Olympian and world record fireballer Monica Abbott made her much awaited return to the Japanese Softball League (JSL), pitching four shutout innings in relief for the Toyota Red Terriers to preserve a 1-0 win against Toyota Shokki Shining Vega. Dallas Escobedo, who is also the ace of the Mexican National Team, was charged with the loss in the pitching duel.
Arrival to Destination
Due to coronavirus travel restrictions, Abbott had an adventurous journey to Japan, in which she missed the first six games of the season.
"Honestly, i hate to say it, but there were moments of doubt, and hope was starting to fade that I would be able to play," Abbott said on instagram.
"Last weekend, I was finally able to return to the field for Toyota softball.
"My heart was full of gratitude, peace and more importantly thankfulness for those stressful times."
Young left-hander Nozomi Goto -- who led the Japanese National Team to the WBSC U-19 Women’s Softball World Cup silver medal in 2019 -- helped the team absorb Abbott’s absence, recording four wins and one loss, with 22 strikeouts in 27.6 innings, for a 1.77 ERA.
USA Softball Olympic Team member Ally Carda also made her debut, starting for Honda Reverta and pitching nine innings in the 2-1 extra inning victory over Denso.
The 2020 JSL campaign is a shortened 11-game season, due to the impact of the COVID-19. With four games remaining in the regular season, the Toyota Red Terriers sit in sole possession of the first place (6-1), followed by Yukiko Ueno’s Bic Camera Bee Queen, Toyota Shining Vega and Taiyo Yuden Solfille, who all have 5-2 records. Honda Reverta and Iyo Bank Vertz are tied in fifth place at 4-3. The top five teams in the final regular season standings will advance to the playoffs, scheduled to begin on 7 November.
