Grein leads Lincoln-Way Central past Lincoln-Way West

Lincoln-Way Central pitcher Lyndsey Grein is committed to Virginia Tech. After three games at the WJOL Tournament, it’s easy to see why. The junior was completely dominant in the championship game against Lincoln-Way West striking out seven in a 4-0 win for the Knights.

“Bella’s (Isabella Wilkerson) help was awesome,” Grein said of her catcher. “We started with the rise and went down with some heat, and came back with the change. That combo seemed to really work for us today. Bella did a great job calling them.”

Grein never allowed a runner past first base, firing a complete game two-hitter against rival Lincoln-Way West. The hurler retired the first 10 batters before the Warriors broke through with a single, and the win helped her earn Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament.

“She’s (Grein) everything to our roster,” senior Carly Alvers said. “She has been absolutely amazing. Coming in as a freshman we were so excited (to have her) and now we’re here. She’s been so great, and we’re lucky to have her.”

Grein did the heavy lifting in the circle, but it was Alvers who provided the offense for the Knights, blasting a 3-run homer in the top of the seventh to put the game out of reach.

“It felt so good,” Alvers said. “Hitting the home run and getting the insurance runs from it and helping her out. It felt so good to be back. We’ve been waiting a long time for this.”

Knights’ coach Jeff Tarala was happy for his senior who has been a prodigious power hitter for the squad over the past three seasons.

“She’s been slow to get started, but she’s a great hitter,” Tarala said. “She’s been hitting home runs for us since she was a freshman. It was just a matter of time. I think some of the girls were saying Carly is going to get into one here, and there it went.”

Alvers’ blast came as a relief for the Knights, who had the leadoff man on in each of the first three innings but couldn’t squeak across a run until the fifth inning.

Singles by Katheryn Ponton, Grace Kmak and Alvers loaded the bases. Mckenzie Murdock’s fielder’s choice drove in the first run of the game. While it was frustrating to not push across a run in the first few innings, Tarala was hopeful they’d get one across for their dominant pitcher.

“Pressure busts the pipe,” Tarala said. “That pipe can’t hold that much water for that long. It’s going to bust, and eventually it did.”

One run was all they needed for a pitcher like Grein, but the insurance runs Alvers delivered didn’t hurt. While the junior pitcher was the star today, she was quick to compliment Alvers and this group of seniors

“She’s a leader. She leads this group of girls. All of our seniors do,” Grein said. “She steps up to the plate and she owns it. She has everyone’s back no matter what age or what position. I have full trust in her at third base. I’m super happy and thankful to have known her for the past couple years.”