The softball gold medal matchup from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing ended the same way in the 2020 Games in Tokyo. Japan defeated the USA 2-0. Before this game, Team USA softball had a record of 5-0 in group play for the second straight Olympics, Team USA leaves with the silver medal.
The offensive firepower for Team USA in this game was not there, only mustering just three hits. Two of those three hits were courtesy of outfielder Janie Reed. She made a spectacular catch in the top of the 7th inning.
What a catch, @_janiereed. 🤯 #TokyoOlympicspic.twitter.com/7u0PgI2Gsz
— Team USA (@TeamUSA) July 27, 2021
Going into the gold medal game, they had nine runs on 27 hits with one home run. Comparatively, Japan had 18 runs on 26 hits with six home runs. In this game, Japan had two runs on eight hits, leaving nine runners on base.
The pitching from the trio of legends Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman along with Ally Carda was great. The two earned runs allowed by Carda were the first two allowed by the USA in the entire Games. All in all, Team Japan pieced together some well-timed at-bats and two-out rallies to score the two runs, which was enough.
Pitcher Yukiko Ueno, went six innings, allowing two hits with five strikeouts. Ueno took the circle in the bottom of the seventh, which felt bittersweet. She was a member of the Japan team who defeated the USA in Beijing in 2008, snapping their 22-game winning streak.
Abbott and Osterman
Notably, for Abbott and Osterman, this was it as their careers end in Tokyo more than likely. It is important to note that both were two of the best players to represent the red, white, and blue for USA softball. All things considered, they will be missed by fans of the sport, myself included.
“To all the little girls, keep dreaming the dream” – @catosterman 💕#OlympicHERstory pic.twitter.com/8Qo0QMZUFQ
— On Her Turf (@OnHerTurf) July 27, 2021
Future of USA Softball
Altogether, pitching is a major question mark for the USA. Outside of UCLA’s Rachel Garcia and Carda, it looks bleak. Without a doubt, it will be addressed in the various competitions down the road.
Looking at the rest of Team USA, utility player Bubba Nickles, catcher Dejah Mulipola of Arizona, and Garcia are the triumvirate to lead USA softball into the future. Of the three players, Nickles saw playing time in Tokyo. She had a .500 batting average in her two games.
Furthermore, do not discount outfielder Haylie McCleney because she has a great bat and will develop into the leader of this USA team. Moreover, you have infielders Delaney Spaulding, Ali Aguilar, and catcher Aubree Munro. Overall, the future of the USA is bright, experienced. Undoubtedly, Team USA will be ready whenever softball makes its entrance into the Olympics.
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