Abbott joins Bandits

With a personal motto of Live2BringIT, it’s clear that there isn’t a challenge too big for Monica Abbott.

As a 12-year-old, the girl with the golden left arm dreamed big — of pitching in college and eventually doing the same on an even bigger stage — the Olympics.

Check and check.

Abbott graduated from the Tennessee in 2007, armed with a boatload of NCAA records and was selected as the top collegiate player of that year. She followed that up by pitching for the U.S. in the gold medal game in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

But when it was decided that softball would not be an Olympic sport in 2016, Abbott faced yet another challenge, having to make what she called “the biggest choice of my life.”

As it turned out, Team USA’s loss is the Chicago Bandits’ gain as Abbott officially signed with the team Tuesday in Rosemont.

“I was lucky to be able to (participate in the Olympics), but someone ruined my dream ... and they took softball out of the Olympics,” she said. “But it hasn’t taken out my fire, my light to build this sport for someone out there so that when they’re 12 years old they can say, ‘I want to be a Chicago Bandit.’”

Abbott, fellow pitcher Taryne Mowatt and outfielder Caitlin Lever were all on hand Tuesday to sign on the dotted line and meet with fans and sponsors. Also meeting the public was new coach Darrick Brown.

But far and away the star of the day was Abbott. The 6-foot-3 lefty from Salinas, Calif., becomes the new ace — and face — of the Bandits, who lost star pitcher Jennie Finch to retirement.

Abbott finished the 2010 season as the Tennessee Diamonds team leader in wins, going 7-9 on the year with 115 innings pitched. Among pitchers, she ranked first in the NPF in strikeouts (146) and ERA (0.79) and third in wins.

She has her sights set even higher for the 2011 season.

“I would like to bring the Bandits to an NPF championship,” Abbott said. “I was lucky enough to win in 2007 with the Washington Glory and I think it’s about time to do that here.”

It won’t be long until Abbott and Co. can take up that challenge. Construction of the Bandits’ new stadium in Rosemont is scheduled to be completed by mid-May. Their first exhibition game is June 4, and their home opener is June 9.