US Softball women survive to advance in extra innings

The United States women’s softball team has advanced to the Gold Medal game at the Beijing Olympics —the last for the foreseeable future as the IOC is dumping the sport, due as much to the failure of the European countries to compete as anything else.  While the US defense and pitching was once again dominant, though they allowed only their 2nd run of the games they had their hands full with an equally tough team from Japan.  The game was scoreless through the regulation 7 innings and the “overtime period” before the US broke through for 4 runs in the top of the ninth.

The US star pitcher Monica Abbott and Japan’s Yukiko Ueno put on a pitching duel worthy of Randy Johnson or Roger Clemens.  Both women have pitched perfect games during the Olympics—the only pitchers from any country to do so.  Abbott received credit for the win, scattering 3 hits and giving up a run while striking out 11.  Ueno took the loss despite her impressive regulation performance—all told she gave up 6 hits and 4 runs, with the big blow a three run HR off the bat of Crystl Bustos.

U.S. coach Mike Candrea provided a good summary of the epic:

"That was softball at its best. Great pitching, great defense, some great adjustments at the plate. The international tiebreaker. The 20-second pitch clock. You saw a little bit of what the sport has to offer."

And due to softball’s arcane playoff format, another classic may be in the offing for the gold medal game as the United States will once again face Japan.  The US easily handled the Japanese team during the preliminary games, winning 7-0.  Overall, the US has outscored their opposition 57-2 heading in to Thursday’s gold medal final.