After a junior season in which she became one of a handful of Elk Grove softball players to hit .400, Nikki Goranson was expected to be one of the area's top hitters this spring.

The honorary captain of the Daily Herald's All-Area Softball Team for Cook County has hardly disappointed.

Coming off a 2008 campaign in which she hit .407 with 27 RBI and 14 extra-base hits, Goranson actually bettered those numbers with a .417 average for the Mid-Suburban League champs.

She also collected 4 home runs and a team-high 35 RBI. Her 50 hits made her only the second Grenadier to accomplish that feat in a season.

But that was just the beginning.

Hall of Fame Elk Grove coach Ken Grams got a bonus.

Goranson proved to be a wonderful complement to one of the finest pitching staffs Grams has had in 29 seasons.

Goranson was asked to catch three different pitchers - junior Stephanie Maday (17-3), senior Krystina Leazer (4-0) and Dani Goranson (11-1), who happens to be her freshman sister.

"It was an unusual situation we had to deal with because we were a pitcher-dominated team and each one of them was a little different," Grams said. "Nikki was certainly involved in decisions and calling pitches, so it was more than just sitting back there and catching the ball.

"I think she showed her most growth leading the team behind the plate, which is critical to any team. I always knew she was a hitter but she really made enormous strides back there defensively, especially receiving and throwing. We knew we were going to get the offense from her, but defensively she was extremely good."

Goranson said it was challenging at times because the three pitchers she caught had different styles and pitches that moved differently.

"But warming them up in between innings always helped and we practiced a lot with the pitchers, so that made it easier," Goranson said.

And, of course, catching her sister will always be a great memory.

Parents Jim and Wendy got to see their daughters serve as the Grenadiers' battery many times this spring.

Nikki said the hardest thing about the season ending in a 1-0 loss to Glenbard West last Saturday was playing her last game with her teammates.

"Our high school team was so close," Nikki said. "I love my team. We all played together for so long, even before high school. It's tough knowing I will never be able to play with those girls who I've been teammates with since we were 12 years old.

"We were hysterical after the game. We were all hugging each other and wouldn't let go."

Goranson will go on to catch for Kankakee Community College, where she plans to study kinesiology.

Never did Goranson think she would be heading to college as one of the top players to ever wear a Grenadiers uniform (No. 34 for her brother Jim, who played baseball, football and basketball at Elk Grove).

"From freshman year until now, it seems like so much about my game has changed," she said. "My hitting has improved and my catching has improved and my dad gets all the credit. He set up a batting cage at our house and he's been the only coach I've had except for Mr. Grams."

Goranson said winning the MSL championship over Barrington three weeks ago was her most exciting high school softball moment.

"I've never been on a team that was more pumped up as a group as we were for that game," she said. "We were all so excited for every pitch, every out. Our energy was so incredible and that game was so much fun."

Goranson sure made the last few years fun for Elk Grove softball.