Angela Ayala’s first three softball seasons at Grayslake Central have been like a roller coaster.
It began auspiciously when Ayala earned a starting spot in the outfield as a freshman.
“My freshman year was great,” she said. “I got a lot of playing time, and it was exciting.”
One year later, Ayala struggled at the plate and lost her starting job.
“I was really down in the dumps,” she said. “I was hitting .125 at one point last season. It was really disappointing. Going from starting to not playing was really sad. I had a lack of confidence.”
But Ayala has put that experience far behind her during her junior season. She’s hitting .410 with five doubles, 10 RBIs and 19 runs scored as the Rams (10-12, 5-4) contend for second place behind Antioch in the Northern Lake County Conference.
“Over the past month, Angela has arguably been our most consistent hitter,” Grayslake Central coach James Plaza said. “She’s come up with big at-bats that have starting tying or winning rallies.”
Plaza said Ayala put too much pressure on herself last season, letting a slow start spiral, but worked hard in the offseason to regain her starting position — and her smile.
“The mental part of her game has really developed,” Plaza said. “It has been so fun to watch. She’s truly enjoying playing the game again.”
Indeed, after the sophomore slump, Ayala was determined to come back stronger than ever.
“I have a deep passion for the game and am driven to push myself harder every time I step on the field,” she said. “That early recognition didn’t just boost my confidence, but it fueled my love for softball and my determination to keep improving.”
Ayala credits former teammate Eliza Piggott’s father, Rob, for helping her during the offseason. Rob Piggott is a coach for the Illinois Lightning travel program and is also a private hitting coach.
“Angela didn’t shy away from the hard work that we needed her to put into it, and we got to the point where we worked every week on swing mechanics and hitting approach,” Rob Piggott said. “The more work she put in, the more confident she seemed to have in what she was doing.”
Grayslake Central senior first baseman Dani Eckenstahler saw that firsthand.
“Angela worked so incredibly hard, whether that was at winter workouts or on her own,” Eckenstahler said. “I took hitting lessons with Angela. She was a very coachable player and took her corrections very seriously. Angela wanted to better herself.”
Ayala said she has learned life lessons from the experience.
“Softball has taught me discipline, teamwork and perseverance,” she said. “Players have to consistently practice and work together to achieve success, so softball fosters resilience through both victory and defeat, helping me and my teammates learn how to handle challenges and bounce back from setbacks.”
Ayala gets support from her family too. She’s one of eight children.
“My family is always there cheering me on and encouraging me,” she said. “My parents have been through my ups and downs as an athlete. Their support really helps me stay motivated and focused.”
Bobby Narang is a freelance reporter.
