Gomski's homer lifts Grayslake North

With his dad and grandfather sitting in the stands, Grayslake North sophomore third baseman Adam Gomski hit the first home run of his varsity career Friday.

Gomski's opposite-field, 2-run shot over the left-field fence highlighted a 6-run first inning, as the Knights outlasted Grayslake Central 8-4 in a Fox Valley Conference baseball game.

“It feels exciting,” Gomski said. “It was a low and inside pitch, and I usually don't hit those, but that one felt good.”

Two batters before, Kevin Staszczak slammed a 3-run homer.

“I was just looking for a curveball and it was just over the middle of the plate, and I just took it,” said Staszczak, whose homer was his second of the season. “We just came out ready to hit today.”

Grayslake North (5-12, 4-8) began the game with its first seven batters reaching base.

Carl Russell started off the game by getting hit by a pitch from Rams starter Derek Idstein. Tom Elias followed with a single, and Brandon Fern doubled in a run.

After Staszczak's homer, C.J. Bailey singled, bringing up Gomski.

“I think both of our guys were looking fastball, they got their fastball, and they put a good swing on it,” Grayslake North coach Andy Strahan said. “(Gomski) is a good player. He has a good approach and good idea what to do at the plate. We've hit him sixth all year long and he's been steady game to game.”

The game was originally scheduled for Grayslake North, but due to the poor conditions the game was switched to Grayslake Central. North was considered the home team.

Colin Laughlin (1-2) picked up the win by pitching 4 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits, while striking out three and walking six.

“When you limit a team like Grayslake Central to 4 runs, you're pretty pleased with that effort from your pitchers on the mound,” Strahan said. “However, we walked a lot of hitters, especially their (Nos.) 8 and 9 guys. You're just not going to win a whole lot of games. We were lucky go get away with one today.”

In the top of the third, Grayslake Central started to chip away at its deficit by scoring 3 runs on 3 hits and 4 walks.

Ryan Hamrick doubled, and Austin Miller singled him in. Miller reached second on an errant throw.

Jon Gurchak followed with a line drive to left field, but Bailey made a diving catch and saved at least two runs.

The Rams scored two more runs in the inning on 4 consecutive walks.

In the top of the sixth, Mark Ash hit a solo home run to bring the Rams within 6-4. It was his first of the season.”

“I thought I had to go up there and swing at the first fastball that I got,” Ash said. “(Coach) kept getting on us that we were taking the fastballs down the middle. I thought it was a popup, but the wind was blowing out all day.”

Grayslake North countered with 2 runs in the sixth.

“North came out swinging the bats real well and everything that we threw up there they hit,” said Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen, whose Rams fell to 10-7 overall and 5-5 in the FVC. “I think they just squared up some pitches. Good hitters will do that. It was their day. They did a great job. They attacked the baseball, they were aggressive at the plate, and those are the kind of things that we're trying to get our guys to do.”