Gandy, Grayslake North make softball history
All the numbers added up for Grayslake North on Saturday as the Knights captured the school’s first softball regional title.
A couple of special K’s sure helped the Knights get it.
Kristina Gandy tossed a 3-hit shutout with 8 strikeouts and Kelsey Borders had a couple of hits, including a first-inning 2-run home run and 3 RBI.
Top-seeded Grayslake North powered past No. 2 Wauconda 4-0 to win its own Class 3A regional championship. The Knights (21-10) will face Vernon Hills in the Grayslake Central sectional semifinal at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Vernon Hills won its regional final with a 4-0 shutout over Regina.
“It really showed in the regionals that we were ready to play,” Grayslake North coach Molly Jones said. “We’ve done a couple of things to get here. Number one, hard work and a group of three seniors (Racquel Ness, Brianna Leon and Hailey Badovinac) that have really carried the underclassmen to pull them along and show them what it means to work hard.
“We’re also a group that never gives up.”
Jones’s group has produced a good mix of small ball and powerful hitting.
“I like to keep the opposing defense on their toes,” Jones said. “I do like to play the short a little bit and be effective, getting base runners around. We also have power hitters that can bring them around with the big hits.”
The Knights’ Jordyn Bowen reached base a couple of times in the first few innings and scored both times.
In the bottom of the first, after a single and a Leon sacrifice bunt, Borders drove a line drive homer inside the left-field foul pole to put the Knights ahead 2-0.
“I do practice a lot and hit in my garage every night,” said Borders, who hit her second homer this season. “I always aim for line drives and hit that one. It all feels great to see us win a regional.”
Borders added an RBI single in the third inning which brought home Bowen for a 3-0 lead. Gandy followed with a run-scoring double for the fourth run.
Gandy dominated on the mound to win her 21st game of the season. She struck out seven through the first 4 innings without a walk.
“I really wanted to win for the team and wanted us to play another day,” Gandy said. “I like to keep the ball away and challenge (opposing batters) to hit it.”
Kennedy Wright had all 3 hits for Wauconda (11-19) with infield singles.
“(Grayslake North) played some pretty good ball,” Wauconda coach Tim Rennels said. “We made a couple of mistakes that cost us, which led to a couple of runs after the first inning.
“Gandy had great command on the mound. We hit the ball hard and (Grayslake North) had some great defense in the outfield.
“I’m still happy about my girls, with how far we went and all our struggles early in the season.”