USA Softball advances to Japan Cup final

[Al's Fastball News]

Received: 11/18/06 3:39:33 PM 
From:  "Brian McCall" <bmccall(at)softball.org> 


Subject:  USA Softball advances to Japan Cup final  
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USA Softball advances to Japan Cup final

 

Yokohama, Japan---The USA Softball Women’s NationalTeam swept
a double-header on Friday at 2006 Japan Cup to advance into thefinals
for the fourth consecutive year. The U.S.defeated the Netherlands2-0,
in its opening game before handing arch-rival Japan, 8-4, in
the nightcap. 

 

The Netherlands wasup to the challenge of facing the United States
- the world’stop ranked team. Kristi DeVries held the powerful
U.S. offense scoreless through fourinnings but in the fifth the
Red, White and Blue put together a hit barragethat netted two
runs.

 

Amanda Freed (Cypress Calif.) got things started infifth inning
with a leadoff single. Lauren Lappin (AnaheimCalif.) and Natasha
Watley (Irvine, Calif.followed Freed with back-to-back singles
to load the bases. Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.came through
once again with a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Freedfor
a 1-0 lead. Tairia Flowers (Tucson Ariz.) added the final run
of thegame with a single that scored Lappin.

 

Jennie Ritter (Dexter, Mich.picked up the shutout win for the
U.S. after allowing only two hitsin five innings of work while
striking out five. Jennie Finch (La Mirada, Calif.collected a
save by working two innings where she didn’t allow a hitwhile
striking out two of the six batters she faced. 

 

In its final game of round-robin play, the U.S.held on for an
8-4 win over world silver medalist Japan. It appeared the U.S.
had the game under control leading 4-0after the fifth inning
but Japancame storming back in the top of the sixth with a grand
slam that tied the gameat 4-4.  

 

With the momentum clearly in favor of Japanthe U.S.went to work
in the bottom of the sixth inning. Watley got things going with
alead off single and moved into scoring position on a single
by Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.).A walk to Mendoza loaded
the bases for the USA’s Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif.),
who is consideredone of the most feared hitters in the game.
With no place to put her, Japan’sMasubuchi came with a 1-1 pitch
that Bustos sent over 300 feet for a grand slamand an 8-4 win.

 

Alicia Hollowell (Suisun, Calif.) got the start for the U.S.in
the circle and was solid for five innings but Japan caught up
with her in thesixth and tagged her for four runs. Ritter entered
the game in relief in thesixth and shutdown the Japanrally before
closing out the game in the seventh to collect her second win
ofthe day. 

 

Bustos was awesome offensively for the U.S. going 3-for-4 with
a grandslam and six RBI. Jenny Topping (Whittier Calif.) was
2-for-3 with a solohome run and two RBI, while Galindo collected
three hits in the game.   

 

The U.S. will nowface Japanin the championship game on Saturday
at 10 p.m. CST.  

 
 

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