Ace pitcher Paige Murray swings pretty mean bat for St. Charles North. In limited at-bats too. ‘A new role for me?'

Chicago Tribune

26-04-2025

Who knew?
For standout pitcher Paige Murray, there's more to her game than simply throwing the ball and occasionally catching it while fielding her position flawlessly for St. Charles North.
Apparently, see the ball and hit the ball should be factored into the equation as well.
'She hasn't hit in three years,' veteran North Stars coach Tom Poulin said of Murray, his senior ace. 'Every year I tell her, 'I'm gonna let you hit.' She has a beautiful swing.'
And every year, Poulin said assistant coach Thijs Dennison talks Poulin out of it, arguing that Murray is too valuable in the circle.
Seeing was believing Friday, with Murray emerging as the pitching and hitting star for host St. Charles North in a 2-1 DuKane Conference win over crosstown rival St. Charles East.
Murray fired a three-hitter, striking out 10 and walking two for the North Stars (9-3, 3-1).
One of those hits was a solo home run by junior outfielder Lexi Majkszak that rode the wind blowing out to left field leading off the second inning that tied the score at 1-1.
'It doesn't blow out here often,' Murray said. 'But you never know what the weather is gonna be. I have to come out and trust my spin. If they hit it, my defense usually had my back.'
Sophomore third baseman Julianna Kouba produced an RBI single in the first inning to give a 1-0 lead to Murray. It scored senior outfielder Mackenzie Patterson, a Loyola recruit who had doubled.
Junior right-hander Makayla Van Dinther stuck out eight and gave up six hits and two walks in taking the loss for the Saints (9-9, 0-3).
In the third, Murray drove a two-out blast over the head of the Saints' right fielder that one-hopped against the fence for a double and scored Kouba, who had singled, with the decisive run.
'Could that be a new role for me?' said Murray, who's hitting .407 in 27 at-bats after stepping to the plate just 17 times in last season's second state Class 4A championship run in three years.
Murray starred in a key relief role as a freshman when the North Stars won the state title.
'Makayla does a great job and was moving the ball everywhere,' Murray said of her game-winning hit off Van Dinther. 'I just saw my pitch outside and I took it there.'
Meanwhile, Murray intentionally walked junior catcher Hayden Sujack after falling behind in the count with one out against the St. Charles East slugger with a runner already aboard. Senior right fielder Ivy Gleeson also made an outstanding diving catch that probably saved a run.
'That was amazing,' Murray said. 'She's a great outfielder.'
The South Carolina-bound Sujack, who also drew a second walk, explained what makes Murray so tough.
'The knowledge she has,' Sujack said of Murray. 'In a count, she knows exactly what to throw and she just executes it almost every time.
'Obviously, there's room for error, but what I like to say is she misses with intention. She does a fantastic job of that, and the help of Thijs calling the game helps. His knowledge is amazing.'
Poulin, pleased about getting the rivalry win, is happy for any win in the DuKane Conference. The North Stars finished third in conference last year and still won the state title.
'This conference is so loaded, a win against anybody is huge,' he said. 'I was looking at some state rankings today and there were four of us in the top 10 and six in the top 30. That's crazy.'
How much hitting Murray continues to do remains to be seen, but her pitching will continue.
'She's just mentally strong and tough,' Poulin said of Murray. 'Whether it's a positive or a negative outcome, she moves on to the next hitter. She's gritty and experienced.
'I don't have the words for Paige. She's unreal to me.'