Received: 8/30/06 7:45:09 AM From: "Holly Krivokapich" <hollyk(at)softball.org>
Subject: USA Softball records 100th win in World Championship play USA Softball records 100th winin World Championship play Beijing, China---It took only five inningsfor the USA Softball Womens National Team to record its 100thwin in World Championship play as they defeated Great Britain, 7-0, to remainunbeaten. The U.S. recordedits first win on February 14, 1965 in MelbourneAustralia with a 1-0 winover New Zealand who happensto be the next opponent for the U.S.in this World Championship. Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif.), makingher first career start in a World Championship, was dominate in the circlefanning nine while allowing only one hit in five innings of work. She had ano-hitter through 4 2/3 innings before allowing a bloop single in the finalinning. Despite being beat 14-0 by the U.S. last month at the II World Cup of Softballin Oklahoma City, Great Britain was not intimidatedin the slightest. For the first two innings they held the U.S. hitless but in the thirdthings began to change. Jenny Topping (WhittierCalif.) led off the inning with a stand updouble to right center and Tairia Flowers (Tucson, Ariz.moved her to third with a single through the left side. Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.then caused havoc with the Great Britain defense as she hit a hard grounderthat was misplayed by the shortstop who then threw home in an attempt to gundown Topping but was too late. Flowers continued to third and scored when thethrow from the catcher went into left field allowing Berg to advance to third. With a 2-0 lead the U.S. continued its offensive attack as CaitlinLowe (Tustin, Calif.) lined a shot back up the middlethat was too hot for pitcher Heather Brown to handle. With Lowe running on thenext pitch, Natasha Watley (Irvine Calif.) laced a line drive thatwas knocked down by the second baseman to freeze Berg at third. A base runningmiscue by Lowe, who continued to third, ended in a run down and resulted in thefirst out of the inning. Just when it appeared the momentum had been brokenJessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) stepped to the plate and launched hersecond home run of the tournament to give the U.S. a 5-0 lead. Looking to push the game a full seveninnings, Great Britaincalled on Townsend to shut down the U.S. lineup but a two out rallyprovided the Red, White and Blue with the runs it would need to end the game infive innings. Lowe and Watley both reached on singles and Mendoza reached on awalk to load the bases for Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif.) who came through with a single toright field that scored the final two runs of the game. The U.S.will look to continue its unbeaten streak in pool play on Wednesday when itfaces off with New Zealandtonight at 9:30 p.m. CT. *Great Britains Heather Brown did something no otherpitcher has been able to accomplish against the USAduring the 2006 World Championships she retired the U.S. in order in the first twoinnings. *The USAs only other meeting withGreat Britain in an ISF World Championship came during the 1994 ISF WorldChampionships in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Canada the U.S. wonthe game 14-0 in five innings. *The USA Softball Womens NationalTeam has now started the past nine ISF Womens World Championships with a4-0 record dating back to the 1974 ISF World Championships in Stratford, Conn.During that span, 34 of the 36 wins have been by shutout. *Laura Berg ended her seven game hittingstreak in international competition, going 0-1 against Great Britain the streak began on July15 during the II World Cup of Softball against Australia. * Jessica Mendoza, with her three-runhomerun, has now recorded at least one hit in 17-of-20 games this year. Complete coverage of the USA SoftballWomens National Team at the XI ISF World Championships including photogalleries, player journals, box scores, live scoring, etc., can be found on USAsofficial website www.usasoftball.com. Holly Krivokapich Assistant Director of Communications ASA/USA Softball 405-425-3431 www.asasoftball.comwww.usasoftball.com Al's Fastball News *Email: fastball(at)pmihrm.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] NEWS-1: http://www.AlsFastball.com/ NEWS-2: http://fastpitchwest.com/alsfastball VIA http://www.webbox.com
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