Talking Fastpitch with Monica Abbott

Michael Clarke

Monica Abbott may be the most dominant softball pitcher of all time. After breaking Cat Osterman's NCAA career strikeout record with 2,276 punchouts, Abbott took her University of Tennessee squad to the finals of the NCAA Softball College World Series.

We caught up with her recently as she prepared for this year's World Cup of Softball III to get her thoughts on the U.S. National Team and just where she learned to throw that amazing riseball.

I know you're above such things but did you get a chance to remind Cat who the new NCAA career strikeout leader is?

(Laughs) No!!! I didn't have to remind her. She knew. Just kidding, Cat!

Your Tennessee team had a great run in the College World Series. Has it been hard to put the loss in the final game behind you?

Yeah in some ways it has. I wanted it to end up differently. I came to Tennessee to help develop their softball program and put them on the map. I feel confident I did that in my four years there. But still...it would've been nice.

Do you feel like your experience last year with the national team made you a better pitcher for your senior year?

Yeah definitely. We spent a lot of time together last summer at the world championships. I worked a lot with the pitching coach Chuck D'Arcy. I really got to understand what the top players do. How they think. You pick up little things here and there. And you talk a lot of softball.

Where did you learn to throw that overpowering riseball?

My pitching coach in high school, Kenny Gardner, taught me it. I've kind of tweaked it here and there. Chuck and I worked on it. Marty McDaniel, from Tennessee, and I have worked on it. Just kept practicing it and it became real natural to me.

With the addition of Jennie Ritter this year to an already stellar staff, do you feel like the U.S. National Team has the chance to pitch even better than last year?

I think definitely. We're very lucky to have five great pitchers. We're all different in our own way. All very talented and will be able to push each other to be better.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

The only thing I do is I never step on the chalk line. And I like to visualize my pitches. I see the pitches in my head and where I want them to go and end up.

Is there anybody on the team who is really superstitious?

Laura Berg is a little superstitious. She wears the same shirt under her jersey for games. I think everybody has one or two little things. But really I think softball players just like routine. If you wake up every morning and put on your left shoe first you're not all of a sudden going to start putting on your right shoe first. You don't do it!

Last year you took back the World Cup of Softball title from Japan. What do you expect from them this year?

Japan is a great softball team. They'll be very focused this year. There's a huge rivalry between us. It'll be intense, but fun to watch.

Who do you think might be the most improved team from last year's participants?

I'm guessing China. They're investing a lot. And with the Olympics being in Beijing there's a lot of pressure on them to come out strong.

You've mentioned a desire to become a motivational speaker for elementary and high school kids after your playing days. What sparked that interest?

I'm a communications major and for awhile I wanted to be a broadcaster. Then I took some speech classes and really liked it. To motivate young people is what I'd really like to do. I think young people always need good role models in their life. It'd be awesome to help younger people and tell them where I came from.

I didn't really come from a lot. Just because you don't have a lot of things going for you doesn't mean you can't be successful. You have to go out there, work hard and make it happen for yourself.

You cite famous softballer Dot Richardson as one of your biggest influences. It must be pretty cool to know that you've become a similar role model to girls in the sports.

I don't know what to say to that. It's awesome to know young kids are looking up to you. And to give them something positive -- to be something they aspire to be -- is amazing.