<p>Abby Herbst wants opposing softball players to fear her. After the junior year she just put together for Center Grove, it’s likely that several of them already do.</p>
<p>Having firmly established herself as a star during her first two high school seasons, Herbst raised the bar this spring and established herself as the top hitter and pitcher in the area.</p>
<p>For her efforts, she is the Daily Journal’s Player of the Year.</p>[sc:text-divider text-divider-title="Story continues below gallery" ]
<p>Logging a heavier workload in the pitching circle for the Trojans, Herbst didn’t lose a game until the semistate title game against eventual 4A state champ Decatur Central. She went 21-1 with a 0.56 earned-run average, threw 10 shutouts and struck out 173 batters while walking just 18.</p>
<p>She was particularly proud in her increased strikeout total — Herbst fanned more hitters this season than she did in her first two combined. That uptick, she said, was a product of increased confidence but also a great deal of offseason work.</p>
<p>“At the beginning of the season, people knew me as not being a strikeout pitcher, and then this year I kind of turned into one,” she said. “I was able to roll the ground balls when we needed them and get the big strikeout when I needed them, too. My movement was better, my placement was better and my speed.”</p>
<p>She was just as dangerous at the plate. Previously overshadowed somewhat by best friend and Indiana All-Star Jordyn Rudd, Herbst led the Center Grove offense with a .583 batting average, a .653 on-base percentage and 48 runs batted in. She was also second on the team in hits (56), doubles (nine) and home runs (six).</p>
<p>Capable of doing damage in a number of ways, Herbst says that she bases her hitting approach on what the situation calls for.</p>
<p>“If we have a runner on second, I know that a simple ground ball up the middle is going to do it,” she said, “but if we have two outs and a runner on first I know that I need to hit a gapper to get her to score. I just kind of look at the situation and look at what the team needs me to do.”</p>
<p>And winning with her team is ultimately what drives Herbst. Verbally committed to the University of Wisconsin for almost two years now, she’s enjoyed tremendous individual success, but she has yet to reach the top of the mountain with the Trojans.</p>
<p>She’s got one shot left at it — and with Rudd graduated and off to play at Northwestern, Herbst will have to shoulder even more responsibility as a senior.</p>
<p>Knowing that, she’ll be working to become an even better pitcher and hitter than she already is. Simply being respected won’t be enough.</p>
<p>“I know that I want to keep increasing my pitching stats,” Herbst said, “but I also want to be that big hitter that they fear, like Jordyn was last year. I want to be the big hitter that everybody fears and then also be that pitcher that everybody fears, too.</p>
<p>“I really just want to help my team win, because the only thing that I want to do is just get the state title.”</p>[sc:pullout-title pullout-title="All-County team" ][sc:pullout-text-begin]<p>The 2018 All-Johnson County team for softball:</p>
<p>Clara Andersen, Center Grove senior: Anchored the Trojans’ outfield defensively while batting .368 with 26 runs scored.</p>
<p>Sidney Beier, Edinburgh junior: Led all area batters with a .607 average and paced the Lancers with seven home runs, nine doubles, 33 runs batted in and 14 stolen bases.</p>
<p>Piper Belden, Center Grove junior: Batted .500 out of the leadoff spot with a county-high 53 runs scored … had five triples among her 60 hits … Was one of the top defensive second basemen in the state.</p>
<p>Maddi Clark, Edinburgh senior: Posted a 1.03 ERA and struck out 193 batters while walking just nine … Batted .469 with three homers and scored 29 runs … Will play at Indiana Wesleyan.</p>
<p>Karlee Denham, Greenwood senior: Keyed her team’s late-season surge, pitching the Woodmen to a county championship with a victory over Franklin.</p>
<p>Lexi Fair, Center Grove sophomore: Catcher hit .378 with four homers and had 29 RBIs, including the game-winner in a semistate win over Castle.</p>
<p>Izzy Harrison, Franklin freshman: Hard-throwing hurler (1.53 ERA, 141 K) handed Center Grove its lone regular-season loss … Also hit a team-best .485 with three home runs and 19 RBIs.</p>
<p>Abby Herbst, Center Grove junior: 2019 Miss Softball favorite led the Trojans with a .583 average and 48 RBIs, swatting six homers … posted a 21-1 pitching mark with a 0.56 ERA and 173 strikeouts while walking 18.</p>
<p>Rachel Kyle, Indian Creek senior: Repeat All-County pick batted .551 and led the Braves with 10 doubles, three home runs and 37 runs batted in.</p>
<p>Dominique Proctor, Greenwood sophomore: Led the county champion Woodmen with a .436 batting average, 11 doubles, four homers, 22 runs scored and 22 RBIs.</p>
<p>Jordyn Rudd, Center Grove senior: An Indiana All-Star who hit .525 with 16 doubles, 10 home runs and 45 RBIs … Playing her fourth position in four years, made just one error at shortstop. … Will play at Northwestern.</p>
<p>Kasey Wilhoit, Indian Creek senior: Purdue-bound outfielder hit a team-best .561 with four triples, two homers and 32 runs scored … Stole 16 bases to set a new school record.</p>
<p>Honorable mention</p>
<p>Grace Apgar, Greenwood Christian; Lindsey Boltz, Whiteland; Paige Burton, Edinburgh; Jacqui Button, Indian Creek; Addie Csikos, Whiteland; Lexi Fair, Center Grove; Jozie Farris, Indian Creek; Kaci Finchum, Center Grove; Delanie Gourley, Whiteland; Morgan Haynes, Greenwood Christian; Kayla Lemmon, Indian Creek; Sydney Logsdon, Indian Creek; Maddy Margraf, Whiteland; Vanessa McManaway, Edinburgh; Addy Osborn, Center Grove; Baylee Parker, Franklin; Alexis Rees, Greenwood; Emma Rutan, Franklin</p>[sc:pullout-text-end]
