Softball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Encyclopedia
Softball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
took place over a ten day period starting August 12 and culminating in the medal finals on August 21. All games were played at the Fengtai Softball Field
Fengtai Softball Field
Fengtai Softball Field, or Fengtai Sports Center Softball Field is a softball stadium located in Beijing, China. It hosted the softball competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics....
. Olympic softball is a women only competition, with men competing in the similar sport of baseball
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Baseball at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 13 to August 23. All games were played at Wukesong Baseball Field, a temporary venue constructed at the Beijing Wukesong Culture & Sports Center...
.
The International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
has voted to remove softball from the program for the 2012 Olympics. Many theories abound, but the most common one is that the U.S. teams are simply too dominant in the sport, having won gold in the previous three Olympics and winning them convincingly. 2008 was the last time that softball will be contested at the Olympics unless it is reinstated at a future date. The IOC declined to include softball in the 2016 Summer Olympics
2016 Summer Olympics
The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad, are a major international multi-sport event to be celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games, as governed by the International Olympic Committee...
at its October 2009 meeting.
Medalists
In one of the major upsets of the 2008 Summer Olympics, Japan defeated U.S. 3-1 to win the gold medal. The Americans have won gold and dominated their opponents in the previous three Olympics. This is the only Olympic Softball Gold Medal that the U.S. has not won. Their dominance was cited as one of the reasons why the IOC voted to drop the sport from the 2012 Olympics.| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
Naho Emoto Naho Emoto is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Motoko Fujimoto Motoko Fujimoto is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Megu Hirose Megu Hirose is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Emi Inui Emi Inui is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Sachiko Ito Sachiko Ito is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Ayumi Karino Ayumi Karino is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Satoko Mabuchi Satoko Mabuchi is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Yukiyo Mine Yukiyo Mine is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.- References :... Masumi Mishina Masumi Mishina is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Rei Nishiyama Rei Nishiyama is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Hiroko Sakai Hiroko Sakai is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Rie Sato Rie Sato is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Mika Someya Mika Someya is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Yukiko Ueno Yukiko Ueno is a Japanese softball pitcher for Renesas Takasaki and the Japanese national team, who holds a bronze and a gold medal from 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics, respectively... Eri Yamada Eri Yamada is a Japanese softball player who won the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.At Beijing, Yamada hit .344 in the tournament while belting two home runs and driving in five for Japan. In the Gold Medal game she went 2-3, including a solo shot off Cat Osterman.-References:... |
Monica Abbott Monica Abbott Monica Cecilia Abbott is an American athlete who pitched for the University of Tennessee Lady Volunteers softball team from 2004-2007. In 2008, Abbott participated in the Beijing Olympics with Team USA... Stacey Nuveman Stacey Nuveman Stacey "Nuvey" Nuveman-Deniz from La Verne, California is a former NCAA Division I four-time First Team All-American, National Champion winning, right-handed hitting softball player for the UCLA Bruins at the catcher position... Crystl Bustos Crystl Bustos |- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| 1st || 2006 Oklahoma City|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| 1st || 2007 Oklahoma City|- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle| 1st || 2005 Akron Racers... Jennie Finch Jennie Finch Jennie Lynn Finch , who occasionally uses her husband's surname Daigle, is a former American softball player who pitched for the USA national softball team and the Chicago Bandits. Finch helped lead Team USA to the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics... Laura Berg Laura Berg Laura Kay Berg is an American softball player who plays the position of center fielder... Lauren Lappin Lauren Lappin Lauren Lappin is an American softball player who won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.... Lovieanne Jung Lovieanne Jung Lovieanne Jung is a retired American softball player. Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, Jung moved with her family to California at a young age.... Cat Osterman Cat Osterman Catherine Leigh "Cat" Osterman , is an American athlete and was one of the pitchers on the USA Women's Softball Team which won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the silver medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics.... Tairia Flowers Tairia Flowers Tairia Flowers is an American softball player. She is best known for competing on the Gold medal winning United States National softball team... Andrea Duran Andrea Duran yesAndrea Duran is an American softball player from Selma, California. She won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She played college softball at the University of California, Los Angeles and graduated in 2006. On the Olympic team she played third base and outfield, and she bats and... Jessica Mendoza Jessica Mendoza Jessica Mendoza , is an American softball player of Mexican descent, who played for the United States women's national softball team from 2004-2010 and a four-time first team All-American at Stanford University from 1999-2002. Mendoza wears number two and plays outfield... Victoria Galindo Kelly Kretschman Kelly Kretschman Kelly Kretschman is an American softball player who won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She also won the gold in Athens and was on the team for Sydney, although she did not play. She also played the 2003 and 2006 seasons with the Stratford Brakettes of Connecticut... Caitlin Lowe Caitlin Lowe |- align=center bgcolor=white valign=middle |bgcolor=white| 1st || 2007 || Oklahoma CityCaitlin Lowe is an American softball player who won a silver medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She is also a former player at the University of Arizona under head coach Mike Candrea.Caitlin Lowe has been a... Natasha Watley Natasha Watley Natasha Watley is an American professional softball player currently with the USA Softball Women’s National Team. She plays the position of shortstop and first base, and helped her team to win the gold medal for softball at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens... |
Jodie Bowering Jodie Bowering Jodie Bowering is a Softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. She started her career as a pitcher but these days plays first base. She also attended Grace Lutheran College secondary school where softball is held in high regard, having its own floodlit and... Kylie Cronk Kylie Cronk Kylie Cronk is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Cronk currently lives in Rockhampton, Queensland and works for the Queensland Government.... Kelly Hardie Kelly Hardie Kelly Hardie is a softball pitcher from Australia, who won the bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics.- References :... Tanya Harding Tanya Harding Tanya Victoria Harding is an Australian softball player, who has competed for Australia at four consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1996. Three times she claimed a bronze medal , and once a silver medal .In 1995, Harding enrolled at UCLA for one trimester... Sandy Lewis Simmone Morrow Simmone Morrow Simmone Morrow is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She plays in the outfield.-External links:*... Tracey Mosley Tracey Mosley Tracey Mosley is a softball player from Australia, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-External links:*... Stacey Porter Stacey Porter Stacey Porter is a softball player from Australia, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. A powerful hitter, Porter plays professionally in Japan and was first selected for the national team in 2002... Melanie Roche Melanie Roche Melanie Jane Roche is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics and 2000 Summer Olympics, a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics along with a bronze medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Participating in 4 Olympic Games and winning 4 Olympic Medals is... Justine Smethurst Justine Smethurst Justine Smethurst is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. Smethurst studies at the University of Hawaii where she also plays college softball.-External links:... Danielle Stewart Danielle Stewart Danielle Stewart is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics. A short stop, Stewart plays for the Mariners club in Brisbane and has also played college softball in the USA at Hofstra University.-External links:*... Natalie Titcume Natalie Titcume Natalie Titcume is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 1996 Summer Olympics and 2000 Summer Olympics and a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She plays catcher and 3rd base.... Natalie Ward Natalie Ward Natalie Anne Ward is a softball player from Australia, who won bronze medals at the 1996 Summer Olympics, the 2000 Summer Olympics and the 2008 Summer Olympics. Ward also won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics. She plays shortstop and 2nd base... Belinda Wright Belinda Wright (softball) Belinda Wright is a softball player from Australia, who won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-External links:*... Kerry Wyborn Kerry Wyborn Kerry Wyborn is a softball player from Australia, who won a silver medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-External links:*... |
Participants
Competition format
Eight teams compete in the Olympic softball tournament, and the competition consists of two rounds. The preliminary round follows a round robin format, where each of the teams plays all the other teams once. Following this, the top four teams advance to a page playoff systemPage playoff system
The Page playoff system is a playoff format used primarily in softball and curling at the championship level. Teams are seeded using a round-robin tournament and the top four play a mix of a single-elimination and double-elimination tournament to determine the winner...
round consisting of two semifinal games, and finally the bronze and gold medal games.
Qualification
The eight teams in the Olympic softball tournament will qualify through a series of tournaments. China, as the host nation, is guaranteed one automatic entry. The top four finalists at the 2006 Softball World Championships2006 ISF World Championship
The 2006 ISF Women's World Championship was held from August 27 to September 5, 2006 in Beijing, China. For the sixth consecutive time, the team from the United States won the title, with a 3-0 victory over Japan. The first four teams qualified for the 2008 Olympics...
will be qualified for the Olympic tournament. Finally, there will be continental qualifying tournaments for Europe/Africa, Pan-America, and Asia/Oceania, with the winners of each tournament earning a spot in the Olympic tournament.
Qualification schedule
| Date | Event | Location | Qualifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host Nation | |||
| Aug 20-29, 2006 | 2006 ISF World Championship 2006 ISF World Championship The 2006 ISF Women's World Championship was held from August 27 to September 5, 2006 in Beijing, China. For the sixth consecutive time, the team from the United States won the title, with a 3-0 victory over Japan. The first four teams qualified for the 2008 Olympics... |
 BeijingBeijing Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's... |
|
| June 9–16, 2007 | Europe & Africa Olympic Qualifying Tournament |  TriesteTrieste Trieste is a city and seaport in northeastern Italy. It is situated towards the end of a narrow strip of land lying between the Adriatic Sea and Italy's border with Slovenia, which lies almost immediately south and east of the city... |
|
| Feb. 1-5, 2007 | Asian & Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament |  Tainan City |
|
| Aug. 19-24, 2007 | Pan-American Olympic Qualifying Tournament |  Valencia |
: Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei
Chinese Taipei is the designated name used by the Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan, to participate in some international organizations and almost all sporting events, such as the Olympics, Paralympics, Asian Games and Asian Para Games...
is the official IOC
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
designation for the state officially referred to as the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
, more commonly known as Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. (See also political status of Taiwan
Political status of Taiwan
The controversy regarding the political status of Taiwan hinges on whether Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu should remain effectively independent as territory of the Republic of China , become unified with the territories now governed by the People's Republic of China , or formally declare...
for details.)
Preliminary round
| Qualified for the semifinals | |
| Eliminated |
All times are China Standard Time (UTC+8
UTC+8
UTC+08:00 is an identifier for a time offset from UTC of +08:00. In ISO 8601 the associated time would be written as .With an estimated population of 1.53 billion living within the time zone, roughly 22.5% of the world population, it is the most populous time zone in world, as well as a possible...
)
| Team | W | L | RS | RA | WIN% | GB | Tiebreaker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 0 | 53 | 1 | 1.000 | |||
| 6 | 1 | 23 | 13 | .857 | 1 | ||
| 5 | 2 | 30 | 11 | .714 | 2 | ||
| 3 | 4 | 17 | 23 | .429 | 4 | ||
| 2 | 5 | 10 | 23 | .286 | 5 | 2-0 vs. CHN/VEN | |
| 2 | 5 | 19 | 21 | .286 | 5 | 1-1 vs. TPE/VEN | |
| 2 | 5 | 15 | 35 | .286 | 5 | 0-2 vs. CHN/TPE | |
| 1 | 6 | 8 | 48 | .143 | 6 | ||
Tiebreaking procedures follow the International Softball Federation's standard procedure for the resolution of ties.
August 12
August 13
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August 18