UH will host U.S. Cup softball tournament
Advertiser Staff
Tickets are available by phone, the Internet and at the gate for the 2002 U.S. Cup, Thursday-Sunday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
They can be purchased in advance by calling 595-8763 or at the Hawai'i Amateur Softball Association Web site (hawaiiasa.com). Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students (18-under). Parking is $3.
Team USA, the most successful women's softball team in the world, will defend its title. The tournament leads up to the 2002 ISF Women's World Championship, July 25-Aug. 4 in Saskatoon, Canada.
That tournament is a major qualifier for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, with the top five clinching berths and earning seeds.
The U.S. Cup field will also include 2000 Olympic silver medalist Japan, bronze medalist Australia, Canada and China, the silver medalist in 1996. Australia features former Rainbow Wahine All-American pitchers Brooke Wilkins and Felicity Witt.
The United States defeated China in last year's inaugural U.S. Cup final. Team USA has won six world championships, five Pan Am gold medals and the only two Olympic golds in softball. The U.S. is 86-9 in World Championship games, outscoring opponents 521-18.
The U.S. Cup team is coached by Mike Candrea, who has won six NCAA championships at Arizona. It includes gold medalists Leah O'Brien-Amico, Laura Berg, Lisa Fernandez, Lori Harrigan, Stacy Nuveman and Michele Smith.
2002 U.S. Cup softball schedule
Thursday: 10 a.m., USA vs. Canada; noon, China vs. Australia; 2 p.m., Opening Ceremonies; 3, USA vs. Japan; 5, Canada vs. Australia.
Friday: Noon, Australia vs. Japan; 2 p.m., Canada vs. China; 5, China vs. Japan; 7, USA vs. Australia.
Saturday: 3 p.m., Canada vs. Japan; 5, USA vs. China; 7, Medal round (4 vs. 5).
Sunday: 1 p.m., Bronze medal game; 3, Gold medal game.
