During the Center Grove softball team’s current 12-game winning streak, senior pitcher Abby Herbst has been pretty close to untouchable.
That Trojans coach Alyssa Coleman thinks her ace is capable of reaching an even higher level is a little scary.
"I think she’s just getting better with the season," Coleman said, "and so I don’t know if we’ve seen her best yet; that’s the best part. It’s there. It’s so close. I think she’s just warming up for the right time."
That right time starts today, when the host Trojans play their Class 4A sectional opener against longtime rival Franklin Central.
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Herbst comes into the tournament on a roll. Since Center Grove’s last loss at New Palestine on April 24, the Wisconsin recruit has allowed just one earned run in 54 2/3 innings (a microscopic 0.13 ERA), giving up 18 hits and six walks while striking out 72.
For the season, Herbst owns a 0.56 ERA with 146 strikeouts against 14 walks.
Though she’s shown the ability to mow through lineups, posting five double-digit strikeout games this season, Herbst is perhaps at her best when she can pitch to contact and steer opposing hitters into easy groundouts. She fanned just six in a perfect game against Mooresville on May 9, and five in the county final against Whiteland two days later, when she allowed just two balls to leave the infield.
"It is easy knowing that I have a tough defense behind me," Herbst said. "We’ve been improving all year long, and I’m really confident in them right now."
"She’s been really mixing and throwing and moving that ball," Coleman added. "It’s a real joy to watch, plain and simple. She’s really owning that mound."
Herbst, who has batted above .500 in each of her four seasons, has seen her average dip slightly during the past month, going 13 for 35 (.371) during the team’s win streak. But she’s still hitting at a .556 clip for the year, and her Trojan teammates have been providing more offensive support of late. Kennedy Bader and Piper Belden are both over .500, and freshman Lex Warner has added some pop, with 31 runs batted in (second on the club to Herbst’s 35) and a team-high nine home runs.
Center Grove’s lineup seems to be peaking, top to bottom, at the perfect time.
"It does feel like we’ve started to figure it out," Herbst said. "We’ve jelled as a team, and with all these long weeks, I think we’re really starting to get along and figure each other out and really support each other 100 percent."
When it all comes down to it, though, the third-ranked Trojans’ state championship hopes rest largely on Herbst, who is considered among the favorites to win Miss Softball.
Coleman, in her first season at Center Grove after winning the Class 2A crown at Speedway last year, knew she was inheriting a star in Herbst but didn’t fully grasp how bright of a star until watching her in action this season.
"She just amazes me," the coach said. "And the best thing about her is she competes. Whether she’s having a good day or a bad day, you’re going to get her best.
"She’s obviously very competitive and the best in the state, but I think she’s going to be even better. She’s ready for this; she’s wanted it."
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Class 4A Center Grove Sectional
Today
Martinsville vs. Greenwood, 5 p.m.
Franklin Central vs. Center Grove, 7 p.m.
Tuesday
Today’s winners, 5 p.m.
Franklin vs. Whiteland, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship, 6 p.m.
Class 3A New Palestine Sectional
Today
New Palestine vs. Beech Grove, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Rushville vs. Indian Creek, 5 p.m.
Connersville vs. today’s winner, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Championship, 6 p.m.
Class A Indianapolis Lutheran Sectional
Today
Edinburgh vs. Indianapolis Lutheran, 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Morristown vs. Greenwood Christian, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Waldron vs. Monday’s winner, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship, 5:30 p.m.
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Class 4A Center Grove Sectional
Players to watch: Center Grove — Kennedy Bader, Piper Belden, Abby Herbst, Lex Warner; Franklin — Morgan Carter, Izzy Harrison, Maddie Hedges, Baylee Parker; Franklin Central — Raigan LaMar, Macee Roberts, Madison Weaver; Greenwood — Allison Hayes, Anna Pritchett, Dominique Proctor, Alexis Rees; Martinsville — Paige Dorsett, McKenna Gardner, Ella Whitney; Whiteland — Aniyah Haley, Debbie Hill, Abby Nacio, Haley Wilkerson
Record against the field: Center Grove 4-0, Franklin Central 2-0, Franklin 5-2, Martinsville 4-4, Whiteland 3-7, Greenwood 1-7
Outlook: It’s been a while since this bracket has been so competitive top to bottom. Franklin and Whiteland have both enjoyed breakthrough seasons, and Franklin Central and Martinsville are always tough outs. Until proven otherwise, though, the host Trojans are still the team to beat. Senior hurler Herbst has been nearly unhittable over the last four weeks, so dethroning the champs could take some work — but there are probably three or four teams capable of pulling the upset if Center Grove slips up on the wrong day.
Class 3A New Palestine Sectional
Players to watch: Beech Grove — Alexia Ham, Arial Keown, Tia O’Connor; Connersville — Paige Dunaway, Jeri Ellis, Ashley Ruble, Allison Woytik; Indian Creek — Talea Bowling, Jozie Farris, Kayla Lemmon, Haylee Mathena; New Palestine — Kaylea Bullock, Jaylin Calvert, Michaela Jones, Emily O’Connor; Rushville — Kara Chandler, Kendra Hamilton, Olivia Vance
Record against the field: New Palestine 1-0, Connersville 2-1, Indian Creek 0-0, Beech Grove 0-0, Rushville 0-2
Outlook: A year ago, the Dragons plowed through this draw without yielding a run on the way to a Class 3A state title. They’re not quite as dominant this season, but they’re still the overwhelming favorite to emerge from this bracket. Indian Creek got about as helpful a draw as it could have, with both New Pal and Connersville in the other half, and the Braves have a good chance to return to the final. At that point, they’d need to play the game of their lives to have a shot at what would be a monumental upset.
Class A Indianapolis Lutheran Sectional
Players to watch: Edinburgh — Sidney Beier, Shelby Graham, Catey Streeval, Emma Wade; Greenwood Christian — Hailey Haynes, Morgan Haynes, Abigail Warner; Indianapolis Lutheran — Kayla Dillinger, Miranda Dunn, Kaylee Gregory, Gabby Moore; Morristown — Kassidy Cowell, Elexie New, Kristen Whitney; Waldron — Emily Brinson, Madlyn Hudnall, Maddie Robinson
Record against the field: Edinburgh 3-1, Greenwood Christian 1-0, Waldron 3-2, Indianapolis Lutheran 0-0, Morristown 0-4
Outlook: This sectional will likely be decided by today’s first-round game between the Lancers and Saints, a rematch of both last year’s final and a 2017 semistate. Key to the outcome is the health of Graham, Edinburgh’s top hurler, who has been out most of the last three weeks due to injury. The Lancers have struggled without the freshman and would be hard pressed to beat the host team if she can’t go — even with Beier rating as perhaps the most dangerous Class A hitter in the state. GCA has a good shot to make the final from the other side of the bracket.
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