[Alsfastball] USA Softball continues winning ways

[Brian McCall]

For Immediate Release: 6/28/04

U.S. continues winning ways along ‘Aiming for Athens’ tour with 6-0 win in 
St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, MO – Recording its tenth consecutive shutout victory, the USA 
Softball Olympic team improved to 41-0 on Monday night with a 6-0 decision 
against the St. Louis All-Stars.  Standing room only at ABC Park, the Red, 
White and Blue continued along the ‘Aiming for Athens’ tour where they have 
outscored opponents 365-11 and pushed their pre-Olympic tour win streak 155 
dating back to 1996.

The wheels of lead-off hitter Natasha Watley (Irvine, CA) led the U.S. in 
the bottom of the first inning with a double to leftfield, her 10th of the 
tour.  Battling the St. Louis All-Stars pitcher Casey Hunter, who will be a 
senior at Florida State University next season,  Leah O’Brien-Amico (Chino 
Hills, CA) then bolted a line drive inside the park home run to left field 
to take an early 2-0 advantage.

The All Stars saw its only runner in scoring position in the top of the 
fourth thanks to a base hit by Stephanie Cepicky that later advanced a 
runner to second base.

Held scoreless through the second and third innings, the U.S. bats struck 
again with three runs in the fourth.  Beginning with a walk to Jessica 
Mendoza (Camarillo, CA) and a Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, CA) blooper 
base hit between the shortstop and third baseman, the U.S. put two runners 
aboard before Watley connected on a two RBI single through the right 
side.  Her second stolen base of the game, 16th of the tour, Watley then 
advanced to second while Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, CA) contributed a 
triple to right center to plate Watley for the 5-0 lead.

The Red, White and Blue added the sixth and final run of the game in the 
bottom of the fifth after loading the bases thanks to an All-Star fielding 
error and back-to-back hits from Mendoza and Berg.  An RBI groundout from 
Watley, who finished with a team high three RBI, plated Kretschman for the 
6-0 margin of victory.

Winning pitcher Lori Harrigan (Las Vegas, NV) moved to 7-0 allowing just 
two hits in the contest while recording 11 strikeouts.  Watley, Berg and 
Bustos each contributed two hits a piece.

Just one month before departure to Athens, Greece, Team USA will continue 
to prepare along the ‘Aiming for Athens’ tour traveling to Normal, IL for 
competition on Wednesday, June 30.







Brian McCall
Director of Communications
ASA/USA Softball
405-425-3463
<mailto:bmccall at softball.org>bmccall at softball.org
www.asasoftball.com or www.usasoftball.com


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