USA Ready To Take On The World Again
Written by Daniel Turner, Tuesday June 22 2010
The USA softball team is anxiously awaiting the opening of the International Softball Federation’s XII Women’s World Championship taking place in Caracas, Venezuela, June 23-July 2. Having won eight of the 11 previous tournaments, including the last six, one can understand why they are looking forward to playing. The last time they lost the tournament was in 1982 when the majority of the team contracted stomach flu. In other words, as long as they are healthy the US women are practically unbeatable.
They are returning some of their superstars such as Jennie Finch and Jessica Mendoza while adding to their legacy with newcomers like Eileen Canney. Canney put on her national team uniform for the first time this weekend when she represented the team while pitching against the US Futures Team. In four games Canney and Finch combined to hand the Futures three defeats while both sides settled for a tie in the fourth game.
Most of the teams the US will face have already been bested by the national team. China, Dominican Republic and Australia have all been handed defeats in past meetings. However, two teams can offer the US competition and have bested them previously. Japan is the holder of the 2008 Olympic Gold Medal, probably the last to be issued for softball, and Canada gave the US a tough time in last year’s Pan Am Qualifier winning 3-1 behind their ace Danielle Lawrie. The US won the tournament, but they know that Lawrie is still a threat in the World Championships.
Following the World Championships the US team will return to Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City to play in the World Cup against both the Japanese and Lawrie’s Canadian team. This tournament runs from July 22-26. The US National Futures Team rounds out the field.
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