Softball was a women's sporting event at the 2004 Summer Olympics. Games were played at the softball stadium in the Helliniko Olympic Complex from August 14 to 23. The United States won the gold while Australia took silver and Japan received bronze.
Softball was one of the three sports at the 2004 Athens Olympics that was for women only along with Synchronized Swimming and Rhythmic Gymnastics. Eight teams competed for the gold medal in only the third appearance of softball at the Summer Olympics. The softball competition featured 120 athletes.
Japanese pitcher Yukiko Ueno threw a perfect gamethe first at an Olympics’ softball competitionin a preliminary round match against China.ABC "Beijing 2008 Softball" The United States dominated the overall competition, winning all seven of its preliminary matches and defeating Australia twice in the medal round.
Medalists GoldSilverBronze Leah Amico Laura BergCrystl BustosLisa FernandezJennie FinchTairia FlowersAmanda FreedLori HarriganLovieanne JungKelly KretschmanJessica MendozaStacey NuvemanCat OstermanJenny ToppingNatasha Watley Sandra AllenMarissa CarpadiosFiona CrawfordAmanda DomanPeta EdeboneTanya HardingNatalie HodgskinSimmone MorrowTracey MosleyStacey PorterMelanie RocheNatalie TitcumeNatalie WardBrooke WilkinsKerry Wyborn Emi InuiKazue ItoYumi IwabuchiMasumi MishinaEmi NaitoHaruka SaitoHiroko SakaiNaoko SakamotoRie SatoYuki SatoJuri TakayamaYukiko UenoReika UtsugiEri YamadaNoriko Yamaji
In one of the most dominating runs in softball history, the United States team led by head coach Mike Candrea won the gold medal by defeating Australia 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 hit two home runs to provide all the run-support that pitcher Lisa Fernandez 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 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 earned the bronze medal after defeating China 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
Qualified for the semifinals Eliminated
TeamWLRSRAWIN%Tiebreaker704101.000-612214.857-43178.571-341520.4291–034614.4290–125313.2861–025624.2860–116824.143-
Preliminary round August 14
August 15
August 16 09:30
Team1234567RHE China0000040440 Canada0000000042W: Zhang Lixia (1-0) L: Lauren Bay (1-1) Home Runnone
12:00
Team12345678RHE United States00000003330 Japan00000000013W: Catherine Osterman (1-0) L: Juri Takayama (0-1) Home Runnone
17:00
Team1234567RHE Italy0000100160 Greece200000X253W: Sarah Farnworth (2-1) L: Susan Bugliarello (0-1) Home Runnone
19:30
Team1234567RHE Taiwan0000000020 Australia000100X140W: Wu Chia-Yen (0-2) L: Tanya Harding (2-0) Home Runnone
August 17
09:30
Team1234567RHE China0000000011 United States210010X451W: Lori Harrigan (1-0) L: Zhang Lixia (1-1) Home RunUSA 1 : C.Bustos in 5th, 1 RBI
12:00
Team12345678RHE Canada00000001112 Japan00000000031W: Lauren Bay (2-1) L: Yukiko Ueno (0-2) Home Runnone
17:00
Team1234567RHE Taiwan0000002231 Greece000100X051W: Lai Sheng-Jung (1-0) L: Sarah Farnworth (2-2) Home Runnone
19:30
Team12345RHE Australia222028101 Italy00000021Game end by Run Ahead RuleW: Melanie Roche (1-0) L: Jennifer Spediacci (0-1) Home RunAUS 2 : S.Porter in 1st, 2 RBI;N.Titcume in 5th, 2 RBI
August 18 09:30
Team1234567RHE Italy0000000051 Taiwan000100X140W: Lin Su-Hua (1-1) L: Susan Bugliarello (0-2) Home Runnone
12:00
Team12345678RHE Australia00000005540 China00000000012W: Melanie Roche (2-0) L: Lu Wei (1-1) Home Runnone
17:00
Team12345RHE Canada00000011 United States121217111Game ended by Run Ahead Rule W: Jennie Finch (2-0) L: Auburn Sigurdson (0-1) Home RunUSA 2 : C.Bustos in 4th, 1 RBI;L.Fernandez in 4th, 1 RBI
19:30
Team1234567RHE Japan03100026121 Greece000000X023W: Hiroko Sakai (2-0) L: Sarah Farnworth (2-3) Home Runnone
August 19 09:30
Team1234567RHE Taiwan0000000012 China000010X140W: Lu Wei (2-1) L: Lai Sheng-Jung (1-1) Home Runnone
12:00
Team12345RHE Greece00000011 United States00133790Game ended by Run Ahead Rule W: Lisa Fernandez (2-0) L: Stephanie Skegas-Maxwell (0-1) Home Runnone
17:00
Team1234567RHE Italy0000000030 Japan0010000181W: Yukiko Ueno (1-2) L: Jennifer Spediacci (1-2) Home Runnone
19:30
Team1234567RHE Australia0100000140 Canada0000000050W: Melanie Roche (3-0) L: Lauren Bay (2-2) Home Runnone
August 20 09:30
Team1234567RHE Italy0000000020 Canada000100X111W: Lauren Bay (3-2) L: Susan Bugliarello (0-3) Home Runnone
12:00
Team1234567RHE Taiwan0000000042 United States000111X381W: Catherine Osterman (2-0) L: Wu Chia-Yen (0-3) Home RunUSA 1 : C.Bustos in 4th, 1 RBI
17:00
Team1234567RHE Greece2000000242 Australia001200X371W: Tanya Harding (3-0) L: Sarah Farnworth (2-4) Home RunAUS 2 : T.Mosley in 4th, 2 RBI;S.Porter in 3rd, 1 RBI
19:30
Team1234567RHE China0000000000 Japan000011X280W: Yukiko Ueno (1-2)** L: Lu Wei (2-2) Home Runnone
** 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 versus the 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
Team12345678RHE Japan00000001160 China00000000034W: Yukiko Ueno (2-2) L: Lu Wei (2-3) Home Runnone
August 22 12:20
Team1234567RHE Australia0000000030 United States000131x580W: Lisa Fernandez (3-0) L: Melanie Roche (3-1) Home RunUSA: K. Kretschman in 6th, 1 RBI
Bronze medal game August 22 17:00
Team1234567RHE Australia0000300340 Japan0000000031W: Tanya Harding (4-0) L: Juri Takayama (1-2) Home Runnone
Gold medal game August 23 16:00
Team1234567RHE Australia0000010141 United States302000x590W: Lisa Fernandez (4-0) L: Tanya Harding (4-1) Home RunUSA : C.Bustos in 1st, 2 RBI; C.Bustos in 3rd, 1 RBI; S.Nuveman in 3rd, 1 RBI
See also Baseball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
References
External links Official result book – Softball