The International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted to include softball as a part of the program for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The vote was held on Oct. 16, 2023 and softball, baseball, cricket, lacrosse and flag football were the sports added to the official Olympic program for Los Angeles.
With the news, Extra Inning Softball is reviewing all five of the previous teams that have worn the red, white and blue during Olympic competition.
USA Softball has fielded Olympic teams in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2020.
This is the fourth of a five-part series highlighting USA Softball Olympic teams.
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2008 Beijing Olympic Games
Venue: Fengtai Softball Field, Beijing, China
Head Coach: Mike Candrea
Roster: Monica Abbott, Laura Berg, Crystl Bustos, Andrea Duran, Jennie Finch, Tairia Flowers, Vicky Galindo, Lovieanne Jung, Kelly Kretschman, Lauren Lappin, Caitlyn Lowe, Jessica Mendoza, Stacey Nuveman, Cat Osterman, Natasha Watley
Countries Competing at the Olympics: Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Tapei, Japan, Netherlands, United States, Venezuela
Format for Olympic Play: Eight teams competed in the Olympic softball tournament with the competition consisting of two rounds. The preliminary round followed a round robin format, where each of the teams played all the other teams one time. The top four teams from round robin play advanced to a page playoff system round consisting of two semifinal games, and the bronze and gold medal games. The top two teams faced each other in one semifinal with the winner advancing on to the gold medal game, while the third and fourth place teams squared off in the other semifinal with the winner advancing on to meet the loser of the first semifinal. Those two teams meet with an opportunity to advance to the gold medal game.
The Eagles in Preliminary Play: The United States began its quest for a fourth consecutive gold medal with a dominant 11-0 victory over Venezuela. Jennie Finch and Monica Abbott combined to throw a no-hitter and the Team USA offense set an Olympic record for runs scored in a game. The pitching dominance continued in game two as Cat Osterman became the second USA pitcher to throw a complete-game no-hitter in a 3-0 victory over Australia. Abbott and Osterman combined to allow just one hit while striking out 11 batters in an 8-1 victory over Canada, while Andrea Duran drove in two runs to pace the Eagle offense. The Team USA offense flexed its muscles in game four as Jessica Mendoza homered twice and Natasha Watley and Crystl Bustos also homered in a 7-0 victory over Japan. Team USA improved to 5-0 in the preliminary round with a 7-0 blanking of Chinese Tapei behind the bat of Mendoza and the pitching of Finch. Mendoza drove in a pair of runs, including her third homer of the tournament, and Finch allowed just two hits in the circle. Abbott made history in the Eagles sixth game of the tournament as she became the first Team USA pitcher to throw a perfect game. She struck out nine batters in her history making performance leading the Eagles to an 8-0 win over the Netherlands. Bustos went 3-for-3 with a home run and Mendoza tacked on her fourth homer of the Olympics. Team USA wrapped up the preliminary round with a 9-0 victory over China to secure the top seed for the medal round with a 7-0 record. Kelly Kretschman homered and drove in three runs, while Tairia Flowers drove in a pair of runs. Japan finished second in the preliminary round with a 6-1 record followed by Australia (5-2) and Canada (3-4).
The Medal Round: The United States faced Japan in its first game of the medal round and Abbott and Yukiko Ueno locked in a pitching duel. Scoreless into the top of the ninth inning, Bustos belted a three-run home run and Caitlin Lowe also added an RBI in the ninth lifting Team USA to a 4-1 victory over Japan. Australia used home runs from Sandy Lewis and Danielle Stewart to beat Canada 5-3 in the opening game of the medal round for each team. Japan needed 12 innings, but edged Canada 4-3 to advance to the gold medal game against Team USA.
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