Abbott making most of being face of softball

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Monica Abbott has accepted the fact that she is the new face of women’s fastpitch softball. That’s what happened when earlier this year the 6-foot-3 left-handed pitcher signed the first million-dollar contract in National Pro Fastpitch history.

While her actions on the mound are violent in generating pitch speeds of greater than 70 mph, and the signature of the most dominant pitcher in the world today, Abbott is soft-spoken and extremely thoughtful as she answers questions about a career that has turned heads both on and off the field.

“I have been playing in the NPF a long time, so I believe in the sport and the avenue it creates for professional softball,” Abbott said. “I’ve had a lot of good examples of people who have been the face of sports before, whether it was Jennie Finch or Pat Summitt or people who have continually carried that torch for us. So I am able to help carry that for the next generation.”

For the foreseeable future, Abbott, is trying to lead her expansion Scrap Yard Dawgs (29-19) to the 2016 NPF championship. What better way for an expansion team to get a jump-start on winning? The nine-year pro and three-time NPF pitcher of the year has pitched without peer this season, compiling an 18-1 record, with 0.72 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 125 2/3 innings pitched.

Wherever she has pitched, team success has followed, and that is quantified with three NPF championships, three championship MVP awards, three Pitcher of the Year awards, an Olympic silver medal (2008 in …

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