Something was missing as Grayslake Central catcher Eliza Piggott approached her junior season, new coach Jim Plaza believed.
Even after Piggott overcame a hand injury in her freshman season to hit .315. Even after she batted .359 with five doubles, five triples, six home runs and a team-high 38 RBIs and was picked for the Class 3A all-state third team last year.
“Eliza came to me in the offseason and wanted to be a leader,” Plaza said. “We had a lot of conversations about what that would be like. Besides leading by example, she would have to be a positive role model, even when things didn’t go her way.
“She’s her own worst critic and has high expectations of herself. Sometimes when you have such an intense competitor and they struggle, people have a tendency to shut down. We stressed to her to be a positive influence.”
Piggott realized she needed to change her mindset during difficult moments.
“I like to be perfect, and I definitely am not,” she said. “Sometimes I get in my own head … and it sometimes affects my teammates. So being the person everyone sees on the field, having negative body language and emotions can drag energy away from the game. I was really bad with it.
“But once I started to get my head around what I was doing and how it affects everybody, it has helped me a lot to improve.”
The new-and-improved Piggott is sending a powerful message to Lake County pitchers and base runners this season.
At the plate, she has belted the ball all over the field. Batting in the third spot for the Rams (9-12), the 5-foot-9 Piggott is hitting .493 with a .538 on-base percentage, eight doubles, seven home runs, 28 RBIs, 28 runs scored and nine stolen bases. She has nine multi-hit games, and she has been tough to strike out, fanning just three times in 78 plate appearances.
Behind the plate, her rocket arm is preventing stolen bases. She has picked off five runners.
Grayslake Central sophomore pitcher Annie Wolff calls her catcher “a student of the game.”
“Her work ethic and dedication to winning is unmatched,” Wolff said. “She never takes a day off. Even when she isn’t physically practicing, she is studying the game by watching it and finding ways to better herself.
“All the other teams see her warmup throws, and they know their chances of taking extra bases are slim to none.”
Plaza said Piggott has become an impact player in all phases of the game, and she has been on a roll with regionals starting next week. In her past five games, Piggott hit three homers and drove in 10 runs.
She also rises to the occasion against top competition. She had three hits in five at-bats in two losses to Northern Lake County Conference champion Antioch, which finished third in Class 3A last year and is ranked No. 2 in the state coaches poll.
“Besides being our top hitter and having such a strong arm, Eliza is our best base runner,” Plaza said. “She is aggressive on the bases and has created runs with her softball IQ and aggressiveness. Teams are forced to create their game plan around her in multiple ways.
“The physical tools that she possesses, along with her knowledge and work ethic that she has, should get her plenty of looks at the next level.”
Piggott picked up her first offer from a college program on Wednesday, beginning a process that isn’t new for her family.
Her parents are high school teachers — she designed a T-shirt for Teacher Appreciation Week — and both played college sports. Her older brother Jonathan is a freshman outside hitter for the Missouri S&T men’s volleyball team. Piggott’s father is 6-6, her brother Jonathan is 6-3 and her brother Josh is 6-1.
Despite her size, Piggott doesn’t play basketball, apparently much to the chagrin of Grayslake Central coach Steve Ikenn.
“Coach has tried every year since I was 10,” Piggott said. “I have never been good at basketball.”
Piggott, who said she has always been drawn to softball because she can control a game from her position, is looking forward to the future.
“I’m so excited for the summer,” she said. “I can’t wait. I’ve got a lot of opportunities lined up for showcases. I’m excited to see where it goes for me.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
