U.S. wins softball Cup for third year in row

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Softball's most dominant team for nearly two decades toyed with its three opponents at the third annual U.S. Cup.

Team USA's Lisa Fernandez struck out 11 in pitching a no-hitter against Canada in the U.S. Cup softball final. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

The Americans outscored opponents 60-5, with four shutouts among their seven victories. It was the second day in a row the United States no-hit Canada.

Team USA, which was just picked, has played the Canadians four times in the past week. It won the first three by the "mercy rule" (14-0, 12-1, 10-0), but Canadian coach Mike Renney doubts if its domination is dwindling. He watched the United States win the first two Olympic gold medals and called this the best team he's seen with its blend of power, speed, pitching and depth.

"Right now, where we're at, we're playing to get to extra innings and get a runner on second base (via the international tie-break rule) against them," admitted Renney, whose top pitcher, Oklahoma State's Lauren Bay, missed the Cup with a stress fracture. "They've no-hit us the last couple times. We have to score with some speed and seeing-eye singles."

Bay was one of five finalists for collegiate player of the year this season. "She would have made a huge difference," said Kristy Odamura, a former University of Hawai'i-Hilo All-American who is now a Canadian captain. "Even if it's just in our confidence."

Instead, Canada had to be happy with two runners stranded at first and its ability to close the gap with every game this year. Fernandez hit one batter and the United States committed an error on what would have been the final play of the game. In between, Mims slashed her decisive doubles and the Canadians made two costly errors to sting starting pitcher Ani Nyhus.

Meanwhile, Team USA explored ways of widening the gap with the rest of the world. Coach Mike Candrea says this team is hitting better than it has in the past. He likes the chemistry. His only worry now is defense and "energy."

"On weekends like this, when you basically dominate the opponent, the one thing you've got to be concerned about is your energy level when you come into a championship game like today," Candrea said. "I told them there's only one way to play and that's hard. ... When special athletes have energy then we can dominate. When they don't, we're very vulnerable."

Team USA hit .417 the last four days. Chinese Taipei (3-4), which won the third-place game 1-0 yesterday, was next at .216. Canada (3-4) fell to .188. Greece hit .186 in its international debut and eked out its first win, against Chinese Taipei in extra innings.

The dramatic hitting difference is telling and all these teams are in the 2004 Olympics except Canada, which needs to win the Americas Qualifier in August.

"They've got such a vast number of players to choose from," Odamura said of the Americans. "You look over there and they've got the Division I Player of Year from this year (Catherine Osterman) and last year (Stacey Nuveman), the (NCAA Championship) winning pitcher from UCLA (Keira Goerl). They've got Lisa Fernandez. The names go on and on. They are tough to beat."

And little distracts them. Mims, in the midst of a serious hot streak, is getting married the week after the Pan American Games in August. Her fiancé, former UCLA basketball player Jason Flowers, just ordered the cake. She insists the planning is "fun" and the focus remains "reaching our potential."

"Play hard every single game and don't play to the other team," she says. "If we do that then we should be set for Athens."

SHORT HOPS: There will not be a 2004 U.S. Cup because of the Olympics, but organizers plan to return in 2005. ... Australia, which won the Asia/Oceania Qualifier in March, did not come this year because it could not afford to go to its qualifier and Hawai'i. ... The United States plays in the Canada Cup next month, then the Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic.

Greece 000 000 0—0 4 1
Chinese Taipei 000 000 1—1 6 0

Steph Skegas-Maxwell, Sarah Farnsworth (5) and Stacey Katsikaris. Sheng-Jung Lal and Hui-Chun Yang. W—Lal. L—Farnworth.

Leading hitters: Taipei—Hui-Chun Yang 2-3.

Canada 000 000 0—0 0 3
USA 000 330 0—6 10 1

Ani Nyhus, Kaila Holtz (5) and Sheena Lawrick. Lisa Fernandez and Stacey Nuveman. W—Fernandez. L—Nyhus.

Leading hitters: USA—Jessica Mendoza double; Crystl Bustos 4-4, two doubles; Tairia Nims 2-4, 4 RBIs, two doubles.