Grayslake North coaches contemplated having Regen Marsell play at the junior varsity level at the beginning of the season.
Marsell traveled with the Knights varsity team to their spring trip to Florida in March. He hit everything in sight.
Marsell has been a fixture in the middle of the lineup since.
That decision to have him on the varsity team paid off again Tuesday. The designated hitter drove in the game-winning run with a single to right in the ninth inning as the Knights beat visiting Antioch 6-5 in a Northern Lake County game.
“I have the confidence in myself to not strike out,” Marsell said. “There are good pitchers and I strike out, of course. But I try to limit it as much as possible by staying quick to the ball.”
He went 1-for-4. But it was a big one hit for the Knights (20-9, 12-5).
“He puts the ball in play,” Grayslake North coach Brett Hill said. “He helps us out in the middle of the lineup. Having him in the lineup in the middle there, knowing he’s going to battle and compete is great.
“And he’s only a junior, so he’s only going to get better.”
Marsell stays active in games by watching every pitch.
“My theory is I can’t help on the defensive side, so I’m going to try my best to help on the offensive side,” Marsell said.
Marsell wasn’t sure what his status would be at the beginning of the season.
“I didn’t know I was going to Florida until the week before,” he said. “I got a call because I didn’t fill out a form. That’s how I found out. We got there, played some good teams and I did what I knew how to do best.
“I only hit, so I’m going to do the best I can at it.”
Hill said that approach has led to success.
“He earned a spot,” Hill said. “And that was his job for the rest of the year.”
Marsell was just one of the Grayslake North’s stars Tuesday. Sebastian Sancen had four hits. Austin DeLao had three RBIs.
DeLao and Marsell had RBI hits in the ninth as Grayslake North scored twice to put itself in position to win the conference title. Hill said the team wins the conference with a victory on Thursday at Antioch.
John Petty had an RBI single in the seventh to tie the game at 4 for Antioch (14-12, 10-7). The Sequoits scored once in the top of the ninth, but Marsell helped complete the Grayslake North’s rally in the bottom of the inning.
“That’s what we’ve done all season,” Marsell said.
Twitter @lamondpope
