Softball: 900 wins and counting for Grens coaching great Grams

Since Elk Grove High School opened in 1966, Ken Grams has announced every home football game.

But there is one thing you will never hear him announce: How successful the Elk Grove softball program has been for the last 37 years under his guidance.

"He's just a humble man," said his assistant coach Colleen Mullaney, who starred as a catcher for Cary-Grove High School. "He wants to do well for the girls, and he wants to do well for the school. He doesn't want the attention. He wants the attention on the kids and the program. He wants to let the girls have the spotlight."

But the spotlight found its way to the Arlington High School and Northern Illinois graduate on Tuesday because he became only the second softball coach in Illinois to win 900 games (against just 360 losses).

Senior Kylie Thomsen (9-3) threw a 2-hitter with 6 strikeouts as the Grenadiers (17-5, 6-4) defeated visiting Hoffman Estates 15-1 in five innings to pull to within a half game of first-place Hersey (15-4, 6-3) in the Mid-Suburban East.

"Right now, I want to win the East, that's my main thing," said Grams, always concerned about his team first.

"One of his strongest characteristics is just his humility," said Elk Grove assistant principal/student activities Bob Murphy. "He doesn't do it for all the accolades, or the wins. He does it for the kids and because he loves it. He is just as special guy."

Grams has a special hitter right now in leadoff batter Haley Itzenthaler, who continued her remarkable hitting tear.

The senior second baseman crushed a 3-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning, giving her 5 homers and 5 doubles (two vs. Hoffman in her first two at-bats) in her last 16 trips to the plate.

Other multiple hitters for EG were Thomsen (2-for-2, 2 doubles, 2 hit by pitches), Jessica Kearns (3-for-4, 2 doubles), Leilani Rivera (2-for-3, double) and Amy Pietruszynski (2-for-3, double).

Mary Bean and Giselle Velazquez had the hits for Hoffman Estates (2-15, 1-9).

"I'm just seeing the ball real well," said Itzenthaler (3-for-4), who plans to study accounting at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. "It feels great."

Itzenthaler felt great being able to be part of her coach's 900th win.

"It's unbelievable," she said. "He's such an amazing coach for us. It starts with small ball. We always start with the little stuff and work our way into bigger things."

Grams' milestone win came against one of the bigger names in MSL softball history - Lindsey Hamma, the Hoffman Estates coach.

"It was nice that she was part of this, she has become a friend," Grams said. "She was such a great player in our league and then I've been able to coach against her all these years."

Hamma played in the Barrington Hurricanes summer program, and Grams was one of the coaches.

"I competed against him when I was at Buffalo Grove and now I've coached against him for 12 years," said Hamma, a former Buffalo Grove, Illinois and Chicago Bandit standout.

"Nine hundred wins? I can't even fathom what that would mean to be at that point in my career. He's a class act. I'm not so glad I was the one that gave it to him (900th) but I am really thrilled for him.

"You can't say anything but good things about coach Grams and what he does for his players, staff and softball in general."

Grams is thankful to all those he coached.

"There've been hundreds of players come through here," he said. "I love them all. They've been great and there have been a dozen or more assistants who have helped. I really like coaching the girls. I like the sport. That's why I am here.

"To be honest I've wanted to keep doing this as long as I feel like I can communicate. As I get older, I feel to a degree I can still talk their language and get them to understand and appreciate the finer parts of the game. And that makes me feel good because I'm a guy who spends hours watching baseball on TV and I feel there are so many little things to the game and that's what I'm trying to get across."'

He's obviously been very successful in that department.

"He's got a coaching skill set and he really sticks to that," said Thomsen, who was a varsity player as freshman when Grams notched his 800th win at Fenton. "He knows so much about the game and that's what he teaches."

That's what provides the most fun for Grams, who also served as the school's boys basketball coach and boys athletic director among many other duties.

"When they are able to pull off the little things, that's the joy I get out of it," Grams said. "I like it when they are able to appreciate softball a little more."

Murphy has a special appreciation for what Grams has accomplished.

"Kenny is just such a role model for coaches in the softball world, and to our coaches in District 214 and at Elk Grove High School," Murphy said. "For him to continue the success he is seeing just proves that when you do things the right way, treat people the right way and have good relationships in the community, success is just a byproduct of it."