The American softballers beat the Japanese team 4-1 after two lengthy extra innings at the Olympic semifinal on Wednesday, with credit given to Crystl Bustos, who struck a homer at the last moment.
In the first seven innings of the match between champion and bronze medalist at the Athens Olympics, pitchers from both sides suppressed their rivals in the circle, maintaining the score of 0-0 to the end.
The most eye-catching pitcher was perhaps 26-year-old Japanese Yukiko Ueno, who worked nine complete innings. Her pitching speed above 110 kilometers per hour, she struck out eight batters, allowed six hits and four runs.
According to regulations, starting from the eighth inning, which is the first one of a tie-breaker, the offensive team shall begin at bat with the player who is scheduled to bat ninth in that respective half inning being placed on second base.
American and Japanese ladies failed to break the ice at the eighth inning.
At the starting of the ninth inning, Tairia Flowers' single put a speedy Natasha Watley across the home plate. This seemed to have battered confidence of their Japanese rivals.
Then slugger Crystl Bustos entered on the stage, and Ueno threw two bad balls for fear of a homer. However, her nightmare finally occurred and the Hercules battered the ball to the stand.
When the stalwart lady was enjoying a bottle of Sprite, Japanese chalked up one score due to lapse of the American team but failed to catch up.
After the match, Bustos described her feeling after the home run as "nothing but joy".
"I know we had enough runs to keep us in the game a little bit longer," she said.
"It was one of our most wonderful yet most difficult matchs so far," said Mike Candrea, head coach of the Amercian team. "Luckily our players pitched well and defended well, creating opportunity for the victory at last."
While Haruka Saito, Japanese head coach, said that they didn't grasp the chance at the critical moment. "But it is not easy for us to drag the Amercian team into an extra."
With an all-success record, the American team is to chase its fourth Olympic gold.
The Japanese team will play winner of the Canada-Australia battle later on Wednesday for a last chance to the final.
Looking into their next semifinal game, Ueno said, "We must pay more attention to our defence. We have to play with more connections between base players."
(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2008)