Lincoln-Way Central’s Kayley Kmak absolutely loves batting second in the order behind Lyndsey Grein.
It’s where the action is.
“It’s always fun because I know Lyndsey is going to get a good hit,” Kmak said. “I just love being able to move the runner around the bases, whether it’s with a bunt or it’s a hit.”
The junior outfielder had adventures galore Wednesday as the Knights beat Lockport 9-0 in a Class 4A Sandburg Sectional semifinal game in Orland Park.
Kmak had two hits and four RBIs. McKenzie Murdock hit a three-run homer and Lisabella Dimitrijevic added an RBI double. Grein pitched six shutout innings, allowing just three hits.
Stephanie Hayes, Kasey Markusic and Kendal Herschbach each singled for Lockport (29-6).
Lincoln-Way Central (24-4-1) will play Lincoln-Way East (26-2) at 4:30 p.m. Friday for the sectional title.
Kmak didn’t spend much time in the on-deck circle before her at-bats Wednesday. Lockport intentionally walked Grein three times and unintentionally a fourth.
Meanwhile, Kmak was surprised but not surprised.
Grein entered the game with a .425 batting average, 13 home runs and a reputation as one of the Southland’s most prolific leadoff hitters.
“Lyndsey’s a great hitter,” Kmak said. “I can understand why they might do it. I just knew I had to do my job and do anything I could to put the ball in play.”
Twice, Kmak burned the Porters with two-run singles.
Grein, who came out for a courtesy runner after every walk, enjoyed the view from the bench.
“Kayley is an animal,” Grein said. “Every time I ended up on first, I was like, ‘Yep, she’s going to do it.’ I had no doubt about her coming through.
“Kayley is definitely a player who shows up when we need her. She’s a real team player.”
For the season, Kmak is hitting .293 with 15 runs and 10 RBIs. She started out hitting at the bottom of the order.
In an early game against Marist, she hit a home run with two outs in the seventh inning to force a 5-5 tie.
It didn’t take Lincoln-Way Central coach Jeff Tarala too long to start moving her up in the order.
“We’ve had her in the No. 2 hole for the past few weeks because we’re pretty confident she can get a bunt down,” Tarala said. “But then they started walking Lyndsey in this game and she came up with big hits.
“Good for her. I can’t be happier. She works hard.”
The win over Lockport brought a measure of restored pride for Grein.
The Knights lost both regular-season meetings, 4-2 and 10-7. Grein, a Virginia Tech recruit, pitched in relief in the first game and started in the second.
“I knew I had a little bit of coming back to do,” Grein said. “I’m a very competitive person. It’s win or no other option.
“I think it was a learning tool I needed to have happen. To lose those games made me take a step back, look in the mirror and reassess what I needed to do.”
Grein was stellar in Wednesday’s win. She only had three strikeouts, but only allowed three balls to leave the infield.
“We saw Lyndsey’s competitive nature,” Tarala said. “She wants to win and she wants to compete out there. When she gets going and she’s motivated and wants to get to something done, you just hop on her back and you go.
“I think she had something to prove — like ‘that wasn’t me before.’ This was the real her.”
Behind Grein, the Knights’ defense was equally stellar, especially sophomore shortstop Alexis Youngren, who made seven flawless plays.
“It’s incredibly fun playing with Alexis,” Grein said. “She’s just a team player. She’s an amazing athlete. I have the most faith in her. The whole defense was great behind me.
“We’re buddies and we play together. That’s just us.”