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MLB

Monica Abbott and Scrapyard Dawgs set to take on Rebellion

NPF clubs meet in Myrtle Beach for two-game series
By John Vittas
July 28, 2016

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (July 28, 2016) - The Scrapyard Dawgs and Pennsylvania Rebellion have arrived in Myrtle Beach and will meet at TicketReturn.com Field at Pelicans Ballpark for a two night series the next two nights, July 28-29.

The two teams are part of National Professional Fastpitch, the top professional softball league in the United State.

The teams' rosters are highlighted by league strikeout leader and former Olympic silver medalist Monica Abbott. Pitching for the Scrapyard Dawgs, Abbott has racked up 143 strikeouts in 100.1 innings on the season, with both figures leading NPF by a wide margin (Lauren Haeger is second with 80 strikeouts).

Thursday is Abbott's second trip to the Grand Strand. The first came about five years ago when she helped run a softball clinic, but is eager to get in the circle in front of fans for the first time.

"I was excited [to see Myrtle Beach on the schedule]," said Abbott. "I've been to Myrtle Beach one other time and it's a beautiful area. And obviously it's near the beach so it's always nice."

While there is no set schedule for when Abbott will enter the game, she will likely pitch several innings in the two-game series at TicketReturn.com Field.

In the offseason, the Scrapyard Dawgs came to a six-year, $1 million dollar contract agreement with Abbott, which is believed to be the largest contract signed by a female athlete in the history of American professional sports. The contract keeps Abbott with the Dawgs through the end of the 2021 season, when she would be 36 years old. However, longevity has always been one of Abbott's strengths, as she is still pitching at the highest level eight years after her Olympics appearance.

"The most important thing is maintenance, just maintaining your body and staying healthy are really important to being able to maintain a career," Abbott said. "Giving yourself time away. During the offseason, I take time away from the game so that I'm re-energized and refreshed for when I come back."

With the Rio 2016 Olympics just a week away, Abbott still recalls her 2008 experience in Beijing as one of the highlights of her career.

"The Opening Ceremonies was a huge moment for me, and probably for almost any athlete," Abbott said. "Being able to pitch on an Olympic stage was a dream come true. You're representing your country. The love and support that I got from the world was incredible. "

While softball has been removed from the Olympic slate in 2012 and 2016, the sport is up for a vote in the 2020 Tokyo games soon.

"It's definitely a possibility. I have written it off but I'm just taking it year by year right now," Abbott said. "If I'm still good enough, then I would hope that I could compete for a spot on the team."

In the meantime, the former 2007 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will focus on her performance down the stretch of the NPF season. The Scrapyard Dawgs are currently in second place in the league standings and Abbott will be the key to how far they go in 2016.

The former Tennessee Volunteer also understands that growing the league is a priority, and visiting cities like Myrtle Beach is vital to the NPF brand.

"It's important to go to new places like Myrtle Beach and giving people the opportunity to see it in person," Abbott said. "Hopefully a potential owner will be in the crowd."

Thursday and Friday's NPF matchups will be the first ever played in Myrtle Beach. Tickets for both games can be purchased online at MyrtleBeachPelicans.com or by calling (843) 918-6000.

The 2016 season is the 18th season for the Pelicans franchise and second as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2016, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.

ABOUT THE PELICANS: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans are the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs and play their home games at TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The park has ranked in the top eight in all of Minor League Baseball by Stadium Journey in each of the last five seasons. The same publication also placed the Pelicans in the Top 100 Stadium Experiences in all of sports in each of the last five years and the best in the Carolina League for five straight seasons as well. In May 2015, TicketReturn.Com Field at Pelicans Ballpark won the 2015 TripAdvisor.com Certificate of Excellence award. The Pelicans are the defending Mills Cup Champions, winning the title in 2015 as well as 2000 and co-Mills Cup championship honors in the inaugural 1999 season. The Pelicans have made nine postseason appearances behind 11 half-season Southern Division championships, including the first half of the 2015 season, as well as five Southern Division titles, most recently in 2015. For more information on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, please contact the Pelicans at (843) 918-6000 or emailing [email protected].