 under Harvey Foster. Not only that, No. 6 Hersey beat No. 3 Warren 5-3 to win their first regional title since 2004, a span of 19 years.
Hersey players and coaches celebrate with the regional championship plaque Saturday, May 27 in Gurnee.
Wally Brownley took over as Hersey head baseball coach in 2018, following a team that went 9-23 in 2017, the program’s worst record since 1986 (also the last single-digit win season). He proceeded to go 59-67-1 entering this season.
Hersey went a combined 28-32 over the previous two seasons, but now the Huskies are searching for more wins and trophies to keep the magical season going. They won the MSL East and then the MSL championship (first time since 2012; fourth time ever) this season.
Hersey’s win over Warren (27-8) was the 11th in a row, the longest win streak by the team in a number of years, and they won it in comeback fashion.
Hersey’s Aidan Groberski (left) and Connor Kave (8) hold up the Huskies first regional plaque in 19 years.
Chuck Meister (1 R, 1 SB) reached first on a fielder’s choice in the first inning and stole second base. He was knocked home by a single by Brandon Pflomm (1-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 R) to make it 1-0.
Warren responded with 1 run in the third inning, 1 run in the fourth and 1 run in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead.
Hersey didn’t give up and responded with a 4-run top of the sixth to grab a 5-3 lead.
Pflomm reached on an error and Drew Phillips (2-for-4, 1 R) singled to get two runners on to start the sixth. After a strikeout by David Denten, Hersey’s starting pitcher Keegan Luxem (1-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI) helped his own cause with a 2-run double to center, scoring Pflomm and Phillips to tie the game at 3-3. Bryk Barnard (1-for-3, 1 RBI) singled to score Jeremy Allen (1 R, 1 SB), who pinch ran for Luxem. Brady Klehr (1 R) pinch ran for Barnard and he scored on an error a few batters later for the final score.
Hersey also received contributions from Aidan Groberski (1-for-3). Hersey reached on six errors by Warren and 2 hit-by-pitches as well.
On the mound, Luxem (7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 7 K, 3 BB) tossed a complete game to pick up the milestone win.
Hersey pitcher Keegan Luxem (25) unleashes a pitch in the seventh inning.
The Huskies won their sixth regional title in program history, joining the teams from 1980, 1993, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
No. 6 Hersey plays No. 2 Barrington in the sectional semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, June 1 at Mundelein High School.
Hersey’s players storm the field and assistant coach Tim Lazzarotto leaps in the air to celebrate winning their first regional title since 2004.
