Escanaba’s Salo headed to Wisconsin after standout high school softball career
ESCANABA, Mich. (BVM) – The Escanaba High School softball program has become a powerhouse in recent years, winning back-to-back state championships in 2018 and 2019. One of the main reasons is recent Escanaba grad Gabi Salo, who pitched three dominant seasons for the Eskymos in her prep career.
Despite the heartbreak of having her senior season canceled in which her team was going for a coveted three-peat, Salo still took home one of the top personal awards in the state after being named Gatorade Michigan Softball Player of the Year this spring. With a bright future on the horizon, Salo will pitch at the University of Wisconsin-Madison next year.
Salo was a bit of a late bloomer in the game of softball, picking up the sport at age 9. Even then, the star pitcher did not grow much of a passion for the game, often getting just one at-bat per contest during her first year of little league and playing just two innings out in left field where she would chew on her glove.
But after that first season, Salo’s coach cited a need for more pitchers on the team, and from there, a star was born. Salo quickly offered to become a pitcher despite her mom telling her not to. Just years later, she became one of the best high school softball pitchers in the country.
The turnaround did not happen overnight, however. Salo put a lot of work in to get where she is at today and appreciates the work ethic her parents instilled in her from a young age.
“I spent a lot of time pitching with my dad in our front yard and the majority of the balls would be overthrown into the road,” Salo said. “But I was determined to be the best. From day one my parents instilled a good work ethic in me and I worked really hard and sacrificed a lot to be where I am today.”
After her early struggles, Salo’s career has since taken off. By age 12, she began playing with a travel team downstate in Michigan. She has since played travel ball with numerous teams and organizations, most recently the Louisville Lady Sluggers 18U team. Salo was also part of the Finesse National Team which won a national championship in California in 2017.
“It was so cool to win a national championship. Not many teams get to experience that,” Salo said.
Salo’s little league teams also won state titles when she was 13 and 14 years old, advancing to the regional final both years.
The prior experience from travel teams in her youth had Salo prepared from day one at Escanaba High School. Salo was the only underclassman the Eskymos rostered her freshman year of softball, and gained more valuable lessons from her team. Despite a lot of talent, however, Escanaba would fall short of their championship goals in the state semifinals. But that lit a fire under the talented pitcher.
“After my freshman year, as a team, we were really determined to get back to Secchia Stadium and give ourselves the opportunity to win state,” Salo explained. “We fell just short, and we wanted redemption. I worked really hard that offseason to perfect my pitches and become the best version of myself to help my team.”
Whatever Salo and the rest of her Eskymo teammates did that offseason worked. The team would go a combined 65-6 over the next two seasons, and win state championships at the Division II level both years.
In the first state championship win, in 2018, Salo pitched a three-hit shutout to help defeat South Haven, 5-0. The 2019 title game would be a bit closer, a 7-3 victory over Stevensville Lakeshore, but going back-to-back was a sweet moment for Salo.
“Bringing home Escanaba’s first state title since 1981 was definitely a memorable moment,” Salo said. “It is so hard to win one state title, the chips have to fall just right. So when we won our second state title it was even sweeter. To bring home two state championships in two years is an experience not a lot of high schoolers get.”
The impressive three years of Salo’s high school softball career led to some special recognition for the star pitcher. After the second state championship win in her junior season, Salo was honored with the Total Sports Michigan High School Softball Player of the Year Award, becoming the first underclassman ever to win the honor.
Salo’s junior season stats consisted of 351 strikeouts, a 0.23 ERA and nine no-hitters, clearly worthy of the player of the year award. Salo was also named a first team All-American by MaxPreps.
Going into her senior campaign, Salo was named as the top high school softball player in the state of Michigan, and was considered a top 20 prospect in the country. The Eskymos were also projected as the top team in the state, and were expected by many to complete a three-peat in the spring.
However, as we all know, the softball season in Michigan and across the country was over before it started due to COVID-19.
“When I found out the season was canceled I was devastated and at a loss for words,” Salo said. “It just didn’t seem real. I will really miss the family I have in the Escanaba softball program and this program and team will forever hold a special place in my heart.”
Salo is thankful for the opportunities she received at Escanaba. And one which is often lost in the midst of all her success has been the opportunity to be coached by her father, Gary.
“I would not trade the experiences I had with my dad when he coached me for anything,” Salo said. “He sacrificed the majority of his summers traveling with me around the country, chasing my dream. With his help I was able to grow the knowledge of my game.”
The softball star also credits her mother and brother for the support they have always given her, as well as her Escanaba teammates who have meant so much to her over the past four years.
Salo believes had the spring season commenced as scheduled, the Eskymos could very well have won a third straight title. The girls even dubbed themselves “the unthinkable team,” as they had the chance to do the unthinkable and achieve a three-peat. However, Salo and the rest of the seniors on the squad can at least take solace that they went out as champions.
“We had a really solid team returning for this year and we were determined to do something great,” the pitcher said. “But I am very honored to say my last game ever played in an Escanaba uniform was a state championship win. My last career at-bat was a hit and my last strikeout ended the state championship game.”
The 18-year-old can also look back on getting to be involved with the other opportunities she partook in throughout high school. Salo tried out for bowling her sophomore year, and absolutely loved being a part of Escanaba’s team her final three years. An exceptional student in the classroom, she finished high school with a 4.02 GPA.
Salo was also part of the marching band and color guard while at Escanaba. In addition, she has found time to volunteer at her church, and also work at a skilled nursing facility as an enrichment aide, where her residents have become like family.
But as her high school tenure was wrapping up, Salo was presented with one final honor – the Gatorade Michigan Softball Player of the Year Award. The Escanaba grad became the first softball player at her school and from the Upper Peninsula to win the award.
“I was very excited when I found out I won this honor and texted my parents and brother right away,” Salo said. “I am so honored. This award is the most prestigious award a high school athlete can win. Winning it and representing my school is truly amazing.”
With a nice cap to her prep career, Salo will now head south to the University of Wisconsin to continue her softball stardom. The pitcher was recruited by several Big Ten, Big East, and MAC schools as early as eighth grade, but it didn’t take long before she was sold on the Badgers.
Gabi Salo makes it official! On Wisconsin! Congrats Gabi!!! 🥎 pic.twitter.com/aaQJRbQykR
— Escanaba Eskymo Athletics (@EscanabaEskymo) November 13, 2019
“Wisconsin really felt like home,” Salo said. “The minute I stepped on campus I knew that is where I wanted to be. The mix of a high class education at one of the nation’s foremost nursing schools, and the rich tradition of Wisconsin athletics was an environment I knew I could thrive in.”
Salo will pursue a nursing degree and hopes to become a pediatric nurse at a children’s hospital in the future. She has not ruled out playing softball past her time in Madison either, but for now is focused on her contributions for the Badgers.
“I am really excited to be able to compete at such a high level and be able to become an even better athlete and person,” Salo added. “My goals definitely include a couple Big Ten titles, a regional win, and a trip to the College World Series. Personally, I want to become an All-American and Big Ten Pitcher of the Year.”
The pitcher has a bright future ahead of her in Wisconsin’s capital city. But what she accomplished during her high school career is truly special, and Salo will always cherish her time at Escanaba.
“I will forever be grateful for the opportunities Escanaba softball has given me. As I move on I will never forget, once an Eskymo, always an Eskymo.”
