MHS’ Abby Gindlesberger watches her fly ball during a 2021 game. She hit more than .500 during a season in which the Lady Monarchs finished as Division I district runner-up. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
A season away from the high school softball diamond didn’t have an adverse impact on Marysville High School junior Abby Gindlesberger.
The 2020 campaign, which would have been her sophomore season, was wiped out due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Gindlesberger, however, showed Monarch coaches and fans what she was capable of during her 2019 freshman season.
She pitched well for Marysville that season as the team captured an Ohio Capital Conference Central Division title.
“Abby played a pivotal role in winning the league that year,” said Lady Monarch head coach Jennifer Segner-Maxwell.
COVID-19 canceled all spring sports a year ago, leaving athletes working out for 2021.
Gindlesberger did not disappoint anyone this past spring.
She recently earned All-Ohio honorable mention accolades in Division I and helped Marysville to a district runner-up finish.
Gindlesberger hit .510 and drove in 42 runs, while playing almost exclusively at third base.
She finished with 50 hits, 15 doubles, nine home runs and had an on-base percentage of .612
“I was surprised by the All-Ohio honor,” she said. “It means all the hard work I’ve put in has paid off.”
Gindlesberger said she was pleased with her 2021 season.
“The best part was hanging around with this past year’s seniors (infielders Lexi Williams and Ashley Dunn and catcher Jalynn Young),” she said. “We didn’t have a 2020 season, so this was my last year with them.
“It was difficult not playing in 2020,” she said. “However, we were able to practice a lot last summer.”
Now, Gindlesberger is an incoming senior, the only one who will be on the 2022 Lady Monarch roster.
She was part of a group of 8-10 classmates as a freshman.
“However, that group fell off,” she said.
Gindlesberger began her high school career in the pitching circle.
However, she decided she didn’t want to pitch this past year.
“I really hadn’t seen much progress in my pitching and it seemed everyone caught up with me,” she said. “So I did not want to do it this past year.”
Gindlesberger, however, started one game in the circle and tossed a one-hitter during a 13-0 victory over Central Crossing in late April. She fanned six and issued only one free pass.
Despite that stellar performance, Gindlesberger considers herself firmly entrenched at the hot corner.
“I had enjoyed playing third base when I was younger and wanted to play it again,” she said. “I’ve settled in on playing third.”
“Abby played a great third base for us,” said Segner-Maxwell, noting Gindlesberger’s .900 fielding percentage.
That doesn’t, however, mean she will never see the circle again for the Lady Monarchs.
“If at some point the team really, really needs me next year… yes, I’d pitch again.”
Gindlesberger, who has played travel ball with the Ohio Hawks, is already looking forward to softball on the next level.
“I’ve started to look at colleges,” she said. “I’m looking at The Ohio State University, Ohio University and the University of Cincinnati.”
Before that, however, will come her 2022 senior season, a campaign in which Gindlesberger has high hopes.
“Our goals for 2022 are to win the Ohio Capital Conference Cardinal Division, the district championship and the state title,” she said.
Marysville’s Abby Gindlesberger tosses a pitch against Central Crossing during a game in late April of the 2021 season. She pitched a one-hitter during her lone performance in the circle during the campaign. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)