Sacrifice has come in multiple ways for Garrett Guenther this season.
The Grayslake Central senior wasn’t assured he’d be playing in the field every game. He also bats outside the heart of the order much of the time.
On the plus side, there has been a lot of winning for the Rams.
“We’re stacked, so my role is to help the team as much as I can,” Guenther said. “As long as I’m in the lineup, I’m happy. We work as a team and stack up as many runs as we can.”
There have been a lot of those. Grayslake Central totaled 22 runs in two wins during the Class 3A Vernon Hills Regional last week.
Guenther’s bat, in particular, spoke volumes during the regional championship game on Saturday. Batting seventh, he clubbed long doubles in each of his first two trips to the plate and drove in three runs to provide a significant spark in the second-seeded Rams’ 10-6 win against 10th-seeded Deerfield.
That performance showcased Guenther at his run-producing best and gave him a team-high 31 RBIs and 31 hits, which rank second on the team. He enters the Grayslake Sectional semifinals hitting .360 for the Rams (29-8), who will be seeking their third straight 30-win season when they play third-seeded Crystal Lake South (26-7) at 4 p.m. Thursday.
Guenther’s bases-loaded double in the first inning capped a four-run outburst after Deerfield (15-16) scored twice in the top of the frame.
“In that situation, wherever it is on the plate, I’m going to rope it somewhere,” Guenther said. “My second double was a huge hit. I actually thought it was gone, so I started trotting. But I’ve got warning track power.”
That may be the case. Had that ball cleared the fence through a stiff wind, it would have been Guenther’s first home run of the season. It still drove in Chris Rogers, who had doubled, and gave the Rams a 5-4 lead they didn’t relinquish.
“He seems to have been clutch in a lot of ways this year,” Grayslake Central coach Troy Whalen said. “We’re so balanced, and he fits right into that. One through nine, we’re pretty pesky. On some other teams, guys like Garrett would be hitting three or four.
More Top Picks Best Ski Boots
“When you carry 18 seniors, you have to ask these guys to accept a role, and he accepts his.”
For Guenther, that has primarily entailed switching between second base and designated hitter with classmate Ralph DeLeon. The two are close friends, making what could be a sticky situation anything but.
“We’re both huge competitors, and we’ve accepted the fact that we’re switching off,” Guenther said. “We both know we can get hits. I try not to change my mentality if I’m at second or not. I’m starting, so I should be grateful.”
Guenther’s not the only one who is grateful for his presence in the lineup. Rogers doesn’t hesitate when describing how much Guenther has meant to the Rams’ success.
“Garrett’s been huge all season,” Rogers said. “Whether it’s a base knock or a double off the wall, he really helps us produce. Teams usually have that murderers’ row where once you get to five or six (in the order), there’s a drop-off. That’s not the case with us, and Garrett’s a big reason.”
Guenther will continue his career at Central College in Iowa but knows that won’t be the same.
“It’s obviously going to be a lot different, going from playing with the guys I’ve played with my whole life,” Guenther said. “Leaving that, that’s big for me. It will stink when the high school season ends. But I’m trying to make that not happen.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.