Two With Something to Prove

U.S. Softball Squad Making Pitch To Put Sport Back on IOC's Radar

They are the undisputed world's best -- so superior to their competition that losses have become almost unthinkable, and close games signify a stunning development.

Yet the U.S. women's national softball team is barnstorming around the country on tour buses this summer, toting luggage and toddlers, in some cases, and staying two-to-a-hotel room on a 45-city tour to hone their skills, foster teamwork and build good will in advance of the 2008 Olympics.

And they're seeing the payback before they've hurled their first fast pitch in Beijing. It's the squeals of the girls in the grandstands who think Jennie Finch is a bigger star than Miley Cyrus, screaming, "Jennie, we love you!" when she takes the mound and yelling "Bustos!" at the sight of Crystl Bustos, the team's power hitter. And it's the sparkle in their eyes -- one that reminds center fielder Laura Berg of how she felt, 20 years ago, when her dream of becoming an astronaut gave way to an even more outlandish dream of playing softball for a living.

A crowd of 8,000 strong is expected at Prince George's Stadium in Bowie today as the U.S. women, whose record this summer is 30-1 -- with a lone loss to Virginia Tech -- take on the Washington Glory.

The Olympians hope to inspire the youngsters with skill on the field and, afterward, encourage them to pursue dreams of their own during the customary postgame autograph session.

They'll have a far more daunting goal on Aug. 12, when they begin round-robin play in Beijing against Venezuela: Win enough games to claim a fourth consecutive gold medal and, in doing so, win enough hearts to convince the International Olympic Committee that it erred in voting to drop softball from the Games in 2012.

Said Berg, 33, a veteran of three Olympics: "We've got two things in mind: To win gold, and to get the sport of softball out there in people's minds. There are 128 countries that play the sport of softball, and it's important that the IOC see that."

Added Finch: "We're going to do everything we can to prove we belong. And we plan to use Beijing as a platform to do this. In the U.S., girls have the option of getting a scholarship and playing in college. But in other countries, the Olympics is the only place to pursue their dream. We want to continue that dream for the young girls in Croatia or China. That's what it's all about."

Softball became an Olympic sport in 1996, following baseball's inclusion in 1992. Playing before an adoring home crowd in Atlanta in 1996, the U.S. women romped to the gold with an 8-1 record. In 2000, they nearly missed the medal round in Sydney but stormed back to defend their gold.

And they leveled all comers in Athens in 2004, reeling off eight consecutive shutouts before surrendering their sole run in a victory over Australia that delivered a gold-medal three-peat. Sports Illustrated lauded their achievement with a cover photo of the triumphant squad under the banner, "The Real Dream Team."

But the next year, the IOC voted to eliminate softball and baseball after the Beijing Games. The move stunned supporters of both sports.

Baseball presumably lost favor because of the growing specter of steroid use in the major leagues, as well as the U.S. failure to send its top players to the Games.