12/18/24
July 18, 2006
In other World Cup news: USA Softball Wins II World Cup of Softball OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – They came to make a statement and that is exactly what they did as the USA Women’s National Softball team beat Japan, 5-2, in the II World Cup of Softball. warningLink may be slow to load and has sound
I enjoyed watching some of these games. The USA's team is solid as heck, and their pitching is absolutely dominating. There really is much in sports more difficult than hitting off these talented pitchers. They mix their pitches well, and it becomes nothing more than a guessing game for opposing batters.
posted by dyams at 08:44 AM on July 18, 2006
I couldn't imagine what it would be like to try hitting in that game.
posted by NoMich at 09:05 AM on July 18, 2006
After watching some of the games, my question (and I don't watch a whole lot of softball) is when did they start using the double first base? 
I guess its for safety, to prevent Derrek Lee-type injuries maybe. Was softball hit with a ton of those type of injuries or they just made the change? Like I said, I don't watch it a lot, so maybe they have been using those bases for some time.
posted by chris2sy at 10:12 AM on July 18, 2006
I play in both a mens and co-ed league and we use a double base. It helps prevent stepping on ankles and such. It is slow pitch, damn I could't imagine batting against one of those girls. Hot and intimidating.
posted by GoBirds at 11:02 AM on July 18, 2006
Just complete domination out of the U.S this year. It was great to see that we still play at least one sport better than everyone else.
posted by kidrayter2005 at 11:16 AM on July 18, 2006
The double-first base is a great innovation. Making the runner have to run across the red portion avoids collisions and injuries. In softball, with so much bunting, it keeps the runner in the baserunner's lane, avoiding interference and batters getting hit with throws from the catcher, or other fielders.
posted by dyams at 11:58 AM on July 18, 2006
I like the double base, but what I was wondering is if half of it sits in foul ground? As for the pitching, my understanding is that your reaction time hitting a C. Osterman fast ball is about the same as a 98 mph MLB pitch. I doubt I would be able to a softball bat around quick enough to hit it.
posted by Folkways at 12:52 PM on July 18, 2006
Folkways: The white part is where first base would ordinarily be -- with the right edge along the foul line. The red bag is on the foul side. Runners use the red bag if they are running through the base, but can use the white bag if they are turning toward or proceeding to second base. At least that's how it's been in the leagues I've played in. What's particularly tough about fast pitch softball is not only the timing issue, but good pitchers are able to really drop down so that the ball is actually rising through the strike zone. It's totally antithetical to anything you experience in slow pitch or even baseball (rising fastballs are a myth, an optical illusion).
posted by BullpenPro at 01:30 PM on July 18, 2006
Stacey Nuveman, Lovieanne Jung, and Andrea Duran all homered. Cat Osterman struck out 11 Japanese batters. Fast pitch softball is a fun game to watch, tough to play. As last nights game proved.