Summer 2023

Softball Legend Inspires Female Empowerment Monica Abbott Represents Women On and Off the Field B Y B R E T T WI L BUR O lympian softball pitcher Monica Abbott rose to fame locally as an extraordinary player for North Salinas High School, leading her team to glory and winning three CIF-Central Coast Section championships. At the University of Tennessee, she smashed NCAA records and played in multiple Women’s College World Series. And in 2008 in Beijing and in 2021 in Tokyo, she came home with Olympic silver medals. Abbott recently retired from softball after over 20 years of playing professionally, but is more active than ever with speaking engagements after just releasing her first book,“Rise and Shine:The Monica Abbott Story.” Legendary tennis play- er Billie Jean King wrote the book’s foreword. Abbott’s goal is to encourage young girls and women to succeed. “Since I turned pro, I’ve been all across the country teaching and helping young girls by sharing my story, and I thought what better way to make it live, than on paper,” she says. “I want other girls to be able to imagine themselves in my same situation. I’ve been able to play longer than most female athletes, and this is another way to have an impact on young women and adults.” 112 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • S U M M E R 2 0 2 3