Grayslake North has gone a perfect 10-0 against Round Lake recently and they'll look to pad the win column further on Thursday. The Knights will venture away from home to take on the Panthers at 4:45 p.m. The teams are on pretty different trajectories at the moment (Grayslake North has five straight wins, Round Lake has three straight losses), but none of that matters once you're on the field.
While Grayslake North didn't have the best season last year (they finished 6-20), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past. They walked away with an 8-4 victory over Wauconda on Tuesday.
Riley O'Brien
| 04/15/25 vs Wauconda | 16 |
| 04/11/25 @ Zion-Benton | 13 |
| 03/25/25 vs Trinity | 11 |
| 04/08/25 vs Grayslake Central | 10 |
| 03/24/25 vs Cloverleaf | 9 |
Riley O'Brien was a major factor while hitting and pitching. She looked comfortable on the mound, striking out 16 batters over seven innings while giving up just one earned (and three unearned) runs off seven hits. Those 16 strikeouts gave her a new career-high. She was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with one home run.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Brena Dalton, who went 2-for-4 with three RBI, one triple, and one run. Another player making a difference was Lauren Gaeding, who scored a run while going 3-for-4.
Grayslake North hit smart and finished the game with only one strikeout. The team has now struck out at least five batters in five consecutive matchups.
Meanwhile, Round Lake came up short against Lakes on Tuesday, falling 11-1.
Like Grayslake North, Round Lake also got a great game from a two-way player: Piper Berry. On the mound, she struck out ten batters over five innings while giving up just two earned (and nine unearned) runs off nine hits (and only one walk). Berry has been consistent recently: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts any time she's pitched this season. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 1-for-2 with one home run.
Round Lake's defeat dropped their record down to 1-3. As for Grayslake North, their record is now 9-3.
Round Lake's pitching crew has a crucial task ahead of them: Grayslake North hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .368. It's a different story for Round Lake, though, as they've only averaged .125. Will they be able to contain Grayslake North's hitters?
Grayslake North took their win against Round Lake in their previous matchup back in May of 2024 by a conclusive 20-3 score. Do the Knights have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Panthers turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
