[Alsfastball] USA Softball captures top seed in medal round with 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei

[Al Doran]

Subject: USA SOFTBALL-USA Softball captures top seed in medal round
Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 15:45:42 -0500
From: "Brian McCall" <bmccall at softball.org>


For Immediate Release: 8/20/04

USA Softball captures top seed in medal round with 3-0 win over Chinese Taipei

Athens, GREECE --- A perfect 7-0, the USA Softball team captured a 3-0 win 
over World bronze medalist Chinese Taipei on Friday to complete round-robin 
play and enter as the No. 1 seed in playoff action.  South paw Cat Osterman 
(Houston, TX) recorded her second win in Olympic competition tossing six 
complete innings with 10 strikeouts and allowing just one hit.  Outscoring 
opponents 41-0 in seven games, the victory moves Team USA into playoff 
action where they will battle arch rival and No. 2 seed Australia on Sunday 
at 12 noon (Athens time).

"It's not how you start, its how you finish," said U.S. veteran Lisa 
Fernandez.  "This team has played really well this week but now it's a 
whole new ballgame. The slate is wiped clean and we start over from here 
and must be ready to play our best game on Sunday."

The U.S. saw its first bases loaded defensive situation in the top of the 
fourth when a walk, error, walk situation unfolded.  But Osterman rebounded 
in style silencing the threat with a strikeout.

Scoreless through three innings, the power swing of Crystl Bustos (Canyon 
Country, CA) changed the momentum for Team USA.  With one swing of the bat 
she belted her third solo home run to deep centerfield to give the home 
team a 1-0 lead.

Amanda Freed (Cypress, CA) connected on her first hit of the Games in the 
bottom of the fifth as she led the inning with a double over the second 
baseman.  Followed by an infield base hit from Natasha Watley (Irvine, CA), 
whose 7 of 9 hits have been infield hits, Freed advanced to third with 
Watley stealing second putting two runners in scoring position.  A 
sacrifice fly to left field from Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, CA) scored 
Freed for the 2-0 advantage.

Riding a no-hitter, Taipei's F. Chen broke loose the lone Taipei hit of the 
game in the top of the sixth inning.  But Osterman and crew remained in 
charge quickly ending the inning and leaving Chen stranded at first.

The bat of right-fielder Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Springs, FL) 
added an insurance run in the sixth with a triple to centerfield plating 
Lovieanne Jung (Fountain Valley, CA) who early reached on a base hit.

The play of the game came in the seventh inning after a lead-off single to 
Tung. Freed made a diving catch in center to retire H. Yang and then throw 
a bullet to first to double off Tung.

"The reason no one has scored on us is because of the amazing defense we 
have behind us," said Fernandez. "Amanda's catch was amazing. The fact that 
she came up with the double play was even better."

The U.S. has been tremendous on both sides of the field holding opponents 
to a .080 batting average while leading the charts with a team average of 
.436.  Fernandez, who batted a dismal .090 in the 2000 Games, entered the 
Olympic record books finishing round-robin play with a .556 average. Close 
behind is lead-off hitter Watley at .409 with four RBI and 5-of-6 stolen 
bases.

"It is important that we continue to do the little things that got us 
here," said head coach Mike Candrea. "We have a good mix of our short game 
and will hopefully get the timely hit in the big game."


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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