MIDLAND, TEXAS (June 30, 2008) The USA Softball team scored 13 runs in route to a 13-0 victory over the ASA Texas All-Stars in front of 6,371 at Citi Bank Ball Park in Midland, Texas to extend their KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour record to 51-1. The team battled the West Texas wind but still connected on 17 hits, with Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) explosive at the plate going a perfect 5-for-5 with three runs scored and three runs.
Lead off batter Natasha Watley (Irvine, Calif.) wasted no time putting runners on taking a 1-0 pitch to left field for a triple. Lowe brought her home with a single to left field. A double play of a pop up by Crystl Bustos (Canyon Country, Calif.) and a putout at first when Caitlin Lowe (Tustin, Calif.) didn’t return to first, left the team with a 1-0 lead into the second.
Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) made her 13th start of the KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour allowing a runner to reach in the first off a walk but allowing no runs to score.
The ASA Texas All-Stars did what very few opponents this year have done loading up the bases in the third but Osterman did what she does best retiring the last batter swinging. Colleen Kimbro started it off in the third for the All-Stars reaching on a throwing error by Osterman. A single to shortstop and a base on balls loaded it up but a strikeout to Jordan Daniels kept runs off the board.
Watley again led the team in the third with a single to third base. Lowe and Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) hit singles of their own to load up the bases for Bustos, with the crowd cheering for a homerun. Bustos did not disappoint the Midland crowd with a roped homerun to right field giving the team a 5-0 lead. Andrea Duran (Selma, Calif.) ripped a double to left field and was followed by Stacey Nuveman (La Verne, Calif.) with a walk. A single to centerfield by Lovie Jung (Fountain Valley, Calif.) plated Duran. Watley, with her second hit of the inning, hit a double over the left fielder’s head to clear the base paths and edge the lead to 8-0.
“It felt good to get some good hits at the plate and I saw the ball well today so that was nice,” said Watley of her at bats. “It’s one of those nights where you walk away feeling good about the game but still know that you have a lot to keep on preparing for. It’s a positive way to head into a week break but I know we will all come back ready to keep on improving Olympic Games.”
The team tacked on two runs in the fourth taking advantage of two errors by the left fielder. Bustos singled advancing to second on an error by the left fielder Katy Gutierrez. Vicky Galindo (Union City, Calif.), entering to pinch run for Bustos, scored from second on another error by Gutierrez after she over threw on a single by Duran. A groundout RBI by Jung gave the Red, White and Blue a 10-0 lead after four.
In the fifth inning, the team started playing by exhibition rules placing a runner at first to start off the inning. Nina Cabrales started out on first advancing to second on a fielder’s choice by Maritza Martinez who was also safe. A single to second base by Kimbro loaded the bases with no out but three strikeouts by the south paw Osterman left the bases loaded.
In the bottom of the fifth, back-to-back singles by leadoff hitter Watley and Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) set up the two-RBI double by Mendoza. A single by Kelly Kretschman (Indian Harbour Beach, Fla.) pushed Watley across the plate to give the USA Softball team a 13-0 win.
Osterman was again tested in the seventh when a runner was put on second, eventually loading the bases off a single and a walk. A pop up to shortstop left the runners stranded to close out of the game.
Osterman, with her 12th win of the season, struck out 13 while walking five and allowing three hits.
The team is now on a much deserved week break after spending the month of June on the road. The team will meet back together in Portland, Ore., on July 8th for a game against the Portland ASA All-Stars at 7:00 p.m. at Erv Lind Stadium.
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