Americans settle for silver in softball

BEIJING — This wasn't about the death of a sport and campaigning to the International Olympic Committee for another chance. Maybe it appeared that way to the outside world, but not in the sanctity of the dugout.

There, it was about a softball game, and a gold medal, and a loss.

And how much it hurt.

The United States was upset by Japan 3-1 Thursday night for their first Olympic loss since 2000. For many in the stands, the defeat was compounded by the fact that the IOC has voted to eliminate softball from the Games after Beijing. The irony is that many believe it's because the Americans are too dominant, routinely winning by lopsided scores.

"I really kind of feel that maybe people will get off our back and realize that there is some parity in this game," U.S. coach Mike Candrea said.

That was a point his players have long insisted but never wanted to prove.

When they did Thursday night, they were more concerned with losing a game than a future.

"If we had the Olympics again tomorrow, it would still make it hard to lose," shortstop Natasha Watley said. "It doesn't make any difference."

The Americans found out what it's like to participate in a medal ceremony without ascending the top step. Coincidentally or otherwise, Crystl Bustos chose to make that climb wearing sunglasses.

"The big picture, I haven't really thought about it yet," said Bustos, who hit six home runs in the tournament, breaking her Olympic record by one. "It hasn't sunk in. Give it time. We'll probably think about it in a month or so and look back and realize it's hopefully not the last time. But for now, it's what it seems it is."

Those in the sport hedge their comments, hoping that campaigns for a reprieve might make the IOC reconsider. As reporters entered the news conference room to speak with the Americans, they were handed an advisory regarding plans for a "major, new international softball event" to take place in 2009, with details to come today.

Such concerns will take precedence another day. Thursday night, if you walked into the Fengtai Softball Field without knowing the significance of what was unfolding, you wouldn't have sensed anything was wrong by appearance alone.

"The loss hurts too much in the moment to think far into the future," pitcher Cat Osterman said. "It's disappointing, but hopefully for the really young ones, there's a chance for reinstatement and another shot at this."

The Americans will leave wondering what went wrong against a Japanese pitcher with an iron arm. Yukiko Ueno went the distance, allowing five hits and only Bustos' home run in the fourth, despite throwing 21 innings over two games Wednesday to get Japan back into gold-medal contention.

"We hit the ball hard," Candrea said. "It's not like we didn't have opportunities. We just couldn't find a hole when we needed to. She threw a good ballgame."

Japan scored in the third, fourth and seventh. Mashina Masumi beat a throw home on a grounder to open the scoring, Eri Yamada hit a home run and Megu Hirose scored on a throwing error home by backup pitcher Monica Abbott.

Pitcher Jennie Finch never got in, Candrea said, because of matchup reasons.

The key moment came in the bottom of the sixth, with Japan up 2-1. Bustos was intentionally walked with a runner on second and one out. Moments later, with the bases loaded, Andrea Duran and Stacey Nuveman both popped out.

"I really didn't get the job done," Nuveman said.

The only job left is the toughest: getting the sport back in the Olympics.

"People can say at times we're too good," Osterman said. "Well, we sit here and tell you guys, 'No, there's parity.' You guys don't see it.

"You saw it tonight."

Hal Habib writes for The Palm Beach Post.