Japan wins Olympic softball gold

[gLing]

The Japanese softball team stunned three-time world champions the United States 3-1 to clinch the gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games here on Thursday.

The game was a replay of the gold medal face-off from the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games when the U.S. outscored Japan 2-1 in eight innings, yet the clash tonight told a different story.
The Japanese jumped in front early in the top of the third inning when Ayumi karino's single put the third-based Masumi Mishina across the home plate for the first run.

Ueno Yokiko, Japan's 26-year-old ace pitcher who hurls at a speed above 105 kilometers per hour, succeeded to suppress the American's batters despite she was forced to pitch 21 innings in two games on Wednesday.

The boyish short-haired hurler worked seven complete innings, striking out five batters and allowing five hits.
With their strong-minded hurler's lead, Japanese hot-batting hitters took pains to seize the chance and edged the lead to 2-0 in the fourth inining. A powerful swing of Eri Yamada deliverd a brilliant solo homer to boost the Japanese confidence to grab their first ever gold medal.

Japan wins Olympic softball gold

There goes the US perfect gold medal streak in that sport. Too bad the sport won't be back in next Olympics.

Congratulations to Japan. :clap

 

[Zorak]

I've always pondered, what's the difference between softball and baseball?

 

[skyblue]

softer ball......bigger i think

smaller pitch

something like that anyway

 

[gLing]

I've always pondered, what's the difference between softball and baseball?

A softball is 12 inches in diameter as opposed to 9 inches for a baseball.
The pitcher stands in a circle instead of on a raised mound and she is also closer to home plate.
The bases are about 60 feet apart where as in baseball they are around 90 feet apart.
The bats can be no longer than 34 inches in softball where as in baseball I think it's 42 inches and the pitching rules are different.
A baseball game goes for 9 innings and softball game goes for 7.
Also in softball they have a double first base but not in baseball.
In baseball you have 9 players and in slow pitch softball there are 10 but the fast pitch game is 9.
The base stealing rules are different too. In baseball a runner can steal a base as long as the ball is live, in softball a runner can't steal a base until the ball leaves the pitcher's circle.

I personally see softball as a more refined form of baseball but my only complaint is the underhand pitching. They should allow for both over and underhand pitching.

 

[Zorak]

A softball is 12 inches in diameter as opposed to 9 inches for a baseball.
The pitcher stands in a circle instead of on a raised mound and she is also closer to home plate.
The bases are about 60 feet apart where as in baseball they are around 90 feet apart.
The bats can be no longer than 34 inches in softball where as in baseball I think it's 42 inches and the pitching rules are different.
A baseball game goes for 9 innings and softball game goes for 7.
Also in softball they have a double first base but not in baseball.
In baseball you have 9 players and in slow pitch softball there are 10 but the fast pitch game is 9.
The base stealing rules are different too. In baseball a runner can steal a base as long as the ball is live, in softball a runner can't steal a base until the ball leaves the pitcher's circle.

I personally see softball as a more refined form of baseball but my only complaint is the underhand pitching. They should allow for both over and underhand pitching.

Underhand does sound like the sort of way a tiny wee girl would pitch :24:

 

[gLing]

Underhand does sound like the sort of way a tiny wee girl would pitch :24: