GRAND RAPIDS – West Catholic senior centerfielder Jaye Guichelaar hadn’t struck out all season in 90 at-bats.
But the way Guichelaar’s 91st at-bat was going Wednesday afternoon, Falcons coach Ben Nelson figured that the streak was about to snap.
Hamilton southpaw Madie Jamrog was pitching another gem, and she and the Hawkeyes would go on to defeat the Falcons 6-1. Jamrog, who improved to 14-2 on the season, had a 6-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth, and she had two strikes on Guichelaar in an at-bat that had dragged on to six-plus pitches.
“I was starting to sweat for her,” Nelson told Hamilton coach Mark Behnke after the game.
No sweat, Coach. Guichelaar, who is hitting .725, drilled one over the centerfield fence for her fourth homerun of the season and her first that cleared the fences.
“That matchup was classic,” Behnke said. “Those are two of the best players in our league going at it, one-on-one. (No.) 24 got us.
“But she gets everybody.”
Jamrog finished the game, striking out seven while walking two. She gave up three hits, including two to Guichelaar.
“You have to give that one to her,” Jamrog said. “It was a tough pitch out of the zone. I’m shellshocked. It was a great hit. I was close (to striking her out), but she does not give up.”
Guichelaar and Jamrog have developed into two of West Michigan’s top players, and they weren’t on anyone’s radar two years ago when high school softball was last played in Michigan. Jamrog was an eighth grader, and Guichelaar was playing for Capital High School in Olympia, Wash.
But Guichelaar moved to Grand Rapids after her mother accepted a job at Grand Valley State University. Nelson said he never imaged the type of player he was getting. She has been scorching the ball throughout the spring. Her OPS is 1.185.
“We didn’t know what we had until we had it,” Nelson said. “Not only is she a great player, but she is humble. She is always mentally prepared and always including her teammates. In fact, I spoke with her mother last week about how big of a heart she has. We are proud to be her coach.”
No word yet on what Guichelaar’s plans are for next year, but she said she does want to play college softball. But for now, she is only focused on the state tournament, which begins next week for teams across Michigan.
“A little bit,” Guichelaar said when asked if the streak puts added pressure on her. “But as long as I have a calm mind, I will be fine.”
Behnke said he is going to miss watching Guichelaar play, even though she is a tough out.
“We threw a lot of pitches at her, a lot of elevation and a lot of locations,” he said. “Some people just have that natural talent, and you can’t throw the ball by them. Her swing is a thing of beauty.”
Jamrod’s performances have been a thing of beauty this season, too. She has allowed 88 hits in 117 innings, striking out 192 while walking 26. She has a 1.90 earned run average.
She also is getting the job done at the plate. She is hitting over .440, hit three homeruns, knocked in 24 and scored 36.
“She wears No. 10, and I can tell you that every Little Leaguer in Hamilton wants to wear No. 10,” Behnke said. She is a great ambassador for our program. She takes the time to spend time with every one of them.
“She is the first one to the park and the last one to leave and a great teammate. She has great energy. She can run and is a great baserunner. She has the total package for a sophomore.”
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