| Olympians & NPF players find off-season home in Japan Pro League | ||||
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11-9-2009
Monica Abbott provides insight on playing in Japan The Japan Softball League (JSL) hosted its championships this past weekend, with a line-up of familiar names and softball stars, as Olympians, professionals, and collegiate standouts have increasingly been finding opportunities to play professionally in Japan. (list below)
The doors between USA Softball and Japan opened in 1993 by former Team USA gold medalist, and now ESPN analyst, Michele Smith. Between US National Team seasons, stints with the Women’s Pro Softball League (WSPL, now NPF), and the 1996 and 2000 Olympics, Michele spent a total of 16 years playing professionally for Team Toyota Shokki. After completing her career with Team USA in 2002, Michele Smith dedicated herself to playing in Japan and became a very well-known face as she dominated in the league as a pitcher and dangerous hitter. Smith furthered her respect by learning the language becoming fluent in Japanese.
Monica Abbott of Team USA, and the NPF’s USSSA Pride, has played 2 seasons with the Japan league now. Along with American teammate, Natasha Watley, Abbott plays for Toyota Motor Corporation. We contacted Monica several months ago to find out more about the Japan league, as efforts to research and collect information from the JSL and Japan Softball Association’s websites met the obvious language barrier. Many softball fans are aware that a few Americans are playing in Japan, but I asked, “What exactly are you guys doing over there in Japan?” Monica was more than willing to help us out and provided us with some great insight.
EG: What is the official name of the league, and how many teams are there?
 MA: The official name of the league is the Japan Softball League, or JSL. There are both men’s and women’s leagues associated with the JSL.
EG: You are still able to play with the US National Team, and in the NPF. When does the Japan league play?
MA: The season consists of 6 months; 3 months are played in the spring, and the other 3 in the fall. We are off in the summer, which is dedicated to the National Team season.
EG: Are there any unique differences in the rules of the Japan league compared to what many of us in America are accustomed to?
MA: We follow the ISF rules (International Softball Federation, which are the same rules used in Olympic competition). The umpires have to practice too, and…. we use a WHITE ball! Yes, like the one I used when I was maybe 12 years old.
EG: Many of the pro players here in the US have jobs outside of playing in the league, is it similar in Japan?
 MA: Most of the girls work for the companies they play for. Office assistant or secretarial type jobs… they tell me it isn’t really much work. Many of the companies sponsor teams in other sports too, such as rugby, soccer, basketball, and baseball.
EG: Just for fun… I saw on your Twitter account that you had taco night… you sounded pretty excited about it?
MA: Yes!! The tacos were great… from a small, hole in the wall type place with the best salsa! Now if only I could find some good guacamole!
The Softball Network looks forward to following up with Monica and learning more about her experiences in Japan. Abbott will be returning to the United States until the spring season resumes in Japan. During her time back home, she will be putting on the Monica Abbott Bring It Clinic, February 6, 2010 in her hometown of Salinas, CA. Information and links to Monica’s website and clinic can be found on the Camps/Clinics page. Monica provided us with a list of the 2009 teams in the upper division, and some players you may recognize:
Toyota Motor Corporation
Monica Abbott (U of Tennessee, Team USA, NPF)
Natasha Watley (UCLA, Team USA, NPF, PFX Tour)
Renesas
Yukiko Ueno (Gold medalist pitcher of the Japanese Olympic Team)
Toyota Shokki
Jen Topping (Cal St-Fullerton, Team USA, NPF)
Katie Burkhardt (Arizona State, NPF, 2009 Team USA Japan Roster)
Former team of Michele Smith (former Team USA, ESPN analyst)
Denso
Megan Gibson (Texas A&M, NPF)
Kristen Butler (U of Florida, NPF)
Leo Palace
Angela Tincher (Virginia Tech, NPF, 2009 Team USA Pan Am Roster)
Natalie Titcume (Australian National Team)
Honda
Gina Oaks (Cal St-Fullerton, NPF, US National Team)
Heather Scaglione (Oklahoma, NPF)
Sagawa
Stacey Porter (Australian National Team)
Melanie Roche (Australian National Team)
Hitachi
Taiyo Yuden
Results of the 2009 Japan Championships
Links:
Written by Erin Goettlicher, The Softball Network
Photos credit: Toyota Motor Corporation
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| Last Updated ( Wednesday, 11 November 2009 15:51 ) |
