Teen pitcher shuts down Japan in U.S. Cup softball
By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer
For those who like their international softball short and sweet, the United States opened play in the inaugural U.S. Cup with a 1-0 victory over Japan last night at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser
The replay of last September's Olympic gold-medal game lasted less than 90 minutes, and ended with the same result. Only last fall, Catherine Osterman was beginning her senior year in high school. Last night, the teenager terrorized Japan's batters with 13 strikeouts.
Catherine Osterman, 18, of the United States, pitched a three-hitter and struck out 13 in a 1-0 victory over Japan.
For those who like their softball in slow motion, China took out Australia — and two of the University of Hawai'i's most prominent players — in an 8-3 opener. The final 2 1/2 innings lasted nearly as long as the late game.
The tournament continues with games at 3 p.m. and 5 today and tomorrow, the bronze-medal game at 1 p.m. Sunday and the gold-medal game at 3.
Before about 250 last night, Osterman mesmerized Japan. The U.S. scored the only run in the first, when Jessica Mendoza blooped a two-out double and scored on Amanda Freed's single. Losing pitcher Yuko Taka gave up just one more hit, and didn't have a chance against a revamped U.S. team with one Olympian (Stacey Nuveman).
"Cat has all the tools as a pitcher," U.S. coach Jay Miller said of Osterman, who will play for Texas in the fall. "And she's very level-headed for an 18-year-old. So we're looking at her to be a big part of our future."
Osterman walked the first batter on four pitches, had runners at second and third after an error and a ground out, then struck out the next five batters. The last few innings were a blur.
"Tonight wasn't one of my best games, but it was one of my better games," said Osterman, who allowed just three hits. "Everything was clicking."
The first game featured a broken aluminum bat, a full-swing foul ball that suddenly swerved two feet right and became fair, and a pitcher who found herself "home" again, but couldn't find home plate.
It took China six batters to hit Australian starter Kelly Hardy. Then Hua Tao ripped her, launching a line drive over the center-field fence. China added another run in the fourth on Jian Xu's RBI single. That came after Li Lin's shiny bat broke in half on a pitch that jammed her.
Former University of Hawai'i All-American Brooke Wilkins relieved Hardy in the fifth. In her first appearance since the Olympics and two hip surgeries, Wilkins took a walk on the very wild side. Five walks to be precise, and seven wild pitches, against nine batters. She gave up five runs in one-plus innings — without giving up a hit.
When Wilkins lifted the Wahine into the rankings and their first NCAA Tournaments on her left arm in the mid-90's, she was just wild enough to scare hitters. Now, she's scaring herself.
What hasn't changed is her world-class quickness and brutally honest outlook.
"I have a reputation — teams think I throw all balls," Wilkins said candidly. "It's been that way for the last few years and I can't get out of it. It's all psychological and when you keep doing it, it gets in your head and you can't get it out.
"Until I learn what I'm doing wrong, I'll keep doing it."
She collected two saves at last year's Olympics and won her only start, walking the first three Canadians, striking out the next three and finishing with 11 whiffs. She hadn't pitched in a game until yesterday.
"I was really nervous," Wilkins admitted. "The nervousness comes through my legs and I get out of stride. I'm quicker than I used to be and it's hard to control. That, and I haven't pitched in a long time."
Australia coach Simon Roskvist is willing to wait for her.
"I know Brooke is disappointed," Roskvist said. "She'll be back. She's tough. She'll come back."
China scored three times, on three walks, four wild pitches and an error, in the fifth. It got three more in the sixth, on three walks, four wild pitches, a stolen base and an infield hit off 19-year-old reliever Zara Mee.
The error came on the weird roller that bolted fair. It was fielded by UH shortstop Kate Judd, who started at third. Roskvist, rebuilding around six Olympians, replaced her; he played 15 people.
"I'm not looking at Sunday in Hawai'i," he admitted. "I'm looking at August of 2004."
