On Nov. 1, 2024, the Lafayette softball team faced off against Rock Bridge in the Class 5 State championship game. The Lancers went on to 3-0, off the back of starting pitcher Abby Carr, Class of 2025 no-hitter pitching performance.  

Carr threw 16 strikeouts, and only allowed two batters to walk during the eight innings she pitched. The near perfect game capped off a perfect season for Carr, as she went 23-0 as Lafayette’s starting pitcher. 

During the season, she struck out 304 batters in 125.7 innings, meaning Carr averaged 2.4 strikeouts per inning in a season where Lafayette (30-5) won their ninth State title. 

“Carr has grown in both her mental and physical game 100%. Her mental game has grown immensely. Her ability to just be more of a force on the mound has grown,” softball coach Hope Swaney said. “As a pitcher you have the team on your back and it’s a lot of pressure. And she has made leaps and bounds from her junior to senior year in trusting her teams and their abilities.” 

Outside of her on-field performances, Swaney believes Carr pushes the team forwards through her leadership. 

“She’s the captain of our team. I think she definitely led by example. Abby wasn’t the one that was leaving early. She wasn’t asking when practice was over. She continuously was like, ‘I want more, I want more,’” Swaney said. “So when other girls see that, they say, ‘I want more,’ because they want to drive for each other.” 

Her teammate, Lauren Pauls, Class of 2025, believes that Carr’s work ethic played a big role in the team’s success this season. 

“Our team would not have had success without the hours and hours that Abby spent training throughout the year and season in preparation for State. All of her commitment to our team and the game is evident in how she led our team this season,” Pauls said. 

With her success throughout her high school career, Carr is committed to play softball at the University of Missouri.