Borders helps Grayslake North book title
The postponement of Saturday’s Class 3A Antioch regional softball final because of rain to Monday didn’t put a damper on Kelsey Borders’ Memorial Day plans.
“I didn’t have any plans,” Grayslake North’s hard-hitting junior third baseman said. “Softball is always first priority.”
Turns out, Borders had grand plans.
The first grand slam of her three-year varsity career highlighted a 7-run second inning, and her walk-off 2-run double in the bottom of the fifth completed top-seeded Grayslake North’s 14-4 win over No. 2 Lakes at Antioch’s McMillen Field.
“It’s nice,” coach Molly Jones said of the Knights earning a sectional berth for the second time in as many springs. “We had a couple of alumni here — our seniors from last year that graduated. It’s good that we can keep that going. Two regional titles in a row — I’ll take that.”
The Knights’ second straight regional title hiked their record to 24-8-1 and vaulted them into Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. sectional semifinal at Lakes. The Knights will play Richmond-Burton, which beat Johnsburg 13-9 Monday.
Lakes, which tied its school record for wins, finished 23-13.
“It scared me today when I saw the weather forecast and I saw the wind would be blowing out at 20 mph,” Lakes coach Bill Hamill said. “I knew there was a possibility for mistakes.”
Despite the wind and the short dimensions at Antioch, Borders had the only home run. She also was the only Knight to have an extra-base hit. She finished 3-for-4 with the grand slam, 2 doubles and 7 RBI.
“I was just focusing on turning my back hip and hitting the ball hard,” Borders said.
Lakes pitcher Taylor Dishinger retired the side in order in the first, but Grayslake North then proceeded to pound out 12 hits over the next two innings, sending 10 batters to the plate in each frame. The Knights got RBI singles from Christina Freese, Courtney Peterson and Jordyn Bowen in the second before Borders stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two out.
She crushed a pitch over the fence in center field. Jones thinks it’s just the second grand slam in the Knights’ young history. Brianna Leon hit one against Grayslake Central last year.
It was Borders’ sixth homer of the season.
“She always does a nice job at the plate, but lately she’s been getting great hits right to them, like line drives to the right fielder,” Jones said. “So I’m just glad that she got all of that ball.”
Grayslake North’s 5-run third featured Bowen’s 2-run single and Borders’ RBI double.
Lakes had scored 3 runs in the top of the third when Megan Massie delivered a two-out single into center field with the bases loaded, scoring a pair. When the ball was misplayed, another run scored.
The Eagles stranded 8 runners in the first four innings, before Knight starting pitcher Kristina Gandy (6 hits, 3 strikeouts, 3 walks) retired the side in order in the fifth.
Grayslake North had 13 hits. Bowen finished 2-for-4 with 3 runs scored, while Nikki Livengood and Marli Kram were both 2-for-3.
Lakes will lose three seniors in Massie (1-for-2), Jamie Dykstra (2-for-3) and Sara Braden (1-for-3, double) who were on varsity with Hamill since they were freshmen.
“(Grayslake North) capitalized on (their opportunities),” said Massie, who’ll be a student at the University of Minnesota in the fall.
“They hit with runners on, and we just didn’t. I think that’s what it came down to. They hit very well. We hit well. We got on base. We were just one step short getting runs in. But we worked hard. We have nothing to be ashamed of.”