Team USA records seventh straight shutout By Tom Withers The Associated Press August 21, 2004
ATHENS, Greece | On a chilly day last October, the U.S. softball team met its match and took a beating like never before -- or since. There was no "mercy rule" to save them. The Navy SEALS don't believe in one. To prepare for the Olympics, the Americans trained with the elite unit in San Diego, running their obstacle courses and enduring tests of mind and body. They learned teamwork and a new motto: So what. On Friday, after posting their seventh straight shutout, 3-0 over Taiwan to finish a sweep through preliminary-round play, the two-time defending gold medalists had but one thought. "So what," Lisa Fernandez said. Cat Osterman struck out 10 in six innings, former University of Alabama player Kelly Kretschman tripled in Lovieanne Jung in the sixth inning, and Crystl Bustos homered for a U.S. team (7-0) that's as hot as the Athenian sunshine. Showing more speed, more pitching, more everything than any team in the tournament over the last week, the Americans have put up some amazing statistics on their way to Sunday's semifinal showdown with Australia, their old Olympic nemesis. Through seven games, the U.S. team has outscored opponents 41-0, allowed just 11 hits, permitted three runners to reach third and compiled a .346 batting average to just .080 for the opposition. Fernandez, a two-time Olympian, is having trouble digesting some of the numbers. "It's mind-boggling when you look at our ERA," she said of the U.S. team's seven-game goose egg. And there's even more. Fernandez, who batted .097 (3-for-31) in Sydney four years ago, is hitting .556 -- second only to Australian Natalie Titcume's .600 -- and her seven RBIs lead the tournament. And Natasha Watley, whose speed may be the U.S. team's best weapon, has four steals, seven infield hits and is unquestionably the toughest out in the world. Oh yeah, and there's the Americans' 77-game winning streak -- not a record but not bad. The accomplishments, though, won't mean a thing if the U.S. team can't win two more games and a gold medal. "It's not how you start," Fernandez said. "It's how you finish." Having cruised and crushed their way through round-robin play untested, except for an extra-inning win over Japan, the U.S. will now face the Aussies, the only team to beat the Americans twice in the Olympics. And the pitcher who got both wins -- Tanya Harding -- will start. "I'm kind of thinking she might be on the mound," said U.S. coach Mike Candrea, who will go with either Jennie Finch or Fernandez. Fernandez is campaigning for the ball. "I want to start every day," she said. ______________________________________________________ RollTideFan - The University of Alabama Athletics Discussion List Welcome to RollTideFan! Wear a cup! To join or leave the list or to make changes to your subscription visit http://listinfo.rolltidefan.net AOL.com addresses are NOT allowed on this list. Get a real ISP.
