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The third World Cup of Softball
takes place this weekend with Team USA looking to keep the title it won
from Japan last year. We have updates and video all weekend. Check out our new location: World Cup of Softball 2007
Michele Smith is one of the greatest softball pitchers of all time. She has won countless gold medals and helped put USA Softball on the international map both with her work at the Olympics and playing abroad in Japan. This is Part II of our discussion where she talks about the future of softball and the IOC's controversial decision to drop the sport from international competition. Be sure to check out Pt. I of our conversation.
You’re right the pitching staff is young and talented with the likes of Cat Osterman, Jennie Finch, Jamie Southern, Monica Abbott, and Alicia Hollowell. And they’ve been dominant so far in this tournament but how do you think they will fare in Beijing?
It’s easy to play when you’re 14 runs up. The pressure is going to be when they have to perform in 0-0 games and when that one bad pitch can lose the game for your team. I think they can. They just have to be in that situation.
Turning to something a little less pleasant what happened with the IOC dropping softball from the Olympics?
It’s very political. I think they made a decision in July. I think they expected to make that decision for baseball and not for softball. It was a comedy of events for softball to get voted out. It just kind of happened.
Then when we appealed to have a re-vote they voted not to have the re-vote simply because they were afraid it would look bad if the sport was voted back in. so now they’re more worried about what they look like rather than doing the right thing. That’s politics. That’s terrible.
Do you think it possibly has an anti-American component to it?
Oh, I think so as well. And I think they categorize it as female baseball, but softball is a completely different sport. We’re drug-free; we’ve done a lot of great things. I mean the rest of the world has to catch up to the U.S. a little bit. We’re the benchmark. Everyone else has to keep working hard.
How can we get softball back at the Olympics?
Well, I definitely think we have to keep fighting for 2016 and if we can get one of the North American cities named as the host city I think there’s a good chance we’ll get put back onto the program.
There might need to be some changes to the game too. Nobody wants to keep watching games that are 14-0 wins.
What kinds of changes do you think those might be?
I think there’s a couple different things that could potential happen. In 2000 when the games were at 40 feet the games were exciting. Now granted they did go too long but at least they were competitive and everybody had a chance to beat us. Australia had a chance to beat us and did. Japan had a chance to beat us and did beat us. China did the same thing. That’s exciting.
That will gather fans. When it’s blowouts all the time and those other programs can’t step up to play this game it’s a little bit tougher. In the 40 feet game it was more difficult to hit no matter who you were. The thing with the 40 feet game is that they should have shrunk the strike zone. They probably should have moved back the fences, shrunk the strike zone, and make the pitchers throw it over the plate. Then you would have gotten your hits. At 43 feet the U.S. is just so dominating—it’s very difficult to shut them down. As an American I’m always happy to see then do well. As a fan of the game I want to see the sport grow. I do think we have some work to do.
What direction do you see softball going in the next 10-15 years?
Well I think it’s going to continue to be strong in the NCAA here in the U.S. My main concern is what’s going to happen to all these international programs that now don’t have International Olympic funding from their national governing bodies. Not as much Japan because there’s great corporate sponsorship.
But I worry about the Chinese teams---the Australian teams—Italy, Great Britain, and Greece. Any of the teams that were really starting to make some progress in the European countries where we have to get stronger—it’s essentially going to kill them over there. So we have to continue to grow and find a way to get back on the program.
I challenged a lot of the players on this team that it’s their job to continue to carry the torch and help grow the sport worldwide. Being strong in the U.S. isn't enough anymore. Nobody wants to watch a one-team tournament anymore.
Brandon Marcello is the Strength and Conditioning Coach for USA Softball and for Baylor University. We spoke to him to get his thoughts on how he prepared the team for the World Cup of Softball—and on-field temperatures that reached as high as 110 degrees.
What are the responsibilities of a Strength and Conditioning Coach? For the USA Softball team the responsibilities are to develop strength and conditioning programs for the girls based on an individual prescription.
We need to know what the needs of the sport dictate, what the needs of the position dictate, and we need to know what the needs of each individual is within each of those descriptions. Whether it’s a pitcher, infielder, outfielder, etc.
How are the needs different by position in softball? A lot of it depends on limiting factors. If you look at it by position pitchers need more overall stamina than the other positions. If you’re looking at catchers you know that hip mobility plays an important part. There’s a lot of things which transcend all the positions such as balance, stability, shoulder stability, hip stability—things of that nature. But the goal is to attack that specific limiting factor and find something that helps an athlete lift up their game.
I noticed your pre-game warm-up with had a lot of balance and coordination drills. With a sport such as softball it’s very chaotic. You don’t know where the ball is going to be at all—so you have to be able to respond and react. And being in balance is absolutely key to success. But it isn’t just on the conditioning side.
We also stress being in close communication with the rest of the support staff such as the massage therapist, the team physician, and the team athletic trainer. We all work in concert with each other to find out exactly what the athlete’s needs are.
What are some of the common injuries you guys are looking out for and what do you do to treat them? The common injuries are typically shoulder injuries and lower back injuries. So depending on what injuries they may have had coming up and injury histories are very well-known. But we have a very healthy group. We’re lucky not to have many injuries at all.
At this stage it’s more of an overuse thing. Sometimes that’s an issue with pitchers but we have so many good ones—who can all be considered #1 pitchers. So the workload can be spread across pretty well. The big thing is to make sure they are conditioned and they don’t fatigue as quickly. When fatigue sets in that’s when you’re setting yourself up for possible injuries to occur. So if we can increase that stamina where they don’t get fatigued as quickly we’ve made a great contribution for injury prevention. And hopefully it translated onto the field.
Check out these exclusive photos from the final trophy ceremony and post-game autograph session from USA's Softball victorious run at the World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City. One of the coolest things I've ever seen were all the players signing autographs for up to an hour and a half after the final game. Way to go girls! You rock!
What was the strategy tonight going after Japan?
We had a gameplan that Stacy and I wanted to execute and we did it almost perfectly the first couple of innings. We were going up and down. Making them foul off pitches and get off the plate a little bit.
Later in the game I got behind a little bit. But overall I felt like I was doing really well tonight.
How good did it feel to beat the team that beat you guys last year?
It’s a game you want to come out and make a statement. To say…we can beat you guys. I wanted to come out and make a statement that I’m a lot more solid pitcher than I showed last year.
Did you feel pressure to be the ace this year with Jennie out for so long?
Everybody says ‘you’re the ace’ but part of that is because Jennies not 100%. We have six pitchers and any one of them could be #1’s. By default I got the role and I’m ready to take it if that’s what coach wants from me.
Can you talk about the contribution the crowd made tonight?
The crowd is amazing! It’s great to hear then yell and scream when you take the field. They’re totally behind you and that’s an amazing feeling. You don’t get that everywhere. It was nice for us to have such a big crowd. Sometimes you get fans that just sit and watch…but not these guys. No way!
Cat Osterman. She wasn’t too shabby tonight, was she?
She was dirty. The dropball was ridiculous. We just wanted to spot the ball and get them guessing. Mixing in some other pitches. But she had everything going. In the end she was kinda going for the big strikeout more than she needs to do. She’s not the kind of pitcher who needs to throw it by people. Her movement is what makes her good. But overall she established herself as a go-to pitcher on this team.
How big was it beating Yukikio Ueno the Japanese ace tonight?
It’s big…because it breaks down the mystery about her. Not that we don’t respect her…because we do…but I feel like there’s a confidence that’s shifted our way now. She’s not un-hittable. She’s not unbeatable. And that’s a big deal for us to do it here in Oklahoma City.
Your homerun was a shot to the deepest part of the park. What did she throw you there? And what was your approach?
It was something hard and in. Like a screwball. I just felt really relaxed today in the box. As a hitter when you face somebody who’s throwing 72-73 you have to be relaxed. As soon as you get anxious you come out of yourself. That was my focus. I was trying to shorten up. I actually choked up on my bat a little bit. Because she’s going to provide the power for me. It’s just a question of me being on time.
Were you relieved to see her pulled early in the game?
Well…no…to be honest with you I would have liked to have seen her a little longer. Just to get more chances to see her and get a feel for her. I still think that’s the reason they pulled her. Don’t let us get more looks at her than we need to.
What difference did the extra training for the team make this year?
Looking back to last year in how we didn’t train and just came into the World Cup last year I think we maybe overestimated ourselves a little bit. Just in what we were capable of doing without being together on a regular basis. You look at the results this week and they kinda just speak for themselves.
Our team defense was solid. Last year defensively we made a ton of errors. I felt like our hitting was more consistent 1-9 this year. I think taking the time in the spring definitely helped us.
Is this tournament a good way to build toward the games in Beijing and the World Championships?
I think we made a statement. We hit the ball really well. Our pitchers were amazing. And I think we’re definitely on our way to doing what we need to do in Beijing. I wouldn’t say we’ve earned it yet. But the big show is yet to come.
There are 5,046 seats at the Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium but it wasn’t enough for the record crowd that came to watch a victorious U.S. squad defeat Japan 5-2 to claim the title for World Cup of Softball II.
It wasn’t the blowout many of the American victories had been prior but it was an exciting game that featured dominant pitching, and perhaps most importantly, an American squad that had finally figured out Japanese ace Yukiko Ueno.
The U.S. scored early as they had done all series and then put it away with home runs by Stacy Nuveman, Lovieanne Jung, and Andrea Duran as well as timely hitting by Jessica Mendoza and Caitlin Lowe.
But the big story was Cat Osterman. For awhile it looked like there was going to be talk of a no-hitter. (Not very loud talk. Nobody would want to be accused of jinxing her.) And as she struck out eight of the first nine batters an American victory looked all but certain.
But despite a few late-game struggles she delivered a championship that will go a long way toward seeding the team for the Beijing Olympics…and maybe most importantly erase any certainty that USA Softball is the #1 team in the world.
It may be hard to see from TV how much movement Cat Osterman’s ball has when she pitches but sitting up here in a sweaty smelly press box in Oklahoma City you can see how the Japanese batters constantly bail out of the box thinking the ball will be inside only to have it crusie back right over the plate. She is truly amazing! I would go buy a jersey…but I’ve heard they are sold out of my size.
Michele Smith is one of the greatest softball pitchers of all time. She has won countless gold medals and helped put USA Softball on the international map both with her work at the Olympics and playing abroad in Japan. She is in Oklahoma City covering the World Cup of Softball for ESPN and we spoke with her to get her thoughts on a variety of subjects. This is Part I of our discussion where she talks about being inducted into the Hall of Fame and the current U.S. National Team.
Being inducted into the Hall of Fame and watching four blowout U.S.A. wins…it’s been a pretty good last couple of days, huh?
Yeah it’s been great. The U.S. team has been playing lights out. Being inducted into the Hall of Fame was great. Very cool. And doing it in Oklahoma City too!
Growing up as a little girl in Califon, NJ did you ever think you’d be in the Hall of Fame someday?
I never really thought about the end of my career because I was so involved in playing the next day. And because I still play professionally in Japan it was a shock all of a sudden. It was “Oh my god! The Hall of Fame!” So it really took me by surprise. I think a lot of athletes who get inducted haven’t been playing for awhile so they can think about it but it blew me away and came as a great shock.
Jessica Mendoza just wrote a very nice blog post about yourself and the other players that put softball on the map like Donna Lopiano and Dot Richardson. It must be nice to know the current players appreciate the ground-breaking players that came before them.
It’s a great feeling. For me when I was playing I’d look back on the Joan Joyce’s and the Kathy Arendsen’s who blazed the trail and never got to compete in the Olympic games --and then there we were in the first Olympics and the second Olympics-- and it made you appreciate those who came before you.
For these players today to recognize our accomplishments shows a trickle down effect and one of the reasons this sport has such a great tradition and winning spirit within USA Softball.
Let’s turn to the current team. What’s the difference between this year’s team and last year’s team?
Well I think this year’s team is more prepared. I think after Athens the team probably was a little bit spread out. They were playing in the Pro Leagues and they weren’t practicing a lot as a team. So I think this year they’ve had training camps January through June. And since June they’ve been training together and doing lots of great stuff. Softball is a team sport. The more the team is together the more they are going to gel. The more a team is hitting together you get that rhythm going. I think this is what we’re seeing. This team is very strong. This is an important year. It seeds softball for the Beijing Olympics so being sharp in World Championships is extremely important.
Is this one of the best U.S. pitching rotations you’ve ever seen?
I think it’s the best lineup I’ve seen. As far as the pitching rotation…unbelievable talent…but very young. But they’re getting their opportunities which is very exciting. In two-three years they’re going to be even better. And that’s what’s so important.
Because if you look back at the last decade of U.S. pitching within the Olympics the only three pitchers that have ever thrown in any medal games were myself, Lisa Fernandez, and Michele Granger in 1996. So there’s nobody else with that experience. So these young kids have got to get it now. This is a very key year for Cat Osterman, Jennie Finch, Jamie Southern, Monica Abbott, and Alicia Hollowell. They’ve all got to step up and with Lisa not playing this year they’ve got to learn how to play with pressure.
Tickets were hard to come by for tonight’s World Cup of Softball final in Oklahoma City between Japan and USA Softball. A sold-out crowd pushed many spectators out to the outfield lawn where—though temperatures approached 98 degrees at 8pm—fans still deliroulsy screamed when Cat Osterman made her way to the mound.
The game had a bit of a rough start when Tony the Tiger threw out the ceremonial pitch and almost hit Japanese starter Yukiko Ueno in the head. But despite the close call the game started off without a hitch.
Cat dominated. Again. The first three Japanese batters looked off-balance as they were unable to hit the ball past the pitcher mound in the first.
In the bottom of the first the Caitlin Lowe/ Natasha Watley double-leadoff experiment paid dividends again. Lowe came up with the Japanese outfielders so close it looked like there were 8 infielders defending her. Despite this she was able to bounce an infield single through middle.
Watley got on with a misplay by the third baseman. Then Jessica Mendoza came through AGAIN with an opposite-field single. As Mendoza reached the second he jumped up and down on the base showing a lot of excitement.
It’s clear that the Japanese defense let down their ace in the first inning. This was a surprise because one strength of Team Japan has been their defense. It better improve if the Japanese are going to have a chance against a pitcher of the caliber of Cat Osterman.
All signs point to Cat Osterman going tonight but Coach Mike Candrea has not officially announced his pitching plans for tonight. When asked by an Oklahoma beat reporter yesterday who he was leaning towards Coach Candrea said, "I'm gonna sleep on it."
Who would you throw against the Japanese tonight?
The U.S. continued their penchant for quick beginnings in the 1st inning of today’s game against Japan by jumping out to an early 3-0 lead. Caitlin Lowe and Natasha Watley continue to wreak havoc at the top of the order and Jessica Mendoza continues to mash the ball like a Hall-of-Famer.
Despite the early lead Japan threatened to answer back in the bottom of the 1st. Japan loaded the bases but a tremendous defensive play by Tairia Flowers at first squashed the Japanese rally.
The U.S. blew it wide open in the fourth with a Watley triple and Mendoza home run and tacked on two more in the fifth to make it an easy 11-0 victory.
Though the U.S. will play this Japan team again tomorrow in the finals all signs indicate the Japanese will throw their ace Yukiko Ueno who beat them last year at this same event.
You’ve been red-hot at the plate this tournament. Are you seeing the ball really well right now?
To me it sounds repetitive but more than anything I’m feeding off this crowd. How cool was that…two outs…everyone is there chanting ‘USA’ at the end of the game. I was jumping up and down until they hit me the ball and I’m like “Oh shoot, I have to catch this.”
But seriously I think more than anything I’m just feeling this crowd and feeling what it’s like to play for the USA. We don’t get to have this very often. The fans we’ve had here. There’s nothing better. Nothing better.
And in 102 degree weather?
I love this weather. It’s sweaty softball weather. (Laughs)
What’s your gameplan for tomorrow?
Ueno is a tough pitcher so I’ve got to shorten it up my stroke. But we’ve got an amazing lineup. Tasha and Caitlin are just on the fire. You basically hit anything and they’re going to score…they’re so fast. And with Bustos right behind me I got to make sure that I do my job so she gets good pitches to hit.
If your homerun in the fourth inning had hit the Escalade in right field would you have gotten to take that home?
Yeah I was wondering about that. Maybe I should ask somebody about that. (Laughs)
Feeling pretty comfortable at the plate? (Tairia went 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI.)
A little bit yeah. I’ve been a little off and on lately but I felt good today.
What was the hitting gameplan today for Japan?
I think everybody has their own gameplan because there are so many different kinds of hitters. But for me it was just to come out and be aggressive. Jump on strikes early.
You made an outstanding defensive play in the first inning getting a lead runner at third. Do you take a lot of pride in your defense?
I do. I’m a little bit more consistent with my defense than my offense but you can really change a game’s direction with defense.
And the play where you extended to catch the ball at first and went into the splits. Is that a play you go over in practice? (Laughs)
You CAN’T practice that! (Laughs) But I stretch a lot.
I must admit if I did had done that I would have needed surgery.
Yeah, I can see that. (Laughs.)
Very funny. It’s tough to beat a team twice in a row. What’s the key to beating Japan tomorrow in the final?
I think just stay positive and keep our good at-bats in our head and remember what we did today. But also remember it’s a new day and not get over-confident and go right after them.
Do you feel like with this lineup that you’re going to score every time you get on base?
Yeah that’s the goal. Between me and Caitlin if we get on base we put ourselves in a really good situation to score.
You seem pretty comfortable with the switch to hitting second?
Yeah I’m still leadoff. I mean if she gets on I’ll move her over or whatever needs to get done. We’re kind of a double threat.
That was a nice triple in the 4th inning. Any chance of you hitting cleanup in the future?
Umm…maybe not. I think I’ll stick to hitting 1 or 2.
It’s tough to beat a team twice in a row. What’s the key to beating Japan tomorrow in the final?
We just have to come out like we’ve been doing. Play our game and do the things we need to do. Put the ball in play. Coach always says the game is played on the ground. So as we long do that and make them make plays we’ll put ourselves in a good situation.
As the teams complete their pre-game preparations, the stands are packed and the 95+ heat is giving new meaning to the words "warm up". Both teams look fresh and ready to play despite the heat. It is looking as if today's game between Team USA and Japan will be a preview to the Championship game, with both teams looking to stay undefeated, so I'm sure it will be a good one.
Tony the Tiger threw out the first pitch and is a big hit with the thousands of young fans in attendance. The crowd roared it's approval and the game is set to go. Should be grrrrrrrreeeat!
Today was a very eventful day. Besides playing two games against Australia and China, we also were able to see a softball great be inducted into the Softball Hall of Fame: Michele Smith. One of the biggest reasons why there is such an amazing feeling every time you put on a USA jersey, besides a love for this country, is to know who wore it before you.
From great names like Bertha Tickey, Donna Lopiano, and Kathy Arendsen, to even the more recent like Michele Smith, Dot Richardson, Sheila Cornell-Douty, and Michele Granger – who are all getting inducted into the Softball Hall of Fame this year. These women paved the way for what USA softball has become and set the highest standard of what it means to be a softball player in this country. I have learned more from these women about this game than I could have learned from even the best coaches.
I have learned how much passion it takes, how much hard work must be put in, but most importantly, I have learned that no matter what success is achieved, the ability to give back to those of the future is the most important of all. These are the things I think about when Michele Smith is being inducted and our whole team is looking on; she is one of the ambassadors before us, and it is now our job to carry the torch for the future.
Great job tonight Caitlin. You and Natasha seem pretty comfortable with the 1-2 switch at the top of the order?
Yeah I think we’re pretty much interchangeable. One of us is going to get the job done and hopefully the other person will move her over.
It’s almost like having two leadoff hitters at the top of the lineup?
Oh definitely. I think if I don’t get on Natasha will do the job.
What did you think of the Caitlin Lowe shift in the fourth inning? (Where China brought in the right fielder as an extra infielder.) Did it make you feel like David Ortiz at all?
If I have all infield singles---at some point they’re going to make an adjustment. I just have to be able to read the defenses and do something about it. If I see it tomorrow I’ll just have to make the adjustment.
Talk about the crowd for a second…they seem to really be an emotional part of the game.
They’re sooo amazing. It’s so great to have people come out here and support what you really love to do. I’m just glad we’re having such a good turnout.
All week long the U.S. National Softball Team has stated the importance of getting off to a quick start and avoid the sort of 1st-round loss they had to Canada last year. After playing China tonight it’s clear that there is no chance of that happening this year.
The U.S. scored four runs in the first inning BEFORE they even recorded a single out. They would go on to score six more runs in the first inning causing the near-capacity crowd to scream with delight and the advertising sponsors to cringe in their boots at a possible game called after third innings. A few reactions to the game tonight:
The switch of Caitlin Lowe and Natasha Watley in the 1-2 spot seems to have really paid dividends. It provided the catalyst in the two games today and both of them provide leadoff quality at-bats that no other team can match in the tournament.
Crystl Bustos can hit the ball a very long way.
China’s coach Michael Bastian has a very quick hook—having used two pitchers in the first inning. Considering the way that they pitched you can understand why.
China’s defense was, how can I say this, less than stellar. There were numerous plays they botched and the U.S. team is too good to give numerous second-chances.
There is a growing debate in the press room over who is getting louder ovations….Jennie Finch or Cat Osterman. It seems to be Cat temporarily but I’ll keep you posted on how my informal poll goes the rest of the tournament.
Monica Abbott pitched a great game. But I’m still surprised we haven’t seen more of Alicia Hollowell yet. Maybe tomorrow?
The buzz around the press box is that this year’s U.S. team is much better than last year’s....and that the China team is far inferior to the teams they brought to international competition.
Today the U.S. team faces perhaps their biggest test of the tournament—the ever-dangerous team from Japan. 12pm CST.
Great job tonight. What was the gameplan against China? And did it change at all with a 10-run lead in the first?
No, our gameplan didn’t change once we scored. We had a plan going in and we stuck to that. We wanted to attack their hitters and I think we did that pretty well tonight.
You seemed to have command of all your pitches tonight.
Yeah we worked everything tonight. And we worked moving the pitch and just keeping them off-balance a little bit. And jenny topping worked really well. She called a great game. And Jennie Finch worked well too. We just all worked real well to help the team win. I threw my game…Finchie threw her game and it all came together.
And tomorrow a big test with Japan…the biggest test of the tournament?
Yeah it’s definetly our big test. Last year we didn’t’ have much success against them. But we’re definitely ready to compete against them tomorrow.
Alicia is one of the most exciting young players in softball--and one of its dominant pitchers. She led the Arizona Wildcats to a National Championship and threw a record 64 strikeouts in the College World Series. We met up with her to get her take on the National team and the friendly collegiate rivlaries She is also from a small town in California which is impossible to pronounce...Suisun County.
Let’s start with a toughie. Where the heck is your hometown of Suisun city?
It is in Northern California-about 45 minutes away from Sacramento. Right in the middle of Oakland, Berkley, and Fairfield.
How did you get started in softball?
When I was in the 4th grade they sent home flyers for a rec league at school. I told my parents I wanted to do it and they signed me up. The rest is history.
This is your second year on the national team squad. Is it kinda like being a sophomore all over again?
Yes and no. All the girls are awesome and they treat everyone as equals. The real trick is getting used to a much higher level of play.
Did playing for the junior women’s national team prepare you in any way for the national team?
Yeah definitely. The other national teams play very similar to how the U.S. National team plays. It’s a quicker, faster game and playing for the junior national is a good warmup for it.
Have you come down off the buzz of winning the College World Series yet?
Not really. (Laughs) I’m still pretty excited. We LOVE to talk about it.
The Pac-10 is pretty well-represented on the National Team. Any friendly rivalries on the team?
Not really. Once we’re all done with school we’re focused on one goal. We’re all one unit. Though we’ll still randomly throw out a ‘Boo UCLA’ every once in awhile.
What’s the mindset of the team as they prepare for the World Cup?
We’re excited. We’re ready to play and dominate. It’s what we’ve been working toward for a whole year. Finally we get to step on the field. We’re ready.
Last question. I’ve always wanted to know…what’s it like to strike out 61 in a high school game?
It was the longest game ever. Honestly you can’t keep track of what we’re doing with a game that runs 30 innings. It was fun—a nice piece of history. But very very long.
Finishing off a great run at Fresno State Jamie joined the U.S. National team last year and has continued to be a powerful force in the pitching staff. We spoke to her as she prepared for her game against Canada and touched on important subjects such as the future of Fresno State softball and why the 'Panthers' wear pink.
You’re pitching your first game against Canada. Are you pretty familiar with that squad from the North?
Yeah. We had a win against them in the qualifier for the Pan Am games back in November so we know themn pretty well. It will be a challenge playing them again.
What’s the key to pitching against Canada?
Keeping them off-balance. Using all my pitches. Showing them a lot of different looks. Making sure that they don’t pick up on any patterns.
Is there a good rivalry with Canada?
I think with every team you have to build those rivalries within yourself. We won the Pan Am games and I’m sure they’ll be coming here for some revenge.
You’re a proud alum of Fresno State. How do you think the Bulldogs will do next year?
I don’t know. They have a great pitcher in Robin Mackin. It’d be great if they could find some other pitchers to take the pressure off of her.
I’ve noticed there’s some friendly rivalries on the team regarding what college the players attended.
There’s a bit of that. But actually there’s more of a rivalry about what under-18 team you played for such as the ‘Bat Busters’ and the ‘Panthers.’ The other day I heard Stacy say “Who in heck would ever wear pink? Oh yeah…that was me!”
A great debut for you pitching three scoreless innings on the first night against Great Britain.
Yeah it was important for us to come out and show that we are ready and make a statement. It was cool to start cos I’m usually in a relief role.
This is your 2nd year on the national team. Is there a special incentive this year because of last year’s result?
Oh yeah. Last year was a bit of a wake-up call. Just to find out that everybody is out to get us. We had to come out very quickly this year.
What’s the softball scene like in Tennessee?
It’s pretty good. Softball is really growing there and the kids really seem to love it—and they’re who is going to carry the sport in the future.
As a pitcher I’d like to ask you…are there different pitches in softball like there are in baseball?
Sure…but they’re a bit different. There’s riseballs, dropballs, change-ups, curves, screwballs and all sorts of pitches. Of course you can modify all of those to be off-speed—such as an off-speed dropball or off-speed curve.
What’s your best pitch?
I think I’d have to say the riseball. But it depends on the day. It depends on who we’re facing and what pitch would be my best option. The key thing is to understand who you’re throwing to.
Are there certain pitches that are more strenuous on the arm than others?
Probably not. If you don’t throw it right a dropball can be tough on your arm. But that pretty much goes for any pitch—if you throw it wrong you’re going to hurt yourself.
Do you consult scouting reports on all the opponents?
We do. We get them at our meetings where we go over our opponent’s tendencies. It sure helped the first night.
As the temperature broke the 100 degree mark here in Oklahoma City I asked one longtime resident if you ever get used to the heat. He said, ‘Sure. After you put a blow-dryer to your face for an hour.’
Blow-dryer or not the fans here at Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium have been treated to an exhibition of timely hitting, dominant pitching, and solid defense as the U.S. stomped the Australian team 9-0 in a game that was called early on runs.
The same could not be said for an Australian team who have booted the ball around the yard today with surprising inefficiency. I watched their pre-game ritual of playing rugby and instituting some kind of ‘rock, paper, scissors’ game on the field. The emphasis seemed to be on relaxing the team. Maybe they were too relaxed.
Cat Osterman took the mound and was dominant from the beginning—recording two strikeouts in the first inning that made the Australia hitters look very silly. It didnt' get any easier for them.
A switch in the order between Natasha Watley and Caitlin Lowe in the first and second spot seems to have paid dividends. They were constantly getting on base and in the middle of most of the rallies.
Clutch hitting came from Andrea Duran who went opposite field to bring Crystal Bustos—who is a lot faster than people think. And Jenny Topping blooped a ball into left field to score two more. But the big damage was done again by Jessica Mendoza who might be the hottest hitter on the team right now.
After this victory the U.S. National Team takes on China tonight at 6pm CST in what promises to be a hard-fought match--but with a heat index still well over 100!
Your grand slam home run in the 4th inning was quite a shot. It almost hit the SUV out there beyond the fence.
No it didn’t. (laughs) That’s Bruce Lee power.
What pitch were you looking for in that situation?
I was just looking for something down. My first at-bat I was a little passive and wasn’t really into my game mode just yet. Second at-bat I was looking to get a little more aggressive. Find something down in the zone and just jump on it.
Do you think you guys could have drawn up a better start to the World Cup?
Probably. (Laughs) Just kidding. Actually it’s more of a relief than anything else—knowing how much pressure we put on ourselves.
Canada was a tough opponent. What was the gameplan tonight facing Canada?
I was just going right at people. That’s my gameplan. Just get comfortable and get an inning or two before a start. So I felt good.
Did you know you were going to pitch tonight?
I knew I was the first in the bullpen. But there was no guarantee I was going to pitch tonight.
Have they told you how much you’re going to pitch in the World Cup?
No, they just told me to be ready everyday. I’m always ready everyday so it doesn’t really matter. I think we’re clicking on all cylinders. Pitchers are getting their innings. Come the stretch we’ll be ready.
You had a lot of U-T supporters tonight. Is it good to be back in Big-12 country?
Yeah it’s nice to be back in Oklahoma. I think the fans here have seen me enough. It’s kind of a second home. Now that I’m not wearing burnt orange they don’t hate me so much. But it’s still nice to see so much burnt orange up there.
Please stayed tuned. Over the next couple weeks, several guest bloggers will be added to this blog, including U.S. National Team players. A lot of great content to be posted. Session 1 begins July 13!
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