Abby Hammond Always Dreamed Of Playing For UK And Now She Will

Kentucky softball commit Abby Hammond with her parents at Kroger Field.

She was an important recruit for Kentucky softball coach Rachel Lawson and while it was not a gimme that UK would land Lexington Catholic star Abby Hammond it was at worst a no-brainer.

“It has always been my dream to go to Kentucky,” said Hammond. “A lot of people just assumed since I lived in Lexington that I would go to Kentucky. I actually fell in love with Kentucky when I was a little girl long before I knew I could play at this level.”

Her mother went to undergraduate and pharmacy school at Kentucky. Her father went to law school at UK. Hammond and her family regularly attend UK sporting events when she can work it around her softball schedule.

“As I got older I knew there were things I had look for in a college other than just my love for UK because I would be there four years. However, I fell in love with the UK coaching staff and I love Lawson, who is the best coach anywhere. The people and fans are great. I love every part of being at Kentucky,” Hammond said.

That’s why the Lexington Catholic junior made her verbal commitment to Kentucky this week.

She was the 2022 Kentucky Gatorade Softball Player of the Year when she had a 0.75 ERA with 333 strikeouts in 233 innings to compile  a 30-9 record and hit .514 with 12 home runs and 41 RBI’s. She was the Class AA Player of the Year in 2021 as an eighth grader when she hit .355 with five homers and 29 RBI’s and was 26-4 on the mound with 235 strikeouts in 182 innings.

Last season she hit .511 with 12 homers and 33 RBI’s and went 21-9 on the mound with 281 strikeouts in 204 innings and a 1.23 ERA.

That gives her 29 homers and 103 RBI’s the last three years along with 796 strikeouts and 77 wins.

“From what I have talked about with Lawson she is looking at me as a pitcher and hitter. I am willing to do whatever the team needs when I get there and pitching and hitting suits me,” Hammond said.

“Really I consider myself a pitcher who can also hit. I spend the majority of time on pitching. Maybe it’s because I practice it more that I feel like I am a better pitcher than hitter. But I do take pride in being a pitcher who can definitely hit.”

Lawson could not officially contact Hammond until Sept. 1 but she knew plenty about her.

“I had to be around 8 or 9 years old when I went to my first Kentucky camp,” Hammond said. “I would go to the week-long camps. I think I was in love with UK even then.

“I was so hopeful that UK would recruit me and I could get this done. Committing kind of takes a weight off my chest. I have always wondered if I was really good enough to play at that level.

“I knew I had done all I could to give myself the best chance but getting to commit early is a huge relief. It really lets me focus on my high school and travel team goals and hopefully win championships with them both.”