United States open softball campaign with record rout of Venezuela

United States open softball campaign with record rout of Venezuela

The USA's opening softball victory over Venezuela explained much about the sport's Olympic plight.

United States open softball campaign with record rout of Venezuela

United States open softball campaign with record rout of Venezuela
Home run: China's Sun Li prepares to bat during the hosts' victory over the Netherlands Photo: Getty Images

A 11-0 rout was brought to a halt after five innings by the run rule - softball's equivalent of a referee stopping a boxing contest.

Star pitcher Jennie Finch pitched four no-hit innings and Natasha Watley hit a two-run homer as the US notched up an Olympic record score, but the mismatch helped show why softball will not appear at London 2012.

"We were so amped up when we got here," Crystl Bustos, another run-scorer, said. "We couldn't wait to get this started. We're sick of practice."

However, despite the thrashing, veteran Venezuelan catcher was thrilled to be on the Olympic field. "I am 41 years old and I have been waiting 21 years for this day," Cirimele said. "When they got softball in the Olympics for the first time my eyes got wide, everybody started dreaming and dreaming."

Four years ago in Greece, the US were softball goddesses. They obliterated the tournament field, outscoring the other seven teams 51-1 to win their third consecutive gold medal.

The Americans were hailed as "The Real Dream Team" after the U.S. men's basketball team fell flat on its face and went home with a bronze.

With 10 players back from the '04 squad, the US is set to dominate again.

However, the road to gold is paved with potential potholes as Japan, Australia, China and Canada all have enough talent to compete with the Americans.

Things should get much tougher for the Americans tomorrow when they face longtime nemesis Australia in a rematch of the gold-medal game in Athens, which the US won 5-1.

In the tournament opener, Canada defeated Taiwan 6-1, while hosts China defeated the Netherlands 10-2.