Japan slam Australia seek to win softball gold

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Sydney: Reika Utsugi slammed a fourth-inning home run to give Japan a 1-0 softball win over Australia on Monday and a shot at the gold medal in the Sydney Olympics.

Pre-tournament favourites the United States face elimination in the other play-off game with China. A loss would drop the United States, which had a 112-game winning streak broken by Japan earlier in tournament, out of the medals race.

A win would put the United States into a game with Australia, with the winner of that going on to face Japan for the gold. The loser would get the bronze. Japan had great pitching and played tough defence to win.

"They don't take any prisoners," Australian coach Bob Crudgington said. "They just keep applying all the time. They are very, very tidy."

Japanese coach Taeko Fushimi said he still expected to have to face the United States again, even though the defending gold medallists had a nightmare run in the preliminary round and won only four of seven games.

"I have a very strong feeling it will be them because the US team coach has so much faith they will be there," Fushimi said. Japan were the surprise of the preliminary round, also defeating China and Australia in their unbeaten run.

Utsugi's blast over the left field fence was one of three hits given up by Australian pitcher Tonya Harding, while Japan's Mariko Masubuchi tossed a one-hitter and struck out 10 in getting the win.

"I am always trying to play as if it is the last game of my life..." said Utsugi, who also slugged a home run in an earlier game against New Zealand. Fushimi said a gold medal win would be a major boost for the sport in Japan, where baseball attracts huge crowds.

"I think if we got a gold medal this time, it would be very good encouragement for young people in Japan to play. I think softball would get to be much more popular."



(c) Reuters Limited.