Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics
|
|
Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held at the Olympic Softball Stadium in the Helliniko Olympic Complex from August 14 to 23.
It was one of the three sports at the 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 the sport at the Summer Olympics.
| Contents |
Team squads
See Softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics (team squads) for details.
Medal Winners
In one of the most dominating runs in Softball History, the team of the United States led by head coach Mike Candrea won the olympic 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. Throughout the tournament the team outscored its opponents 51-1. Crystl Bustos hit two homeruns to provide all the run-support pitcher Lisa Fernandez required. Fernandez pitched all six innings, picking up her second win in two days against Australia. She also won the semi-final game.
Team USA has won the previous two tournaments and completed the Hat-trick.
Australia's silver medal marks the teams best result in olympic softball history. Japan earned the bronze medal after beating China in the semi-final.
Participants
Teams that have qualified for the tournament:
Schedule
Starting August 14, there will be four preliminary games each day until August 20 for a total of 28 games. Two semi-final games will be played August 22, with the game for third place following later that day. The final game for the gold medal will be played on August 23 at 4pm local time.
Standings
| Pld | W | L | RF | RA | Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missing image USA_flag.png United States | 7 | 7 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 1.000 |
 Australia
| 7 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 14 | 0.857 |
| Missing image Japan_flag_large.png Japan | 7 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 8 | 0.571 |
 China
| 7 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 20 | 0.429 |
 Canada
| 7 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 14 | 0.429 |
| Missing image Chinese_Taipei_Olympic_Flag.png Chinese Taipei | 7 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 0.286 |
 Greece
| 7 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 0.286 |
| Missing image Italy_flag_large.png Italy | 7 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 0.143 |
Preliminary round
| August 14 | 09:30 | Japan | Australia | 2 - 4 |
| August 14 | 12:00 | United States | Italy | 7 - 0 |
| August 14 | 17:00 | Canada | Chinese Taipei | 2 - 0 |
| August 14 | 19:30 | China | Greece | 5 - 0 |
| August 15 | 09:30 | Japan | Chinese Taipei | 6 - 0 |
| August 15 | 12:00 | China | Italy | 5 - 7 |
| August 15 | 17:00 | United States | Australia | 10 - 0 |
| August 15 | 19:30 | Greece | Canada | 2 - 0 |
| August 16 | 09:30 | Canada | China | 2 - 4 |
| August 16 | 12:00 | Japan | United States | 0 - 3 |
| August 16 | 17:00 | Greece | Italy | 2 - 1 |
| August 16 | 19:30 | Australia | Chinese Taipei | 1 - 0 |
| August 17 | 09:30 | United States | China | 4 - 0 |
| August 17 | 12:00 | Japan | Canada | 0 - 1 |
| August 17 | 17:00 | Greece | Chinese Taipei | 0 - 2 |
| August 17 | 19:30 | Italy | Australia | 0 - 8 |
| August 18 | 09:30 | Chinese Taipei | Italy | 1 - 0 |
| August 18 | 12:00 | China | Australia | 0 - 5 |
| August 18 | 17:00 | United States | Canada | 7 - 0 |
| August 18 | 19:30 | Greece | Japan | 0 - 6 |
| August 19 | 09:30 | China | Chinese Taipei | 1 - 0 |
| August 19 | 12:00 | United States | Greece | 7 - 0 |
| August 19 | 17:00 | Japan | Italy | 1 - 0 |
| August 19 | 19:30 | Canada | Australia | 0 - 1 |
| August 20 | 09:30 | Canada | Italy | 1 - 0 |
| August 20 | 12:00 | United States | Chinese Taipei | 3 - 0 |
| August 20 | 17:00 | Australia | Greece | 3 - 2 |
| August 20 | 19:30 | Japan | China | 2 - 0 ** |
** Perfect game (http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/summer04/softball/news/story?id=1863914)
Semi finals
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 vs. United States semifinal in the gold medal game, with the winner of that game receiving gold and the loser receiving silver.
| August 22 | 9:30 | China | Japan | 0 - 1 |
| August 22 | 12:00 | United States | Australia | 5 - 0 |
Bronze Medal game
| August 22 | 17:00 | Japan | Australia | 0 - 3 |
Gold Medal Game
| August 23 | 16:00 | Australia | United States 1-5 |
External link
- Complete schedule (http://www.athens2004.com/en/resultsSoftball/results?rsc=SO0000000)
Template:EventsAt2004SummerOlympics
de:Olympische Sommerspiele 2004/Softball et:Softball 2004. aasta suveolümpiamängudel fr:Softball aux jeux Olympiques de 2004 pl:Medaliści Letnich Igrzysk Olimpijskich 2004 w softballu zh:2004年夏季奥林匹克运动会垒球比赛