[Alsfastball] U.S. opens Olympic Games with 7-0 mercyrule victory over Italy

[Al Doran]

ForImmediate Release: 8/14/04

 

U.S. opens Olympic Games with 7-0 mercyrule victory over Italy

 

Athens,GREECE --- With extremely hot and humid weather conditions,
the two-timedefending gold medalist USA squad opened the 2004
Olympic Games in grandfashion lighting the scoreboard with a
7-0 five inning mercy rule win overItaly.  Led by a 4-for-4 effort
with two RBI from Natasha Watley (Irvine, CA),the U.S. moved
to 1-0 in competition while pitcher Jennie Finch (La Mirada,
CA) garnered her first ever Olympicvictory. 



“Theteam was picked in September and it was so awesome to finally
put it alltogether out there,” said Jessica Mendoza.  “We were
reading our initial quotes fromSeptember when we were named to
the team and I was quoted as saying ‘Icouldn’t even imagine taking
the field with USA on my chest and now it is a reality.’  Ithas
been a long process and an amazing ride.  I am so excited to
finallybe here and playing at the Olympic Games.”

 

Herfirst ever Olympic at bat, speedster Watley led off the first
inning with hertrademark infield base hit before a fielding error
from Italian third basemanNatalie Anter allowed Leah O’Brien-Amico
(Chino Hills, CA) toadvance on a sacrifice bunt putting two runners
on board.  Two-time gold medalistLisa Fernandez (Long Beach,
CA) thendrove an RBI base hit to right field to plate Watley
for the 1-0 lead.

 

TheU.S offense continued to connect in the second after Kelly
Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, FL) drove a 3-2 pitch to left
center for a stand-up double.  Lefty Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo,
CA) thenrocked a triple to the right field gap to score Kretschman
for the 2-0jump.  With no outs, the Red, White and Blue continued
with its offensiveonslaught with an RBI base hit from No. 9 hitter
Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, CA) to lift the U.S. to a 3-0 lead.
 Batting around inthe order, Watley added another infield single
before a ground out RBI fromCrystl Bustos (Canyon Country, CA)
plated Berg for the final run of theinning.  

 

Thearm of right-handed pitching sensation Finch stifled the Italian
hittersthrough the first three innings as she allowed no hits
and retired five hittersvia the strikeout. The U.S. entered left-handed
pitcher Lori Harrigan (Las Vegas, NV) in the top of the fourth
inning.  A shaky startallowing two hits out of the gate, Harrigan
soon settled down ending the inningwith two strikeouts. 

 

Silentbats through the third and fourth, Cat Osterman (Houston,
TX) entered in the circle for the U.S. inthe top half of fifth
after a walk and base hit off Harrigan followed by apassed ball
put runners on second and third.  It was all Osterman however,in
relief as she shutdown Italy withback-to-back strikeouts to end
the inning.

 

Jungled off the bottom of the fifth for the U.S. with a double
to right field and Kretschman singledthrough the right side to
put runners on the corners. Mendoza came through once again with
an RBI single up themiddle to score Jung before the explosive
Watley blasted a two run triple tocenterfield to give the U.S.
the final 7-0 victory.  

 

“Ihave been working with Coach Candrea to improve on my power
game,” Watleysaid.  “I am trying to get it out of the infield
and into the alleyways.  I need to be more than one dimensional.
 It definitely opensup my game a little bit more.” 

 

Upnext for the U.S. will be the highly noted rivalry betweenthe
U.S. and Australia.     Both 1-0 in competitionafter a 4-2 Australian
victory against Japan, the two teams will meet at 5 p.m. (Greecetime)
on August 15. 

 

 

A PRESIDENTAL VISIT -Prior to the game, the U.S. team had a special
visit from former U.S. PresidentGeorge Bush, former first lady
Barbara Bush, and their grandchildren Jenna andBarbara.  Former
President Bush opened the Olympic softball competition bythrowing
out the ceremonial first pitch in game one.  An exchange ofgreetings
and good luck wishes, the Team USA took a few photos and graciouslythanked
the family for their visit.  

 

ROOKIE OUTING- Of the 11 total U.S. hits, nine came from first
time Olympians in theirfirst ever Olympic competition.  Watley
led with four followed byKretschman and Mendoza with two a piece
and Jung with one.  To add, Finch,a first time Olympian, was
awarded the win tossing three complete inningsallowing no hits
and five strikeouts.   

 

SHUTOUT-With its 7-0 shutout victory over Italy in game one of
the 2004 Olympics, the U.S. has now posted 11 shutouts in Olympic
competition. 

 

HOME AGAIN-During the Olympic technical meeting on Friday, theU.S.
won six of the seven coin flips to garner home team status. The
only gamein which the U.S. will serve as the visitor will be
versusJapan.

 

 

 

Brian McCall

Director of Communications

ASA/USA Softball

405-425-3463

bmccall at softball.org

www.asasoftball.comor www.usasoftball.com

 

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