Heiser's home run lifts Patriots

Scott Firth tamed Lake Zurich while Teddy Heiser provided the bomb as Stevenson edged Lake Zurich 1-0 in the Barrington class 4A sectional.

Stevenson (29-5) will meet Barrington for the sectional final at 3 PM Saturday.

Firth (8-1) allowed just three hits while striking out 14 and allowing two walks. He did not allow a hit until the sixth inning. He was able to outduel Lake Zurich's Charles Evans (8-1) and Tanne Witt who allowed five hits.

"I felt real good out there," Firth said. "I was zoning in all day. One run is all we need sometimes."

Firth and Stevenson got the only run they needed when Heiser belted a one-out homer in the third.

"I was looking fastball and got a fastball," said Heiser, who hit a 3-2 pitch for his second homer of the year."

"I knew as soon as I hit it it was out."

Lake Zurich (25-10) had an opportunity to get on the board in the sixth.

After Ryan Bartmanns broke up Firth's no-hitter, the Bears loaded the bases on an error and a walk with one out. Firth then got a strikeout and second baseman Bill Dorn made a good play on a hard-hit ball to end the threat.