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Day 1 Results of Japan Cup
Japan 1 Australia 0
Japan wins a classic Asian game on a run scoring squeeze ground ball. Ueno vs Roche was exciting and both were dominating! Roche injured her left leg diving to make a tag at home plate on squeeze. Should know more today.
USA 4 China 1
Zhou Yin started on the mound for China and threw 2 innings and gave up no runs. Much better than her World Cup performance! Wang Lan completed the game and pitched well also. For being 2 19-year olds and having a Japanese strike zone in effect they pitched well. USA pitched everyone. Cat hurled 2 innings and Monica pitched 1 inning and both were dominating. Jennie threw 2 innings that were average. China was able to hit the ball hard. Alicia completed 1 good inning by recording 2 fly balls and a ground out. Lisa's 1 inning was not particularly strong. Zhang Li Fang doubled and Zhou Yi tallied an RBI on her single. China was able to control the USA offense which is a good sign for their young pitchers!
Japan 3 China 2 (9 INN)
This ended up being a classic Asian game. All runs were scored on ground balls. China should have won 2-1 in the eighth. A rundown between home and 3rd resulted after a botched Asian squeeze. China catcher Pan Xia made a mental throwing mistake and Japan controlled the rundown and scored. This tied the game at 2 with 2 outs. Ueno did not pitch. China did not hit Japan's second tier pitching hard. Li Qi received the start for China and pitched 2 innings only allowing 1 run. Yu Hui Li completed the game and pitched well, but gave up two runs in the international tie breaker.
The field is set softball fans! The four best National Softball Teams in the world have gathered in Yokohama, Japan. Japan is playing host to the U.S.A., China and Australia National Teams and this will truly be a clash of titans! Each team has brought their best talent in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Each National Team has their number 1 pitchers ready to go. As always the USA staff is strong and deep. The most interesting aspect of this tournament may be the return to the circle of superstar pitcher Lisa Fernandez. Lisa should be taking the rubber for her first appearance in several years for Team USA. Coach Mike Candrea will also have Cat Osterman, Jennie Finch, Monica Abbott and Alicia Hollowell at his disposal.
Australia also comes into the competition with their veteran pitching staff ready. In October in China, veteran Melanie Roche looked very strong and gave a good showing as did Tanya Harding who appears to have reinvented herself as a pitcher. Coach Fabian Barlow will have Hardie and also Felicity Witt ready to go for the Aussies.
China arrives in Japan still missing their pitching ace from 2006, Lu Wei, who is still recovering from elbow surgery. China is hoping that Wei will be back to full strength by the summer of 2008. Instead China will have to utilize veterans Li Qi and Yu Hui Li along with their two 19-year old pitchers Wang Lan and Zhou Yin.
Japan will bring Yukiko Ueno to the event as their staple force on the mound. Japan always desires to make a strong statement as hosts, so it will be very interesting to see how much Ueno will pitch. There have been rumors that Yukiko has been trying to develop her pitching style after learning that her velocity and great change up are no longer strong enough to control the world’s best offensive line ups. Japan will also have Emoto, Sakai, Fujiwara and Masubichi ready to pitch.
The first game is scheduled for 1 PM Yokohama time on Friday, November 16th.
The first game will match host Japan vs. Australia. The second game of the day scheduled for Friday is Team USA vs. Team China. To close out the first day of competition Asian rivals Japan and China will face off at 6 PM local time. This will be a great day of softball!
ISF PRESIDENT, 6 ATHLETES TO MEET IOC PRESIDENT: Softball Contingent to Discuss
International Softball Federation (ISF) President Don Porter and six softball athletes will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, October 4, in Lausanne, Switzerland, with Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The discussion will focus on softball having been dropped from the Olympic Program for the Summer Games in 2012 in London by way of a close vote this summer (52 ‘yes’ ballots, 52 ‘no’ ballots, and one abstention).
“I am encouraged by recent media reports that the IOC President has expressed the possibility of reconsideration of the decision (by the IOC Session in July) in Singapore in that ‘there were precedents for the full IOC to reconsider a decision,’ ” Mr. Porter said. “I am optimistic that this unified effort by our softball delegation will show Mr. Rogge and the IOC Members that almost three months after the vote, we remain committed to getting our sport back on the 2012 Program, just as we’ve always been dedicated to growing softball globally and keeping it as a world-class sport that projects the Olympic image and ideals – especially its promotion of women.”
Accompanying Mr. Porter will be softball players who have competed in regional, world, and Olympic competitions, as well as ISF Director of Competition Laurie Gouthro – herself a former softball player and coach. The group of current athletes includes: Joanna Bouziou (Greece), Alison Bradley (Canada), Mayumi Murakami (Japan), Michele Smith (USA), Jelena Tomic (Croatia), and Maria Jesus Vázquez (Spain).
Attending athletes at-a-glance
Bouziou was the captain of the Greek Olympic Softball team at the Games in Athens in August 2004. Bradley represented her country last year in Greece too, and has also played in a women’s world championship, the Pan American Games (silver medal, 2003) and various Cup events. Murakami, a TV sportscaster in Japan, played for her country’s national team (including at the Canada Cup) as well as in the Japanese industrial league, and now plays in the USA. Smith, among other on-field accomplishments, won a gold medal at softball’s first two Olympic appearances (1996 & 2000) and now plays softball in Japan. Tomic, the Secretary General of the Croatian Softball Federation and Vice Chair of the ISF’s Athletes Commission, has played in one world championship, two Olympic qualifiers, and five European Championships. Vázquez has been playing since 1988, which includes competing in her national league’s top division for nine years. Among other roles, she is a vice president of the European Softball Federation (ESF), a board member of Spain’s national softball federation, and head coach of a girls’ 18-under team.
MEDIA: For more information, please contact ISF Director of Communications Bruce Wawrzyniak at brucew@internationalsoftball.com, (1.813) 864 0100, ext. 229, or (1.813) 453 8762 (cell).
Posted by Thefastpitchschool2on Wednesday, October 12 @ Eastern Daylight Time (726 reads)
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Stiggy's 2005 Octoberfest Roster Updated
Stiggy's 2005 Octoberfest roster has been selected. The team will be comprised of Elaine Allen, Amanda Barrs, Natalie Cook, Brittany Griffiths, Haley Harris, Sarah Harwell, Angela Hasz, Kayla Hensley, Courtney Kerns, Carly Riepenhoff and Lisa Weisman.
Posted by Thefastpitchschool2on Tuesday, September 13 @ Eastern Daylight Time (272 reads)
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Stiggy's Sport Shop Roster for Oktoberfest
Its that time of year again and Coach Bastian has a group of students from North Carolina and other places across the USA headed to Oktoberfest. Check out the site at www.ocbatbusters.com for further information. Good luck ladies!
Posted by garyon Thursday, October 21 @ Eastern Daylight Time (426 reads)
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U.S. advances to gold medal game with 5-0 win over Australia
Athens, GREECE --- The USA Softball team moved one step closer to taking home its third consecutive Olympic gold medal after a decisive 5-0 victory over rival Australia on Sunday afternoon. Having yet to allow a run in Olympic competition, the U.S. improved to a perfect 8-0 as two-time gold medalist Lisa Fernandez (Long Beach, CA) led from the circle with a three hit complete game performance. Outscoring its opponents 46-0, the U.S. advances to Monday‘s gold medal match-up at 4 p.m. (Athens time) against the Aussies once again who defeated Japan in the bronze medal game 3-0 .on Sunday evening to earn a spot in the gold medal game.
A pitcher’s duel through the first three innings, starting pitcher and two-time Olympic veteran Fernandez, hitting .556, once again had clutch a hit to put the U.S. on top 1-0. With runners at first and second compliments of an infield base hit from speedster Natasha Watley (Irvine, CA) and a hit by pitch to Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, CA), the 5’6” superstar drove a high fly ball just over the centerfielder’s head for a stand-up double.
Her third double of the Games, the Fernandez hit scored Leah O’Brien Amico (Chino Hills, CA) who reached earlier on a fielder’s choice. Looking to add a security run, the U.S. loaded the bases and brought the crowd to its feet with an intentional walk to Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, CA). The pitching of Australian Melanie Roche, however, shut down the rally with back-to-back strikeouts to Lovieanne Jung (Fountain Valley, CA) and Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, FL) to end the inning.
Posted by garyon Sunday, August 22 @ Eastern Daylight Time (566 reads)
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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.
Posted by garyon Saturday, August 21 @ Eastern Daylight Time (387 reads)
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Fernandez overpowers Greece with 7-0 run-rule victory
Athens, GREECE – Two-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Fernandez (Long Beach, CA) utilized her skills on both sides of the field today as she led the U.S. to its fourth run-rule victory with a 7-0 win against host Greece. Going 2-for-2 from the plate with an RBI, as well as, a one-hit performance from the circle, Fernandez totaled five strikeouts to move Team USA to 6-0 in competition which secures a spot in the medal round. The U.S. has yet to allow a run in Olympic competition and is holding opponents to a mere .070 batting average. Outscoring its opponents 38-0, five of the six games have been one hit performances while at the plate the U.S. is hitting .348 as a team.
“Today was a great outing for us,” Fernandez said. “We really stepped it up on so many levels. We have to keep steady throughout this process and just take each game one at a time.”
The loudest crowd of the tournament with chants of ‘HELLAS’ and ‘USA’ throughout the stadium, the game remained scoreless through the first two innings before the U.S. turned the tide. The bat of U.S. veteran Fernandez came alive to take the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Helping her cause from the circle, the 5’6” legend connected on a two out RBI single through the left side to score Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, CA) who reached on a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Natasha Watley (Irvine, CA).
Posted by garyon Saturday, August 21 @ Eastern Daylight Time (315 reads)
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U.S. rallies in eighth for 3-0 win over Japan;Osterman totals 11 Ks
Athens, GREECE – First-time Olympian Cat Osterman (Houston, TX) looked as though she were a veteran in the circle on Monday afternoon as she led the U.S. to a 3-0 extra inning victory against arch rival Japan. Scoreless through regulation seven innings, the pitcher’s duel between Osterman and Japan veteran Yuri Takayama was a classic before the bats of the U.S. finally came around in the top of the eighth to improve to 3-0.
“Today was very exciting for our team,” Osterman said. “It was good to be able to pitch 2/3 of an inning in our opening game versus Italy. It allowed me to get some of the first game jitters out of the way so I could relax and pitch my game today.”
A rematch of the 2000 gold medal game, this marked the first time in the last six outings that the game was decided by more than one run and the fourth time the game had been decided in extra innings.
Osterman was fearless in the circle during regulation totaling 11 strikeouts and allowing just one hit and one walk. Japan’s Takayama was equally impressive using her defense to hold the U.S. hitless through seven innings.
With chants of ‘USA’ echoing throughout the stadium the tides changed as the international tie breaker rule was put into effect in the top of the eighth. This rule allows the last batter out from the previous inning to be placed on second base. Pinch- runner Amanda Freed (Cypress, CA) entered for the U.S. at second base before a successful sacrifice bunt from Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, CA) placed Freed at third with one out.
Posted by garyon Monday, August 16 @ Eastern Daylight Time (347 reads)
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Diary Section!
Don't forget to keep up with the Diary section. Click the word "Diary" in the Directory section for all the inserts.
Posted by garyon Saturday, August 14 @ Eastern Daylight Time (291 reads)
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