It isn’t rare for one out – the strikeout – to stand above the rest; a good enough pitcher can certainly take some pressure off the shoulders of her field. But shooting for 21 Ks isn’t typically in the cards. At some point, a bat’s contact will send the ball into the field of play, and whether it’s a hit or out won’t unalter the streak.

However, that reality hasn’t stopped Bellefonte sophomore Abby Herr from coming alarmingly close to doing the improbable. Against Class 6A State College, she finished with a career-high 19 strikeouts. Then, against Juniata in last week’s District 4 Class AAAA final, she did it again, at one point making up 17 of her team’s outs in a row.

It’s an absurd highlight in what’s been an exceptional second season for the underclassman. And what’s crazy about Bellefonte is she isn’t the only sophomore making an impact at the mound, with Adrienne Masullo operating as a strong dual starter alongside Herr.

Through 21 games, they’ve provided sturdiness to their field, allowing just over three runs per game and three combined runs through postseason. Blemishes have come up occasionally, against Bald Eagle, Tyrone and Westmont Hilltop, but they’ve proven consistent despite their experience, allowing two or fewer runs in 13 outings.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte’s Adrienne Masullo pitches during a high school softball game against Bald Eagle earlier this season.

Herr’s 19 strikeouts proved crucial in last Thursday’s district title win, none more so than the last to seal it. The game was largely a pitcher’s duel until Bellefonte’s four-run fifth, and the sophomore kept Juniata’s offense stagnant through six straight innings as the Red Raider offense worked to get something going.

When asked about the performance itself, Herr credited her screw ball to keeping Juniata’s hitters off balance. Though one of the more contentious pitches in softball when it comes to overall effectiveness, it can be incredibly deceptive in the right hands, and that’s shown through many of Herr’s performances.

“My strongest throw today was probably my screwball,” said Herr. “It was getting them working the inside and really worked well. I think just the change between out and in worked well.”

“My screwball was the first pitch I’ve ever learned, and I just throw it all the time. I’ve been throwing since I was 10, and I learned my screw ball when I was 11 or 12,” she added.

It certainly isn’t the only reason she’s built on a successful freshman campaign. After striking out 58 batters as a freshman, Herr has more than doubled that in the run back with 137. She’s upped her strikeout-to-walk ratio from 3.41 to 4.89 and maintained a sub-1.50 ERA despite nearly doubling her inning count.

TIM WEIGHT/For the Express Bellefonte’s Abby Herr, right, shares a moment with Ella Herr during last Thursday’s district title win over Juniata.

Apart from the already mentioned, notable performances are present throughout her year. She struck out 17 in her first start against Bishop Guilfoyle, threw a two-hitter against a strong Huntingdon squad and a one-hitter against Bishop Carroll and against 20-win Bedford, she struck out 12 and allowed two hits in a 2-1 loss.

While she’s shown she was up to the task from the get-go in 2025, she’s found a way to build on already staggering metrics. Over the offseason, she worked with pitching coach Laura Cunningham – the current Bellefonte strikeouts leader – to ensure she was up for the task of being an effective dual starter, and it’s paid off in a big way.

“I think just practicing consistently, communicating with my coaches and teammates and just staying positive throughout the game has really helped me as a pitcher this year,” said Herr on her keys to success as a sophomore. “Me and my pitching coach worked a lot (over the offseason) and did lots of strength training. It’s been a lot of work, and it’s paying off.”

It’s a similar story on the other side of the coin. While Bellefonte’s 18-1 sub-regional win was certainly more lopsided and offense-centered than the previous, Masullo’s 12 strikeouts and two allowed hits kept Carrick from keeping up early before the Red Raiders took off in the fifth.

Through 56 2/3 innings pitched this season, the sophomore has posted an ERA of 2.59 while striking out 72 batters to just 25 walks. She’s shut down Central on multiple occasions – in the team’s opener and regular-season finale – and held a solid Tyrone squad to one run on seven strikeouts on the road.

Bellefonte’s Adrienne Masullo prepares to pitch in an earlier softball game against Central.

Herr has had a slightly fuller slate, but Masullo ensures her teammate doesn’t handle it all herself. And when one is struggling, it’s assuring knowing another solid arm can step in at any moment.

That dynamic has come into play numerous times throughout the season, most notably in a close, eight-inning win over Central Cambria – where the pitchers split the game evenly and combined for 12 strikeouts and two runs allowed – and in a tight loss to Philipsburg-Osceola – where they struck out ten while allowing two runs.

Though they’ve been able to handle business individually through postseason, that dynamic could certainly come into play as the road steepens. To kick off states, a 20-win Elizabeth Forward team awaits.