Monica Abbott

 You can make the argument that Monica Abbott has done more for women's softball than any other player in the history of the game.
 The former North Salinas star added to her legacy on Thursday when she signed a record six-year, $1 million contract with the Houston Scrap Yard Dawgs of the National Pro Fastpitch League.
 "It's time for the National Pro Fastpitch League to be seen by the world,'' said Abbott, who is in Japan pitching for one of their pro teams.
 The 6-foot-3 left hander has left a legacy at each stop in her career, going back to her days at North Salinas, leading the program to two Central Coast Section Division I titles.
 A member of the United States 2008 Olympic silver medal winning softball team, the 30-year-old has been pitching professionally in two contingents for the last six years.
 Last year Abbott was the National Pro Fastpitch Most Valuable Player, pitching the Chicago Bandits to a league championship.
 During her tenure in Japan, Abbott has pitched her team to three championships, tossing a no-hitter in the 2011 title game.
 A four-time NCAA All-American at Tennessee, Abbott is the NCAA all-time leader in strikeouts (2,440), wins (189), career shutouts (112) and strikeouts in a single season (724).
 During her career for the Vols, Abbott posted an 0.79 earned run average, with 23 no-hitters and six perfect games.