Elk Grove softball coach Grams earns career win No. 700

Ken Grams doesn't exactly like all the attention focused on his career wins.

But the humble Elk Grove coach sure has had a lot of players paying close attention to his softball wisdom for the past 30 years.

That's why on a warm and windy late Tuesday afternoon, Grams entered the IHSA record books as only the second coach to win 700 games. The other is St. Joseph-Ogden's Randy Wolken, a retired math teacher whose Class 2A team is 21-3 this spring. He was going after win No. 774 against visiting Iroquois West on Tuesday.

Elk Grove captured Grams' milestone victory with a 12-0 five-inning nonconference shutout over visiting Maine West.

Nearly 15 former players and his co-coach from 1982, Doug Millstone, were among the many who showed up for the historic win.

"I know he doesn't like a lot of people going out of their way for something this," said Grams' daughter Laurie, who pitched for her father's 1988 and 1989 teams. "But he's done a lot for a lot of people so they are willing to do this.

"Besides being a good coach, he's just a nice person. I think he gets a little embarrassed by all of the fuss. I know in no uncertain terms he tried to tell me not to make the trip here. But there's no way I could miss this."

Coincidentally, Laurie lives in Champaign, which is only 15 miles east of Ogden.

"I congratulate him," said Wolken, who like Grams also served as a varsity boys basketball coach. "I know it's a great feeling. He has spent a lot of time at it and really deserves it. It's a great accomplishment."

In the process, the Grens (23-2) set the school record for home runs (27) as Kristen Cetkovic and Stephanie Maday each belted long balls in the third and fourth innings, respectively.

Sophomore Dani Goranson (16-1) and Stephanie Maday (7-1) combined for a 2-hitter.

Maday and senior shortstop Olivia Roback started as freshmen on Grams' 2007 team that collected his 600th win at Buffalo Grove.

"It was great to be home for this one," said Roback, a Kankakee College recruit who went 2-for-2 with a sacrifice fly and 2 RBI. "He's been like a grandpa to all of us. He gets along with everyone and is always trying to make us comfortable. We're so lucky to have him as our coach."

The Eastern Illinois-bound Maday echoed her teammate's thoughts.

"It's been great to be here to get him another 100 wins," Maday said. "He's a great coach, and it's great to experience this with him. It's great to have all the fans and his former players here."

And the Grens put on another dazzling display for all in attendance.

They've been on an offensive tear and didn't let up Tuesday with 16 more hits, including the 2 home runs and doubles by Megan Keegan and Krista Soesbe.

Senior Amanda Gattone went 3-for-3 while Devan Parkison and Becca Walz had RBI singles.

Defensively, freshman center fielder Elisa Payne made a terrific shoestring grab in the third inning to rob Katherine Kusner of a hit.

Goranson struck out the first six batters she faced and had 8 in 3 innings while Maday struck out three in 2 innings.

An infield hit by Michelle Marlegas and a single to right by Angela Cruz, both in the third inning, were the only hits for West (11-13).

"Elk Grove was clicking on all cylinders," said Warriors coach Mike Murin. "If we played in, they hit it over our heads. If we played deep, they hit in front of us."

"Seven hundred is a lot of wins and he (Grams) runs a superb program. He is a first-class gentleman and this is a well-deserved accomplishment."

For many years, Grams was known for his "small ball" approach, but this season and last (25 homers) there has been a new element.

"I never thought we'd be a home run team," Maday said. "I thought we'd be more small ball. But everyone has been surprising with the home runs."

Second baseman Jessica Balzano (2-for-2) wasted no time keeping alive her 25-game hitting streak as she led off the bottom of the first with a single up the middle.

From there, the Grens never looked back.

Grams, meanwhile, keeps looking forward.

He was asked if 800 wins were possible.

"I hope so," said the 65-year-old Hall of Famer, who has been assisted by Dick Trent for the past 12 seasons. "I'm enjoying it. As long as I see that I can communicate to the kids and they respond, I'll keep going.

"I've always said I want to do this as long as I'm enjoying the kids. They keep me so young and they keep me going. How could you feel better than that?"

Grams is glad his Grens can now concentrate on winning the Mid-Suburban East, which they lead by 3 games over Prospect with six to play.

"I'm glad it's done and now we can focus on winning the conference," he said. "It is wonderful to see kids who used to play for me here. I'm glad they appreciated their time spent here because I know I have.

"Sure, winning regionals and getting downstate (second in 1982) and all the wins are nice, but the highlight for me is all the kids. Case closed."

Leyden 13, Immaculate Conception 0: Leyden (19-6) won the nonconference game behind sophomore Morgan Maize (13-3), who tossed a 1-hitter with 10 strikeouts.

Dana Thomas (3-for-3, home run, double), April Markowski (3-for-4, triple), Maize (3-for-3, triple), Amanda Moran (2-for-3) and Moira Quinlan (1-for-2, triple) led the Eagles' offense.