WESTVILLE — On the softball field, Westville’s Abby Sabalaskey is known for her speed and her attention to detail.
It’s why the left-hander has thrown 12 perfect games and 22 no-hitters during her prep career for the Tigers.
But when it came to making her decision for college, Sabalaskey was still very precise but she wasn’t going to rush the process.
“I wanted to take my time and really explore all of my options. I wanted to make sure that I was making the right choice and found a good fit for me in their program,’’ she said.
Sabalaskey, a three-time all-conference and all-county selection, chose Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Ky., which is just 7 miles south of Cincinnati or a 3 hour, 11 minute drive from her home in Westville.
“The distance wasn’t really a factor in my decision. I would have went to a school in Washington if that had been the best fit for me,’’ she said. “But, it is nice that I’m going to be close to home, because I know that my parents, my family and friends will be able to come and support me.
“I really like them to continue to be a part of my journey.’’
Sabalaskey had several offers, but she ultimately chose the Northern Kentucky Norse, the 2023 Horizon League champions, over the Austin Peay Governors of the Ohio Valley Conference.
“I really liked both schools and their campuses — it was a really difficult decision to make,’’ Sabalaskey said. “Coach Morgan (Gerak) reached out to me after seeing a few of my videos and we kept in contact. When I went down there, her and a few of the girls on the team showed me around campus.
“I really loved everything about it and I connected well with the coaches and the girls.’’
This journey to find her collegiate home started more than a year ago when schools officially started contacting her in her junior season, but her start in softball came when she was 5.
Over the years, Sabalaskey spent hours upon hours working on her game, including being a part of a travel ball team for nearly 10 years.
In her three seasons with the Tigers, Sabalaskey has a 53-6 record with a 0.58 earned-run average to go along with 738 strikeouts.
But, there is still one statistic that Sabalaskey is looking to add to her resumé — state tournament participant.
“I’m really want to dominate this year because I want to help my team make it to state,’’ she said, noting that signing in November will allow her to concentrate on her game. “I can just go out and play like I know how to play. I don’t have to worry about who is watching me and what it means for my future.’’