Pitcher Kevin Peloza Shocked by No-Hitter

As Monday's super-sectional game wound down, Grayslake Central's Kevin "No-No" Peloza was just moments away from pitching a no-hitter.

The announcer for High School Cube said it all: "One more strike and history will be made," said Emil Williams, Jr.

Peloza, however, wasn't aware that he was about to make history. Sure, he'd looked at the scoreboard, but it was largely to keep track of the number of balls and strikes, Peloza said.

"I actually didn't know until the game was over," Peloza said of pitching a no-hitter. "It was crazy to find that out. I was shocked."

Peloza said he approached the super-sectional game as he had every other game.

"I just go out and pitch as well as I can," he said. Peloza said he ran into some trouble in a couple of innings, but then he "just found my footing for the rest of the game on. I just got out of every inning quickly. I found my zone."

Finding his zone resulted in Peloza and the Grayslake Central Rams varsity baseball team earning a spot in the state semifinals, slated for 10 a.m. June 7. Jack Spicer is slated to pitch during that game. 

"Every year, it's always been a goal. I can't even believe still that we're going downstate," said Peloza. "We don't know what to think. We're just lost for emotions right now, everyone. It'll be a new experience for all of us. We're just really happy to be down there."

A send-off for the team will be held at 12:45 p.m. June 6 at the school.

Peloza, who just graduated from GCHS, plans to attend Bradley this fall but said he won't be playing baseball at the school.

"It's just awesome to end on this note."