Team USA a Huge Hit in Maryland
Team USA Tour Update
Team USA is a Big Hit as National Tour Continues
Nearly 9,000 watch U.S. squad earn narrow victory against Washington Glory
Nearly 9,000 watch U.S. squad earn narrow victory against Washington Glory
From the time that the United States Olympic softball team took the field for its meeting with the Washington Glory this past Saturday at Prince George’s Stadium in Bowie, it was clear that that this was not an ordinary stop on the Olympic team’s ‘‘Bound 4 Beijing” tour.
A non-Olympic record crowd of 8,724 fans filled the reserved seats and bleachers, lined the grassy areas adjacent down each baseline and stood on the concourse level. Many fans appeared to be current high school and middle school girls who stood in line afterward awaiting autographs from Team USA players they hope to emulate someday.
A non-Olympic record crowd of 8,724 fans filled the reserved seats and bleachers, lined the grassy areas adjacent down each baseline and stood on the concourse level. Many fans appeared to be current high school and middle school girls who stood in line afterward awaiting autographs from Team USA players they hope to emulate someday.
‘‘It was just amazing to see all those people in the stands,” said Team USA second baseman Lauren Lappin, a 2006 Stanford University graduate who is the youngest player on the squad. ‘‘It was awesome. We had never played in a stadium this size and in front of a crowd like this. It was such a great game.”
Many of the previous games on the tour had been foregone conclusions for Team USA. Playing mostly against college teams, the Olympic squad has averaged better than one run per inning and suffered only one loss, a 2-0 setback to Virginia Tech, in 32 contests this year. Saturday against the Glory, which plays in the National Pro Fastpitch league, Olympic team pitchers Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman were locked in a scoreless duel with Glory pitcher Sarah Pauly. Instead of an exhibition, fans were being treated to a dramatic affair.
‘‘In many games, we have to play little mental games just to stay focused,” said Abbott, who struck out five and didn’t allow a hit in two innings. ‘‘We haven’t had many close games like this. But this was great. We had the chance to play a really good team. There are probably some women on the Glory who could compete for a spot on this team. I played a few games with them last summer, so I know how well they can hit and field. It was a good test for us.”
Pitcher Jennie Finch, now in her seventh year with the Olympic team, came into the scoreless game to toss the last two innings. She allowed three hits in two innings and escaped a jam in the top of the seventh with two strikeouts to end the game. The Olympic team scored twice in the sixth when Natasha Watley singled home Lappin on a 3-2 pitch and Andrea Duran drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home a run.
For the national Team USA tour schedule click, "KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour" Source: The Bowie Star -by Christopher Anderson
