USA Softball's Olympic Games Swan Song

Laurie Fullerton August 06, 2008

Photo: Getty Images

Jennie Finch-Daigle autographs softballs for fans after a game.

USA Softball pitcher and 2004 Olympic gold medalist Jennie Finch-Daigle was seated next to the President of the United States at a White House dinner last month honoring Olympic athletes. As she looked down at the White House china plate and saw her face and the President's in the reflection, "it was a pinch-yourself experience to see myself sitting there. It was one of those moments that you don't expect will ever happen in life," she said.

Finch-Daigle, 28, of La Mirada, CA is known for her pitching prowess and gold medal play but is also among one of People Magazine's 50-most beautiful people in the world. Yet, for Finch-Daigle and the other 14-members of the US Women's Softball team, everything about this Beijing Olympics will reflect that pinch-yourself quality.

In 2005, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) saw the need to pair down the sheer number summer sports at the Olympic Games, but in the end voted to eliminate only two - softball and baseball. They are the first sports dropped from the Olympic program since polo in 1936. While this four-time gold medal team will attempt to continue the legacy of unparalleled play-the US has won every Olympic Game it has played since 1996--this will also be the sports' swan song with a more nostalgic team now in Beijing.

"The fact that it is the last time we will play in the Olympics is at the back of all of our minds," said two-time gold medalist outfielder Laura Berg, 33, of Santa Fe Springs, CA. "I think it is most unfortunate because our sport is accessible to so many girls where it does not entirely depend on an athlete's build or height to play. It is available to young women from all different backgrounds."

As the sport has grown - 130 countries are members of the International Softball Federation - the women have faced a growing threat from countries like China, Korea, Japan, Australia, and Canada. The level of play, too, has improved according to Ron Radigonda, Executive Director of the Amateur Softball Association (USA Softball) and the women are particularly wary of the talented Japanese team going into the Beijing Games.

"In many respects, the 2008 team is vastly superior to the 1996 team," said Radigonda. "Being an Olympic sport definitely raises the bar. And, increasingly, these young women have been able to have an impact everywhere, not just in this country but internationally."

Players like outfielder and 2004 gold medalist Jessica Mendoza, 28, who is referred to as ‘arguably the most complete softball player in the world' by USA Today is a great role model and player. She has emerged as an ace since the 2004 Games and in 2006, she led the United States to its first gold medal at the World Cup of Softball with three home runs, 16 RBI while hitting .611. She is the incoming president of the Women's Sports Foundation, a second-generation Mexican American and a graduate of Stanford University. She has been inducted into the International Latin Sports Hall of Fame and is at her second Olympic Games.

"My Dad was a baseball coach so I played baseball first. I was totally a tomboy and Daddy's little girl - first the bat girl for his baseball team and then the only girl on an all boy's baseball team. When I first joined the boy's team, no one wanted to play catch with me," Mendoza said. "But after a couple of days, everyone wanted to play catch with me so that was pretty cool." Not only can she play catch but she can hit, too. Last season she hit .417 as the U.S. won the World Cup and Canada Cup.

The 2008 Olympic Team has ten returning veterans who have led the newer players through the ropes of what to expect at the Games.

"Basically, it is our livelihood and we train for four years to be on this stage," said 2004 gold medalist pitcher Catherine Osterman, 25, of Houston, TX. "It is an intense level of play. We don't want to go over there to play and lose. This is what we do full-time."

With no Olympics after 2008, the World Championship games will become the benchmark for softball but will not be played until 2010. However, reduced funding for the national softball team and a number of the women retiring from play after this year may mean this all star team will have to re-build.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Crystl Bustos, 31, of Canyon Country, CA, is a third baseman on her third Olympic run. She's referred to as the most feared hitter in the softball world and broke Olympic records with five home runs and 10 RBI in Athens in 2004.

"The last time seeing softball as an Olympic sport is really heart- wrenching because we have worked so hard only to see it taken away," said Bustos. "All these little girls that we see all over the country and abroad who are striving to be where we are at won't have that opportunity. We are hoping to work hard to get it back into the Games in 2016 and until that time we will showcase our sport throughout the world to illustrate how many of the countries have gotten involved with the sport and have gotten so much better."

Laurie Fullerton is a freelance contributor for teamusa.org. This story was not subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee or any National Governing Bodies.

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On August 06, 2008 Monica Wilsman wrote

My whole family is looking forward to watching the USA bring home another Gold Medal. We are sad that the Olympic Committee has decided to take a sport like softball out of the Olympics as it is a sport that requires not only talent and skill but a sport that promotes teamwork and sportsmanship. I feel the world will be cheated out of watching such superior athletes in the years ahead.
On August 06, 2008 J B wrote

Superior to who? It's a good thing it's going away...you don't see much women's softball in Ethiopia!
On August 06, 2008 Vivien Hibbert wrote

JB what a silly comment! Softball is a relatively easy and inexpensive sport for all nations. By your logic, shouldn't all equestrian, fencing, synchronized swimming, BMX, cycling, rowing, yachting, badminton, handball etc...etc...etc be excluded just because you might not think is played in Ethiopia? Softball has been an excellent sport for the olympics and is popular all over the world - even in Ethiopia where, by the way, they do play softball.
On August 07, 2008 Laurie Fullerton wrote

Thanks so much for your comments, as although I wrote the article I also personally feel that this team has really been aware of how much they influence the next generation and have taken a lot of their personal time to work with youth. They seem like a very caring and conscientious group of great young women. I think they really were hit hard by the loss of softball at the Olympics and have a lot to offer sports, girls and their communities large and small. I wish them all the best!
On August 07, 2008 Vivien Hibbert wrote

Laurie - I totally agree with you. These young women have been wonderful role models for years. They have given back to their communities in so many ways. I have always enjoyed watching olympic softball and will miss it in 2012. Thank you women's softball! Now go and play your hearts out!
On August 07, 2008 J B wrote

I'm sorry, come on...it's softball. Anyone CAN play it, I do. Just don't think it should be an OLYMPIC sport...in addition to syncronized swimming (OMG), yes and other lame ass "sports" like badminton? handball? are you serious? none of that can even sort of match the skills necessary to control a living animal like a horse...gimmie a break lady- and playing softball in Ethiopia..just cuz you can doesn't mean you should. Not taking away anything from ANY of the women who compete...anyone knows what it takes to be a conditioned athlete! I just don't think it should be included in WORLD events...that's apart of American Pass time, not the world pass time...it's already bad enough we have share baseball. I bet you're ok with the games being held in China too huh? Lamo-
On August 07, 2008 Vivien Hibbert wrote

JB - is it possible to discuss the issues without name calling? Try again mate - you have no idea what I think about the games being held in China - that is not even the subject we are discussing. I'm sorry, but your arguments are still silly. By saying "I just don't think it should be included in WORLD events...that's apart of American Pass time, not the world pass time...it's already bad enough we have share baseball" you come across as elitist. Are you saying that softball and baseball are AMERICAN sports and no other country should play them - especially in the olympics" And any sport that you don't understand or play is tagged as "lame ****" Wow - you need to get a life. I hope you watch a lot of olympic coverage on TV and cheer loudly for Ethiopia as they compete excellently in a sport that most people CAN participate in: Track and Field. While you are at it - check out the excellent competition in Softball - it will be missed in future olympics.
On August 08, 2008 Lola Miller wrote

We had the pleasure of meeting some of the women of the USA Team in Irvine Calif the last stop before Bejing . We have autographs from the whole team including the Coach. Here in the 8-0-5 wish them the best of luck as we will be watching.
On August 09, 2008 Madison S wrote

I agree with Vivien, JB. Not everybody can play softball,synchronized swimming,handball,badminton, and baseball you know. Maybe, for some people, they can. But it takes skills, and MANY hours of hard training. If everybody can play these sports, then why aren't they on the Olympic team??? Those athletes train hard.Those sports are real, non "lame ass sports" or they wouldn't be in the Olympics. I happen to love Badminton, which is according to you a "lame ass sport" These sports are EQUAL to any other sport. Swimming,gymnastics,track&field. Im ok with the games held in China. Every country has their own right to hold it, why not? They had a stunning opening ceremony, w/e might be your opinion.
On August 09, 2008 Candace Henfrey wrote

As a former softball player and girls coach, I have seen the many positive changes that happen when a girl realizes that she can perform and possibly excel in such a wonderful and accssible team sport. The American Women's Softball team has been an inspiration to little girls everywhere who often have limited access to sports teams when compared to the options for boys. It is truly a shame that the IOC has decided to remove softball from the Olympics - thus removing the chance for little girls the world over to share in, experience and dream about turning their backyard game of catch into a gold medal for their country, whatever country that may be.