Poland Seminary (Ohio) softball coach Reid Lamport acknowledges that there always has been a certain amount of natural talent that quickly helped
Erin Gabriel become a prep standout in her state.
Erin Gabriel is making Ohio softballlook more potent on the national scene.
Photo courtesy of Mike Capps
There's more than just a strong work ethic and a good riseball, however, behind why a junior pitcher from northeast Ohio has made it onto the national stage.
Competing in a sport dominated by west coast athletes and players from warm climates, Gabriel became the first player from Ohio to become a part of the national program last June when she was named to the 2010-11 USA Softball Junior Women's National Team. So what's the best explanation for the nationwide emergence of Gabriel, who also is the only member of the 2012 graduating class on the junior national team?
It just might stem from the mental toughness that has been handed down by her parents.
"My mom is involved in psychology with kids with special needs, and ever since I was little, my mom was always tried to keep me mentally focused," Gabriel said. "And my dad's basically been my coach ever since I started softball."
Named the Gatorade Ohio Player of the Year last season when she led the Bulldogs to a 30-2 record and Division II state runner-up finish, Gabriel has been dreaming of having the letters "USA" across her chest since she first began pitching at 8 years old. Last summer, she traveled with the junior national team to Bogota, Colombia, for the 18-and-under Pan American championships. Gabriel went 1-0, allowing no runs on two hits in 7 2/3 innings in two games.
The team will compete for the 19-and-under Junior Women's World Championship from Dec. 6-17 in Cape Town, South Africa.
Gabriel began receiving recruiting letters when she was in eighth grade and already has committed to playing for the University of Tennessee. As a freshman, she led Poland to a regional runner-up finish and made second-team all-state.
Last season, Gabriel finished 21-1, pitching 141 innings and allowing just five earned runs while striking out 318. One of the runs she allowed was a home run to Kelsi Thompson of Lakewood (Hebron) in the state championship game, which her team lost 1-0. It was discovered after last season that Gabriel — who also tossed three no-hitters plus a five-inning perfect game during the postseason — pitched at least some of the tournament with a stress fracture in her pitching arm.
Gabriel also hit .562 with three home runs and 28 RBIs last season, including going 3-for-4 while batting leadoff in the state final. It was the second state runner-up finish in Lamport's 21 seasons, with the other coming in 2001.
"I'm in the twilight of my career, so it's fun to sit back and watch these kids play," said Lamport, who has a career record of 484-109 which includes the team's 11-1 start this spring and is planning to retire after the 2012 season. "I'm very fortunate to get the prospects that I've gotten. (Our start) is exciting for the program, and Erin's obviously a big part of that. I was told by (UCLA assistant coach) Lisa Fernandez that she's the only player from Ohio that UCLA has ever recruited.
"Her work ethic and approach to softball are second to none. Her workouts are pretty intense and she serves as a role model. She'll throw a no-hitter and then carry the equipment out to the bus. When she gives up a hit, it motivates her. She's the one who doesn't squander her abilities."
Poland was ranked 10th in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Softball Rankings released April 27.
Through eight games, Gabriel was 5-0 with 64 strikeouts and just two walks with three no-hitters. She also was 15-for-22 (.682) with four home runs and 17 RBIs at the plate.
On April 23, Gabriel was handed her first loss this season as the Bulldogs lost to Keystone (LaGrange) 4-3. Poland was 10-1 after also beating North Royalton 3-0 on the same day, but junior pitcher Jenna Modic was the winning pitcher in that contest.
Although she and Modic, who has verbally committed to Miami University, are serving as team captains despite being juniors, Gabriel never has been daunted by being in a unique position before. Included in that is how she has presented herself nationally.
"To think of the talent that's come through Ohio and all of the great pitchers and all the great players, and I was the only one from Ohio (to be selected to the Junior National Team), it is most definitely (humbling)," Gabriel said. "(The Junior National coaches) just told me they like the way I present myself on the mound. I'm more mature for my age, and they like the way I keep my focus. And I have a very good riseball, which helps."
Jarrod Ulrey covers Central and Northern Ohio for MaxPreps.com. He has covered prep sports for ThisWeekSPORTS.com
for 16 years and can be reached at julrey@thisweeknews.com.
