Staszczak Is In Final Season as North Shortstop

Grayslake North senior Kevin Staszczak doesn't mind cold weather one bit. He's headed further North to Marquette. No,  not Marquette University in Milwaukee but rather Marquette, Michigan, home to Northern Michigan University.

"It's really cold there,'' Staszczak said. "It's snows every day in the winter. I don't mind it."

Before he heads towards Canada, it's time to reflect what Staszczak has meant to the Grayslake North baseball program. The former catcher and pitcher as a youngster learned about playing shortstop in eighth grade. He evidently learned those lessons quickly. By the time he reached high school, he made immediate positive impressions.

He was hitting so well during his freshman year that they jumped him up to the sophomore team.

"He then hit .450 with the sophomores over the next two weeks,'' said North baseball coach Andy Strahan.  "We then decided to pull him up to varsity for the final two weeks of the varsity season because we felt he made us a better team."

Staszczak has been a fixture the past few years at the shortstop post for the Knights.

"It's tough sometimes,'' he said. "But my coaches trust me. I work hard and listen to what the coaches say. I like shortstop because I'm involved on every play."

Strahan knows he has a strong player playing shortstop.

"He makes all the routine plays,'' Strahan said. "And every once in awhile, usually in a big moment, he makes the spectacular play. His biggest improvement came defensively."

This is not a light-hitting shortstop. He has consistently hit higher than .400 during his days as a varsity player. After a slow start this spring, he has turned it up in recent weeks.

"I've been seeing the ball really well,'' he said. "And I've been hitting to all sides of the field."

Staszczak is not headed to Northern Michigan on a baseball scholarship. He considered some Division II and III offers before deciding to pursue his education instead.

"I'm going into accounting,'' he said. "I might play club when things settle down. I just like everything up there. I just like fishing and all the outdoor stuff."

Despite his skills the North program has had its ups and downs. Staszczak still has plenty of good memories of his playing days with the Knights.

"I remember during my sophomore year, we beat Huntley,'' he said. "I had a really good game. Every ball seemed to come to me. I think I had three hits, too."

Strahan knows this player won't be easy to replace. Staszczak could do plenty of good things on a baseball field.

"Kevin has improved in all facets of the game over his four  year varsity
career,'' Strahan said.  "Kevin runs the bases as well as any kid we've had in the program. He  is a great baseball player and a solid kid."