Softball making pitch to return to Olympics
BEIJING (AP) One day after the U.S. softball team failed to win the gold medal for the first time, the sport's officials pointed to Japan's victory as proof that their game is globally competitive and deserves to return to the Olympics.
The U.S. gold medal streak that dated to softball's Olympic debut in Atlanta in 1996 was broken Thursday by a resilient Japanese team led by pitcher Yukiko Ueno. The victory was perhaps the strongest argument yet for softball's reinstatement.
The International Olympic Committee voted in 2005 to remove softball after the Beijing Games, and it won't be played in London in 2012.
OLYMPICS_DOLY_SOF Headlines
- Softball making pitch to return to Olympics
- US softball team denied gold, loses 3-1 to Japan
- American players done, but is softball too?
- US softball team loses 3-1 to Japan for gold
- Editors:
- US goes extras, beats Japan 4-1
- US slugger a special power hitter
- US softballers score 9 in first, rout China
- Softball set for final bow in Beijing
- US overpowers the Netherlands 8-0 in softball
| Medal Count | ||||
| Softball | ||||
| G | S | B | Total | |
| AFG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ALB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ALG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ASA | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| AND | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ANG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ANT | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ARG | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ARM | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ARU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Full Medals Table | ||||
Softball
What are the differences between a baseball and softball field? How far is it between the pitcher's mound and home plate? How many innings is an Olympic softball game? This AP interactive has the answers to all your questions about the sport of softball.
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