Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
Softball
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...

 at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...

was held at the Olympic Softball Stadium in the Helliniko Olympic Complex
Helliniko Olympic Complex
The Helliniko Olympic Complex is situated at Ellinikon on the east coast of Greece south of Athens, approximately 16 kilometres from the Olympic Village. It was built on the site of the former Ellinikon International Airport for the staging of the 2004 Summer Olympics and 2004 Summer Paralympics...

 from August 14 to 23. The United States (USA) won the gold while Australia (AUS) took silver and Japan (JPN), the bronze.

It was one of the three sports at the Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...

 Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...

 that was for women only along with Synchronized Swimming
Synchronized swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Synchronized swimming at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held in the Olympic Aquatic Centre where 104 competitors challenged for 2 gold medals in the duet and team events. Each event was made up of a technical and free routine with the points added together to determine the medalists.-Medal...

 and Rhythmic Gymnastics
Gymnastics at the 2004 Summer Olympics
At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, three disciplines of gymnastics were contested: artistic gymnastics , rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline...

.

Eight teams competed for the gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...

 in only the third appearance of the sport at the Summer Olympics.

Medalists

Gold Silver Bronze


Leah Amico
Leah Amico
Leah Marie O'Brien-Amico is an American softball player, best known for her gold medals at the 1996, 2000, and 2004 olympics...


Laura Berg
Laura Berg
Laura Kay Berg is an American softball player who plays the position of center fielder...


Crystl Bustos
Crystl Bustos
|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| 1st || 2006 Oklahoma City|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| 1st || 2007 Oklahoma City|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| 1st || 2005 Akron Racers...


Lisa Fernandez
Lisa Fernandez
For the politician, see Liza Fernandez RodriguezLisa Fernandez is a right-handed softball pitcher of Cuban-Puerto Rican descent. She established an Olympic record in softball with 25 strikeouts in a game as a member of the United States Women's team.-Early years:Lisa's father immigrated from Cuba,...


Jennie Finch
Jennie Finch
Jennie Lynn Finch , who occasionally uses her husband's surname Daigle, is a former American softball player who pitched for the USA national softball team and the Chicago Bandits. Finch helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics...


Tairia Flowers
Tairia Flowers
Tairia Flowers is an American softball player. She is best known for competing on the Gold medal winning United States National softball team...


Amanda Freed
Amanda Freed
Amanda Louise Freed is an American softball player.Freed was born in Fountain Valley, California. She attended UCLA where she played softball....


Lori Harrigan
Lori Harrigan
Lori Harrigan is an American softball player from Anaheim, California, and three times Olympic Champion as a member of the American winning team in 1996, 2000 and 2004. Harrigan played collegiately at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.-References:...


Lovieanne Jung
Lovieanne Jung
Lovieanne Jung is a retired American softball player. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jung moved with her family to California at a young age....


Kelly Kretschman
Kelly Kretschman
Kelly Kretschman is an American softball player who won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She also won the gold in Athens and was on the team for Sydney, although she did not play. She also played the 2003 and 2006 seasons with the Stratford Brakettes of Connecticut...


Jessica Mendoza
Jessica Mendoza
Jessica Mendoza , is an American softball player of Mexican descent, who played for the United States women's national softball team from 2004-2010 and a four-time first team All-American at Stanford University from 1999-2002. Mendoza wears number two and plays outfield...


Stacey Nuveman
Stacey Nuveman
Stacey "Nuvey" Nuveman-Deniz from La Verne, California is a former NCAA Division I four-time First Team All-American, National Champion winning, right-handed hitting softball player for the UCLA Bruins at the catcher position...


Cat Osterman
Cat Osterman
Catherine Leigh "Cat" Osterman , is an American athlete and was one of the pitchers on the USA Women's Softball Team which won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the silver medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics....


Jenny Topping
Jenny Topping
Jenny Louise Topping from Whittier, California is an American, former four-time NCAA Division I First Team All-American, left-handed hitting softball player. She suited up for the University of Washington from 1999-2000 and Cal State Fullerton for the seasons 2001-2003...


Natasha Watley
Natasha Watley
Natasha Watley is an American professional softball player currently with the USA Softball Women’s National Team. She plays the position of shortstop and first base, and helped her team to win the gold medal for softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens...



Sandra Allen
Marissa Carpadios
Marissa Carpadios
Marissa Carpadios is a softball player from Australia, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She was educated at Brisbane State High School.-External links:*...


Fiona Crawford
Fiona Crawford
Fiona Crawford is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics....


Amanda Doman
Amanda Doman
Amanda Doman is a softball player from Australia, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.-External links:*...


Peta Edebone
Peta Edebone
Peta Edebone is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics and 2000 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She was captain of the 2004 squad.After having knee surgery after Athens, she retired from competitive softball...


Tanya Harding
Tanya Harding
Tanya Victoria Harding is an Australian softball player, who has competed for Australia at four consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996. Three times she claimed a bronze medal , and once a silver medal .In 1995, Harding enrolled at UCLA for one trimester...


Natalie Hodgskin
Natalie Hodgskin
Natalie Hodgskin is a softball player from Australia, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.-External links:*...


Simmone Morrow
Simmone Morrow
Simmone Morrow is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She plays in the outfield.-External links:*...


Tracey Mosley
Tracey Mosley
Tracey Mosley is a softball player from Australia, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-External links:*...


Stacey Porter
Stacey Porter
Stacey Porter is a softball player from Australia, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. A powerful hitter, Porter plays professionally in Japan and was first selected for the national team in 2002...


Melanie Roche
Melanie Roche
Melanie Jane Roche is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics and 2000 Summer Olympics, a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics along with a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Participating in 4 Olympic Games and winning 4 Olympic Medals is...


Natalie Titcume
Natalie Titcume
Natalie Titcume is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics and 2000 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She plays catcher and 3rd base....


Natalie Ward
Natalie Ward
Natalie Anne Ward is a softball player from Australia, who won bronze medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics. Ward also won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She plays shortstop and 2nd base...


Brooke Wilkins
Brooke Wilkins
Brooke Wilkins is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics and 2000 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics...


Kerry Wyborn
Kerry Wyborn
Kerry Wyborn is a softball player from Australia, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-External links:*...



Emi Inui
Emi Inui
is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:...


Kazue Ito
Kazue Ito (softball)
is a Japanese softball player who won a silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics, and a bronze medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics.-References:...


Yumi Iwabuchi
Yumi Iwabuchi
is a Japanese softball player who won a bronze medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics.-External links:*...


Masumi Mishina
Masumi Mishina
is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:...


Emi Naito
Emi Naito
is a Japanese softball player who won two medals for Japan in the Olympic Games. In 2000 she played in 2nd base, where she won the silver medal for the team. In 2004 she played as a shortstop, in which her team received a bronze medal....


Haruka Saito
Haruka Saito
is a Japanese softball player who won two medals in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games for Japan.-References:...


Hiroko Sakai
Hiroko Sakai
is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:...


Naoko Sakamoto
Naoko Sakamoto (softball)
is a Japanese softball player who won a bronze medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics.-External links:*...


Rie Sato
Rie Sato
is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:...


Yuki Sato
Yuki Sato (softball)
is a Japanese softball player who won a bronze medal in the 2004 Summer Olympics.-External links:*...


Juri Takayama
Juri Takayama
is a Japanese softball player who played as a pitcher between 1996 and 2004 in the Olympic Games. She won two medals for Japan.-References:...


Yukiko Ueno
Yukiko Ueno
is a Japanese softball pitcher for Renesas Takasaki and the Japanese national team, who holds a bronze and a gold medal from 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics, respectively...


Reika Utsugi
Reika Utsugi
is a Japanese softball player who played in 3rd base. She won the silver medal for Japan in 2000 and the bronze medal in 2004.-References:...


Eri Yamada
Eri Yamada
is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.At Beijing, Yamada hit .344 in the tournament while belting two home runs and driving in five for Japan. In the Gold Medal game she went 2-3, including a solo shot off Cat Osterman.-References:...


Noriko Yamaji
Noriko Yamaji
is a Japanese softball player who played in 1st base and as a catcher in the Olympic Games from 1996 to 2004. For the team she won a silver medal in 2000 and the bronze medal in 2004.-References:...



In one of the most dominating runs in softball history, the United States
United States at the 2004 Summer Olympics
The United States was represented at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece, by the United States Olympic Committee . The delegation of 613 athletes was the largest the country has ever sent to the Summer Olympics...

 team led by head coach Mike Candrea
Mike Candrea
Mike Candrea is the head softball coach at The University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. He was also the head coach of the United States women's national softball team.-Collegiate Coaching Record:...

 won the gold medal by defeating Australia
Australia at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Australia competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece with 482 competitors, which was the second largest Olympic team. Australian athletes have competed in every Summer Olympic Games since 1896...

 5-1 in the championship game on August 23. It was the first time in 9 games that an opponent scored a run against Team USA. Crystl Bustos
Crystl Bustos
|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| 1st || 2006 Oklahoma City|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| 1st || 2007 Oklahoma City|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| 1st || 2005 Akron Racers...

 hit two home runs to provide all the run-support that pitcher Lisa Fernandez
Lisa Fernandez
For the politician, see Liza Fernandez RodriguezLisa Fernandez is a right-handed softball pitcher of Cuban-Puerto Rican descent. She established an Olympic record in softball with 25 strikeouts in a game as a member of the United States Women's team.-Early years:Lisa's father immigrated from Cuba,...

 required. Fernandez pitched all six innings, picking up her second win against Australia in as many days. She also won the semi-final game.

Throughout the tournament Team USA outscored its opponents 51-1. Team USA has won the Olympic gold medal in softball for the third straight time.

Australia's silver medal marks its best result in Olympic softball history. Japan
Japan at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Japan competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece. The delegation of athletes and officials was represented by the Japanese Olympic Committee.-Medalists:-Archery:Men's individual:* Hiroshi Yamamoto - silver medal...

 earned the bronze medal after defeating China
China at the 2004 Summer Olympics
China competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.The team won 32 gold medals and 63 medals in total ....

 in the semi-final, and losing to Australia in the Bronze medal game.

Participants

Results

Starting August 14, there were four preliminary games each day until August 20 for a total of 28 games.
Two semi-final games were played August 22, with the game for third place following later that day. The final game for the gold medal was played on August 23 at 4pm local time.

Standings

Team Pld W L RF RA Pct
7 7 0 41 0 1.000
7 6 1 22 14 0.857
7 4 3 17 8 0.571
7 3 4 15 20 0.429
7 3 4 6 14 0.429
7 2 5 3 13 0.286
7 2 5 6 24 0.286
7 1 6 8 24 0.143

August 14

August 15

17:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
United States 2 0 0 8 X 10 9 2
Game ended by Run Ahead Rule
W: Lisa Fernandez (1-0) L: Brooke Wilkins (0-1)
Home Run
USA 1 : S.Nuveman in 4th, 3 RBI


19:30
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Canada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4
Greece 0 1 0 0 1 0 X 2 3 0
W: Sarah Farnworth (1-1) L: Kaila Holtz (0-1)
Home Run
none

August 16

09:30
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
China 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 4 0
Canada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2
W: Zhang Lixia (1-0) L: Lauren Bay (1-1)
Home Run
none


12:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
United States 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 0
Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 3
W: Catherine Osterman (1-0) L: Juri Takayama (0-1)
Home Run
none


17:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Italy 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 0
Greece 2 0 0 0 0 0 X 2 5 3
W: Sarah Farnworth (2-1) L: Susan Bugliarello (0-1)
Home Run
none


19:30
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Chinese Taipei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Australia 0 0 0 1 0 0 X 1 4 0
W: Wu Chia-Yen (0-2) L: Tanya Harding (2-0)
Home Run
none

August 17

09:30
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
United States 2 1 0 0 1 0 X 4 5 1
W: Lori Harrigan (1-0) L: Zhang Lixia (1-1)
Home Run
USA 1 : C.Bustos in 5th, 1 RBI


12:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Canada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 2
Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
W: Lauren Bay (2-1) L: Yukiko Ueno (0-2)
Home Run
none


17:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Chinese Taipei 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 3 1
Greece 0 0 0 1 0 0 X 0 5 1
W: Lai Sheng-Jung (1-0) L: Sarah Farnworth (2-2)
Home Run
none


19:30
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Australia 2 2 2 0 2 8 10 1
Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
Game end by Run Ahead Rule
W: Melanie Roche (1-0) L: Jennifer Spediacci (0-1)
Home Run
AUS 2 : S.Porter in 1st, 2 RBI;N.Titcume in 5th, 2 RBI

August 18

09:30
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 1
Chinese Taipei 0 0 0 1 0 0 X 1 4 0
W: Lin Su-Hua (1-1) L: Susan Bugliarello (0-2)
Home Run
none


12:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 5 4 0
China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
W: Melanie Roche (2-0) L: Lu Wei (1-1)
Home Run
none


17:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Canada 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
United States 1 2 1 2 1 7 11 1
Game ended by Run Ahead Rule
W: Jennie Finch (2-0) L: Auburn Sigurdson (0-1)
Home Run
USA 2 : C.Bustos in 4th, 1 RBI;L.Fernandez in 4th, 1 RBI


19:30
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Japan 0 3 1 0 0 0 2 6 12 1
Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 2 3
W: Hiroko Sakai (2-0) L: Sarah Farnworth (2-3)
Home Run
none

August 19

09:30
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Chinese Taipei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
China 0 0 0 0 1 0 X 1 4 0
W: Lu Wei (2-1) L: Lai Sheng-Jung (1-1)
Home Run
none


12:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E
Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
United States 0 0 1 3 3 7 9 0
Game ended by Run Ahead Rule
W: Lisa Fernandez (2-0) L: Stephanie Skegas-Maxwell (0-1)
Home Run
none


17:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
Japan 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 8 1
W: Yukiko Ueno (1-2) L: Jennifer Spediacci (1-2)
Home Run
none


19:30
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Australia 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0
Canada 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
W: Melanie Roche (3-0) L: Lauren Bay (2-2)
Home Run
none

August 20

09:30
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Canada 0 0 0 1 0 0 X 1 1 1
W: Lauren Bay (3-2) L: Susan Bugliarello (0-3)
Home Run
none


12:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Chinese Taipei 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2
United States 0 0 0 1 1 1 X 3 8 1
W: Catherine Osterman (2-0) L: Wu Chia-Yen (0-3)
Home Run
USA 1 : C.Bustos in 4th, 1 RBI


17:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Greece 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 2
Australia 0 0 1 2 0 0 X 3 7 1
W: Tanya Harding (3-0) L: Sarah Farnworth (2-4)
Home Run
AUS 2 : T.Mosley in 4th, 2 RBI;S.Porter in 3rd, 1 RBI


19:30
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Japan 0 0 0 0 1 1 X 2 8 0
W: Yukiko Ueno (1-2)** L: Lu Wei (2-2)
Home Run
none


** Perfect game

Medal Round

The semi-final game between the #3 and #4 ranked teams (Japan and China) is an elimination game, with the loser out. The winner faces the loser of the other semifinal in the bronze medal game later Sunday night. The loser of the bronze medal game received the bronze medal. The winner of that game faces the winner of the Australia vs. United States semifinal in the gold medal game, with the winner of that game receiving gold and the loser receiving silver.

Semifinals

August 22 9:30
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 0
China 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 4
W: Yukiko Ueno (2-2) L: Lu Wei (2-3)
Home Run
none


August 22 12:20
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0
United States 0 0 0 1 3 1 x 5 8 0
W: Lisa Fernandez (3-0) L: Melanie Roche (3-1)
Home Run
USA: K. Kretschman in 6th, 1 RBI

Bronze Medal game

August 22 17:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Australia 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 3 4 0
Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
W: Tanya Harding (4-0) L: Juri Takayama (1-2)
Home Run
none

Gold Medal Game

August 23 16:00
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Australia 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 1
United States 3 0 2 0 0 0 x 5 9 0
W: Lisa Fernandez (4-0) L: Tanya Harding (4-1)
Home Run
USA : C.Bustos in 1st, 2 RBI; C.Bustos in 3rd, 1 RBI; S.Nuveman in 3rd, 1 RBI

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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