OLYMPIC FRIDAY
CANADA 1, ITALY 0
Canada kept its medal round hopes alive in Game 25 – at least until Japan plays China – and, hopefully in the Canadian view, loses. Canada is now 3-4; Japan and China are each 3-3 – and if Japan falls to 3-4, Canada enters the medal round as the fourth team by virtue of its earlier defeat of Japan.
The victory was hard won. Canada managed just one hit and a walk – its only base runners. Italy had two hits off Lauren Bay but stranded four runners. The teams were so evenly matched that, after Canada scored in the bottom of the 4th, neither team had a base runner until the 7th when Daniella Castellani walked. Canada’s Rachel Schill mopened the 4th with a triple and scored on Allison Bradley’s sacrifice fly. Things got tense for Canada, their medal round hopes in jeopardy, when Analisa Turci’s sacrifice turned into an error after Castellani’s walk, Castellani going to 3rd. But, Canada secured the final outs, including Bay’s strikeout of Natalia Cimin. Italy finished 1-6.
USA 3, CHINESE TAIPEI 0
The USA finished round-robin play Friday with a perfect 7-0 record – having shutout every opponent and winning four games by the run-ahead rule. Under the Page system, the USA will play second-place Australia on Sunday. The winner advances to the Gold medal game Monday evening.
Australia plays Greece later today but, at 5-3, has a secure hold on second place entering the championship round. Chinese Taipei finished 2-5.
For the game, Catherine Osterman pitched 1-hit ball for six innings, with 10 Ks. But, there were two points in the game when the USA streak of 41 scoreless innings hung in the balance. Taipei loaded the bases in the 3rd with two out when Osterman gave up two walks (three for the game) sandwiched around her throwing error after fielding a ground ball. If the pressure of the game or streak bothered her, the youngest player on the USA team didn’t show it; she struck out the next batter. Osterman’s bid for a no-hitter ended in the 6rh when Chen Feng Yin led off with a single, and was stranded. Osterman struck out the first two batters in the game, and had four Ks in a row straddling the 4th and 5th.
Lori Harrigan provided the other tense moment. Starting the 7th, she gave up a single to the first batter, Tung Yun Chi. Yang Hui Chun hit a drive deep to center – which Amanda Freed turned into one of the defensive gems of this Olympics – a diving one-handed catch. Rolling over, Freed rose and fired the ball to Tairia Mims at 1st for the double play. Instead of runners at 1st and 2nd with no outs, the bases were empty, two out – most fortunate for the streak because Li Chui Ching singled to right which would have at least loaded the bases. Pan Tzu Hui popped up to catcher Jenny Topping.
Although Lisa Fernandez doubled and Jenny Topping walked to start the USA 2nd, the Americans didn’t score until Crystl Bustos launched a rocket over the center field fence to lead off the 4th. Fernandez and Topping followed with singles but the USA didn’t score its second run until the 5th.
Crystl Bustos home run trot after belting HR against Chinese Taipei SPY Photo
Freed led with a double and scored on Jessica Mendoza’s sacrifice fly. Lovieanne Jung scored the final run in the 6th, singling with one out ans scoring on Kelly Kretschman’s triple to the fence.
Taipei stranded 7 runners, the USA 6.
Catherine Osterman SPY Photo |
Amanda Freed SPY Photo |
Asked afterward about the problems she encountered, Osterman said she didn’t make the early adjustment needed to the umpire’s strike zone. Coach Mike Candrea said later that Osterman would be ready for the medal round – but he did not say who would pitch.
For certain, the USA coaches and players aren’t resting on their earlier 10-0 (5) win over Australia, taking a that was then, this is now attitude. Fernandez, who won thast first game and has considerable experience with the many Australian veterans, said that Australia will come into Sunday’s game with “something to prove – and we have to Play USA softball.” She would like to pitch Sunday – “I would like to pitch every game.”
Asked again to compare the 2004 team with the 1996 team, Fernandez said, “Ask me Monday.” She did say the 1996 and 2000 teams were not nearly as versatile. She congratulated Freed on her “incredible” play (which drew raves from her former UCLA coach, Sue Enquist, who is at the Games). Modest as always, Freed said that if a team is going to score on the USA, the USA will make them work for it. Indeed, much of the post-game press conference focused on defense which Candrea emphasizes at every practice.
Asked about the Athenian heat, Bustos dismissed it as a factor, noting the SEAL-type training the team endured. Cat said simply, “It’s hotter in Texas.”
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