August 16, 2004 11:50 am
Softball team survives challenge from Japan
HELLINIKO, Greece - All Kelly Kretschman wanted to do was hit the ball hard and far.
She did just that - just far enough to get the United States the run it needed in what turned out to be a 3-0 win over Japan here at Helliniko Stadium.
``Just out of the infield,'' said Kretschman, of Indian Harbour Beach, Fla., who gave Team USA a 1-0 lead in the eighth inning. ``I was trying to blow it out of the infield. I wasn't sure it was far enough because of the wind. But it was.''
And Team USA was good enough survive its closest game of the 2004 Athens games so far. This time there was no mercy rule, following 7-0 and 10-0 victories over Italy and Australia.
``Whatever it takes to win,'' said reserve Jenny Topping, who singled in USA's second run in the three-run eighth. ``It doesn't matter to us.''
USA starter Cat Osterman picked up the win, allowing one hit and striking out 11.
Monday's struggle wasn't necessarily a surprise. Japan is a strong medal contender, and five of the last seven games between the two teams have gone to extra innings.
``That's what you expect,'' said USA softball coach Mike Candrea. ``These guys are a very good team and have been playing together for a long time. We know when we play it's going to come down to who makes a mistake.''
Japan didn't make a mistake, but Team USA was good enough to move them to 3-0 in pool play with victories over its two major rivals - Australia and Japan.
``I think it sets us up pretty well,'' said Lovieanne Jung, a former University of Arizona star who scored on Topping's single in the eighth. ``We hadn't seen them in a couple of years. It was good to see their pitchers, defense and offense before the medal round.''
Amanda Freed was placed on second at the start of the eighth per international rules for extra-inning games and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Stacey Nuveman.
After Jung battled Jami Takayama for 17 pitches - including 10 foul balls - she drew a base on balls. Kretschman followed with her game-winning sacrifice fly.
Two days earlier, she got her first Olympics hit in her first at bat against Italy.
``It was the greatest experience ever,'' Kretschman said of her first hit. ``Just to be here and be able to play and then get a hit in the first at bat was great.''
On Monday, her emotions were geared toward a larger goal.
``It'll all feel better when we win the gold medal,'' she said. ``I just want to continue to do what I need to do, whether it's a hit or a sac fly.''
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