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Switalla's swats help Grayslake North past Central

From her first at-bat to her last - the final one of Monday's Fox Valley Conference Fox Division game between District 127 rivals - it was clear Kayla Switalla was going to be a difficult out.

Grayslake North's leadoff hitter fouled off six offerings from Grayslake Central ace Reagen Radke in the bottom of the first, before popping out.

"I was ready to play," said Switalla, the Knights' senior shortstop. "I've been struggling a little. I just had to tell myself, 'Go get 'em next time.' I've been popping up a lot. I wasn't hitting it to the right spots."

Switalla hit the spot in her next 3 plate appearances, all of which resulted in doubles, with the last one delivering a 4-3, walk-off win for Grayslake North. Switalla lined a gapper into left-center with one out in the seventh, scoring Dani Runyon and Jenny Moore on a day the two varsity squads honored the Grayslake Pride youth softball teams.

Grayslake North (14-14, 6-5) overcame a 3-0 deficit to beat the Rams for the second time this season.

"It feels good to come back like that, definitely," said Switalla, who finished 3-for-4 with 3 RBI. "There was a little bit of pressure on us to get them again since we won the last time."

Grayslake Central (14-19, 5-7) appeared in position to avenge its loss, as the Rams scored solo runs in the second, third and fourth innings. Radke, meanwhile, retired the first nine batters she faced, striking out five.

The Rams' lead could have been larger, however. Their first four batters in the fourth hit safely, as Lindsay Brust (2-for-3, RBI) and Maddie Marshall hit back-to-back doubles, and Melissa Obis and Emma Eiserman (bunt) followed with singles. But poor baserunning prevented the visitors from scoring more.

Runyon - who's taken over in the circle for the Knights with Jessica Vaughn sidelined with a concussion - made a heads-up play on the first out. After fielding Eiserman's well-placed bunt, Runyon chased the runner off third back to the bag and tagged her out, while another Ram also occupied the base.

"Getting that out was a big thing," Runyon said.

Switalla then caught Teagan Truskowski's line drive and turned it into an inning-ending double play.

"We've had a lot of miscommunication all year, and we've had it at the wrong time," Grayslake Central coach Jason Schaal said. "That's been our M.O."

Switalla led off the bottom of the fourth with a double into the left-field corner. Brooke Phillips, batting left-handed after hitting right-handed in her first at-bat, punched a single into left field. Switalla scored on Becca Sosa's RBI groundout. But Radke stranded Phillips at third.

Switalla's RBI double with two out in the fifth cut Grayslake North's deficit to 3-2.

Then in the bottom of the seventh, Runyon led off by coaxing a walk.

"I've been struggling a lot with my batting," Runyon said. "I took a deep breath and relaxed, and followed the ball all the way through."

Cassie Cowperthwaite's sacrifice bunt moved Runyon to second base. Moore singled Runyon to third, and Lauren Olsen's bunt single loaded the bases for Switalla.

Her line drive just eluded center fielder Brust and rolled to the fence.

Switalla's 3 doubles accounted for half of the Knights' hits against Radke.

"It's just great to see a senior come through in the clutch like that," Grayslake North coach Molly Tomlinson said. "Not just in that last at-bat, but the whole game. And defensively, too. She made some really great plays at shortstop."

The 5-foot-1 Runyon allowed 2 earned runs in her complete-game performance, giving up 8 hits, but not walking a batter and striking out two. She also gave up a double to Brandy Heraty.

"Our game plan was to try to change up the speed of the pitches and keep them off-balanced a little bit," Tomlinson said. "I'm not convinced that her changeup was working all the time, but I think it's OK to miss some of those and throw them in the dirt. Her curve was beautiful today."

  Grayslake Central's Teagan Truskowski slides safely into home past Grayslake North catcher Jenny Moore on Monday at Grayslake North. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
  Grayslake North pitcher Dani Runyon delivers as Grayslake Central's Brandy Heraty comes off second base Monday at Grayslake North. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
  Grayslake Central pitcher Reagen Radke winds up during the Grayslake Central vs. Grayslake North girl's softball game Monday at Grayslake North High School. Gilbert R. Boucher II/gboucher@dailyherald.com
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