Herren matches state softball home run record

With a full count and being the first batter of the game for her team, a home run was the last thing on Abby Herren’s mind.

The Centerburg senior was just looking to get on base and get things started for her softball team in Thursday’s Division V sectional playoff game against Pleasant.

But that next pitch made history as Herren drove the ball over the center field fence, tying her for most home runs in a season in Ohio with 23. She matched Carly Wagers of Williamsburg (2017), Gabby Gradishar of Warren Champion (2024) and Hayley Griggs of Perrysburg (2025) and still has at least two games to play. She also passed Hope Straight of Mount Vernon for most home runs in a season from a Knox County softball player. Straight smacked 22 in 2018.

“It’s awesome. Obviously, it was like really cool,” Herren said. “I got to see these girls growing up that are hitting all these home runs and I was like that would be really cool. But, realistically that’s very hard to do. Just to be out there and have my name with all those girls is really special to me. I was glad I was able to do it my senior year.

“I wasn’t even thinking about that (the record) when I was up to bat. I was just thinking of getting on base for my team, hopefully a double in the gap or something like that.”

“She’s (Herren) not only a fantastic athlete, but she is a fantastic person. She’s the ultimate team player,” said Centerburg coach Chuck Swank. “She roots for her teammates. It doesn’t matter if she’s having a bad day, she’s there for her teammates. This is my second year here, and she’s made both years enjoyable. I can’t wait to see how her future is down at Miami (of Ohio where Herren will play next year).”

Herren now has 43 home runs in her career, putting her in 16th place in the state in that category. She had one her freshman year, then jumped to nine her sophomore year and 10 as a junior. Herren attributes the big jump in HRs to a more disciplined approach at the plate.

“I just hit for my team, that’s what I try to do at least. I just roll with that and look for pitches that I can actually hit. I try to keep my strikeouts low and my walks high. If I can take a walk, I’ll take it,” she said. “I think it’s definitely been paying more attention to my at bat and seeing what pitches I can get and understanding how I hit. It’s understanding my at bat more than I used to. I used to swing at a lot of pitches that were definitely not good pitches to swing at. So, I try more now to just keep a long at bat and at least get a walk.”

While Herren was tying the state home run record, her teammate Jazmyn Larimore was stealing her thunder on the day, leading the Trojans to a 12-1 victory over the Spartans.

Larimore belted a two-run home run in the first inning, doubled in the fourth, then smashed a walk-off grand slam in the sixth inning that invoked the run rule. She finished with six RBI, half of the team’s scoring output.

Herren added two singles to her home run, and Taylor Bryant had a single and a double. Sydnee Schoonover added two singles.

Morgan Beaver went the distance on the mound for Centerburg (20-3), striking out eight Spartan batters. Pleasant’s only run came on a solo home run by Faith Staley.

The victory sends the Trojans to the district semifinal on Monday when they will host North Union, a 15-0 winner over Worthington Christian. Prior to that, though, the Trojans will have an opportunity to grab a share of the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference title when they travel to Loudonville on Friday.

“These girls have just been fantastic all year. Abby, Jazmyn, our two seniors — Taylor (Bryant) and Emma (Shaw), and then the six freshman we have all stepped up this year. This is a fine team; and they get along and I couldn’t be more proud of them,” Shank said.