Elk Grove swings into action against Trinity

Hall of Fame coach Ken Grams thinks his 32nd softball team at Elk Grove is going to be able to score runs.

No one would argue on Thursday after watching the Grenadiers win their home opener 8-2 over highly regarded Trinity from River Forest.

The Grenadiers (3-0) belted the ball all over the park where Grams has probably more than half of his 747 career wins.

The defending Mid-Suburban League champs finished with 10 hits, including Dani Goranson’s solo home run which seemed to leave the field quicker than one of her fastballs.

“It felt great right off the bat,” said Goranson of her first home of the season, in the third innning.

She got plenty of support from her teammates’ bats as well.

“I feel great about our whole lineup one through nine,” Goranson said.

On the mound, Goranson (2-0) was solid, limiting the strong Blazers lineup to 6 hits while striking out 11 and walking one.

“Dani is a remarkable all-around player,” Grams said of the Michigan State-bound senior. “You should see her play shortstop. She’s going to lead the way offensively and on the mound.”

The Grens got hits from seven different players, led by catcher Devan Parkison (2-for-2, double), third baseman Carly Danek (2-for-4, triple, 3 RBI) and first baseman Becca Walz (2-for-3, RBI).

North Dakota-bound Megan Keegan, Krista Soesbe and Becca Maher (leadoff double to right in Grens’ 3-run third inning) also hit safely.

Second baseman Maher also made a diving backhand stop to take away a hit from Trinity junior pitcher and cleanup hitter Chase Machain in the sixth inning.

“Our lineup up and down is pretty solid,” Grams said. “I feel comfortable all the way through it.

“That’s a good team (Trinity) we played and I felt we did a lot of good things. I told the girls we had a lot of good trips to the plate, getting a lot of hits with two strikes.”

Trinity (2-1) actually struck first, getting a run in the top of the first.

Illinois-bound and No. 3 hitter Nicole Evans blooped a single to left, scoring Michigan-bound Abby Ramirez, who’d doubled to left to start the game.

Evans went to second on the throw home but Goranson got the next batter on a popout to shortstop Soesbe and a strikeout to end the inning. That was Goranson’s first of five consecutive strikeouts.

Elk Grove answered with 3 runs in the bottom of the inning.

The Grens took advantage of 2 errors. Parkison doubled in the inning and came home on an error on Keegan’s outfield flyball.

Danek then tripled in Parkison and Keegan for the 3-1 lead.

“The key was everyone talking and having a ton of energy,” Danek said. “It was important that we came right back after they scored that first run.”

“I didn’t know what to expect but I was impressed,” Grams said. “I’ve got a good feeling about these girls. They play with a good level of energy.”

Trinity, which returns seven starters from a 29-game winner, won its first two games last Saturday over Whitney Young 6-3 and 12-2.

“Elk Grove is a good team,” said Trinity coach Bob Osborne. “They hit the ball well. We misplayed too many balls in the first inning and that was the ballgame.

“Chase (Machain, who is 1-1) had to throw 40 to 50 pitches in that inning. You can’t give them 3 runs and expect to come back.”

Leadoff batter Ramirez (2-for-3) was the only Blazer with 2 hits.

“Getting up 1-0 against a pitcher who isn’t used to being hit is a positive,” Osborne added. “But we are better than 8-2 (final score). We have to play better defensively.”