Softball: Pitcher Gabby Adams eyes strong finish with Grove City Greyhounds
Although her team hasn’t experienced the success it enjoyed last season, Grove City senior Gabby Adams remains one of the top softball pitchers in central Ohio.
The Greyhounds were 9-10 overall and 4-2 in the OCC-Ohio Division before playing Westerville Central on April 28. They’re looking to gain momentum heading into the Division I district tournament, which begins May 10.
“I’m happy with how Gabby is playing,” coach Ted Williams said. “I don’t think she’s as happy with the way she’s playing. She’s putting a lot of pressure on herself having to do it offensively and defensively, so that’s hurt her a little bit.”
Grove City finished 27-2 last season. But as the second seed for the district tournament, it lost to 12th-seeded Pickerington Central 7-5 in a semifinal.
Adams was 25-2 with a 2.38 ERA and was equally impressive at the plate, batting .535 with 12 home runs, 13 doubles and 62 RBI while striking out just twice in 120 plate appearances. She was named OCC-Ohio Player of the Year and ThisWeek’s softball Athlete of the Year in addition to being first-team all-district and second-team all-state.
This season, after the Greyhounds were hit hard by graduation, Adams is the lone senior.
“Being with these girls now is my most fun group,” Adams said. “We have some ups and downs and different losses, but we’re always learning from our mistakes. If we have a bad game and we lose a bad game, we’re learning from that and we’re growing.”
Adams has remained a leader at the plate, batting .469 with two doubles, four home runs, six runs and 18 RBI through 18 games. In the circle, she was 8-9 and had a 3.75 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 15 walks in 87 2/3 innings.
Adams said she battled a right biceps injury over the summer but is nearing full strength.
“Everything is going to have to come together for us and she’s going to have to pitch well,” Williams said of his team’s chances in the postseason.
It’s been an emotional year for Adams, whose grandfather, John Adams Sr., and great-grandmother, Martha Massie, both died Feb. 19.
Adams was close with her grandfather, who provided support during her softball career. She said her grandfather became emotional when she was named ThisWeek’s top softball player during an awards ceremony watch party last June.
“When I would be having an off day, my grandpa would always tell me it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish,” Adams said. “I would also think of that during the game and fix what I was doing wrong.”
Adams is part of a family with past success in the sport and ties to Williams, who coached Adams’ mother, Jonda, and aunt, Jarah Zealler, during his tenure leading Hamilton Township from 1993-99. Jonda, a 1996 graduate, played shortstop and Zealler, a 1993 graduate, played first base.
“I knew Gabby would be in good hands with coach Williams,” Jonda said of the family’s decision to allow her to transfer to Grove City after she played at Groveport as a freshman. “I didn’t really tell anyone he coached me because I wanted her to go and have her own identity, go her own way and succeed on her stats alone. I’m very proud of her.”
Adams will continue her softball career at Rio Grande, an NAIA program.
“When I first met coach (Chris) Hammond, I was very excited because he teaches like coach Williams and he runs that school like a Division I program,” Adams said. “What really brought me to it was when I got down to the campus, it felt like home and I was really comfortable with the girls. It’s close to home and I’m close to my family. The atmosphere down there is amazing.
“Coach Hammond is the type of coach who will push you to the limit and he will better his players like coach Williams. Coach Williams pushes me to be the best and grow as a player. He pushes all of the girls to be the best.”
fdirenna@thisweeknews.com
@ThisWeekFrank
This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Softball: Adams eyes strong finish with Grove City
