Guryn's no-hitter leads Grayslake Central

Junior Justin Guryn fired a complete-game no-hitter, as Grayslake Central's baseball team defeated Elizabeth Forward (Ky.) at the ESPN Wide Word of Sports Complex in Orland, Fla., on Sunday.

The Rams' lefty struck out 10 and walked 2, as GC evened its record at 1-1.

"Justin really pounded the zone with first-pitch strikes, and we played solid defense behind him," said Rams coach Troy Whalen. "He got stronger in the middle innings and found a groove. It's a great start to the season for him, without a doubt. No-hitters are special."

Grayslake Central did all of its scoring in the first two innings. Pat Burba led off the game with triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jay Hoffman in the first inning. The Rams scored two more runs in the second with hits by Sam Nozicka and a sacrifice fly from Burba.

In addition to the Burba triple, the sophomore Nozicka had a double and single.

The Rams dropped their opening game in Disney, 2-1 to Moon Area out of Pennsylvania on Saturday. Russ Lundius took the loss, allowing only 1 earned run over 4 innings, while striking out 4 batters. Kyle Henke tossed 3 scoreless innings.

GC trailed 2-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh and mounted a rally after two out, as Nozicka and Justin Dooley both walked and a base hit from junior Anthony Fitzgerald brought home courtesy runner Devin Moran to cut the deficit in half. But the Rams could not push the tying run across.

Freddie Landers led Grayslake Central with a pair of singles as the Rams could muster only 4 hits.

"Great pitchers duel with tough defense on both sides, especially this early in the season," Whalen said.

The Rams return to action Monday against Sylvan out of Arkansas.