Softball: Elk Grove's Grams wins 1,000th game

It started 41 springs ago with a 2-0 shutout at West Chicago High School.

That was the first victory for Elk Grove softball coach Ken Grams, who on Saturday afternoon in Lincolnshire reached a number of wins that only one other coach has accomplished in Illinois high school softball history.

Grams won his 1,000th game as sophomore Erika Gore, whose father Todd was a student at Elk Grove during Grams' first 10 years of coaching softball, hurled an 8-0 shutout over Stevenson with 13 strikeouts in the nonconference matchup.

The win came just a few hours after Grams won No. 999, a 5-4 Mid-Suburban East triumph over Wheeling, in a game also played on the Stevenson field beginning at 10 a.m.

"I didn't plan a day like this," Grams said about the double wins that resulted in 1,000. "But who knew when it was going to happen?"

It just so happened on a day Stevenson (7-8) hosted its 'Homers for Heroes' day in honor of Military Appreciation Day 2022. The well-organized opening ceremony included war veterans accompanied with service dogs who stood on each base.

The day ended with Grams joining St. Joseph-Ogden's Randy Wolken as the state's only softball coaches with 1,000 wins. Wolken was 1,042-242 from 1980 to 2018 when he retired.

Grams began the season needing 12 wins to reach 1,000.

"I just knew with this group (now 12-8) we'd keep plugging away at it and it was nice to get this on a beautiful day," he said. "I'm just so tickled and happy. Thank God someone asked me to get into this in 1981. Thank you."

Grams showed how much he loved the sport in the mid 1980s when he assumed the role as assistant athletic director. He gave up his boys basketball coaching duties and kept softball as his only sport.

But Grams, who was at the school teaching typing and accounting when it opened in 1966, never imagined he'd be in the dugout after 41 years with 1,000 wins, including two trips to the state finals (second and third-place finishes).

"What did I know back then?" said the Arlington High School/Northern Illinois graduate. "When they asked me to do this, I kind of liked it and here I am 41 years later.

"I'm glad I was able to do this. I've had great support from the administration, the coaches we've had. And the best part, I've had wonderful players. That's what keeps you coming back, the good kids who play the game well."

One of those former players is Grens' first base coach Becca Maher, who starred at shortstop for Grams from 2011 to 2014.

"One thousand wins does not come easy as everyone knows," Maher said. "And it's not just luck, I will tell you that. He worked hard when I was a player here and just as hard now that I'm on the sidelines with him as coach. He couldn't be a cooler guy and he's fantastic to learn from. He's always there for the players and has their backs. He makes sure they are doing their best on the field and if they're not, he makes sure that we put the practice in to get that way. He works hard to make sure every day these girls want to be here. He's a great guy."

Former Cary-Grove standout Colleen Mulaney has been Grams' assistant for eight years and coaches third base.

"It's been a wonderful eight years," she said. "I told him I wouldn't want to do this with anyone but him. He's great. He's become a great friend."

Babbi Barreiro, who coached Barrington to second place in the Class 4A state girls basketball tourney two months ago, played for Grams in those early years.

"Mr. Grams represents everything that is right about high school sports," Barriero said. "It was an honor to play for him.

"I still remember him walking off the third base coaching box to help my then sick mother out of the car day after day when she would arrive for our games. He always put kids first and taught us the game well and showed us the importance of having class at all times."

Gore gave up only 2 hits while improving to 8-1 with a complete game to catcher Megan Malartsik. Stevenson's Elle Ruchim led off with an infield single in the bottom of the first and Lexi Gitler lined a single to right center to lead off the bottom of the seventh for the Pats' other hit.

Gore then struck out the side to end the game.

"It's an honor to be able to do this for coach Grams," Gore said. "He's had such a tradition here and been here so long. I don't know what to say. It's just really special."

Sabina Lehnert (2-for-2, triple, 2 walks) and Amanda Koszewski (2-of-2 walks, RBI) were multiple hitters for EG which visits Hersey on Monday when Grams goes for 1,001.

"I love the girls, I love the game," said Grams, who has announced every home football game at Elk Grove. "I can't imagine doing anything else."