KFC CUP DAY THREE
July 24 2010, Hall of Fame Stadium, OKC
11am Team USA vs USA Futures
3pm USA Men vs Canadian Men/Border Battle
7pm USA vs Japan
9pm Canada vs USA Futures
(V) Team USA 1, (H) USA Futures
WP Eileen Canney vs LP Jordan Taylor
USA 1st: Watley ground out to 2nd; good play by Boyer, rushing forward and nailing the throw on the run. Hansen singled hard to right but was thrown out by Purcell-Fitu, trying to steak 2nd. Mendoza struck out.
Futures 1st: Lastrapes fouled out to 3rd. Boyd, rising junior at ASU, struck out. Arioto, who also pitches for Cal but plays 1st for Futures, struck out.
USA 2nd: Cochran ground out. Crowd favorite Finch flied out to Johnson at short. Duran down 4-3.
Futures 2nd: Leles walked. Langenfeld flied out to Haber in center. Purcell-Fitu, a hitting hero in the win over Canada, struck out. Johnson worked a 3-2 count ground out to Duran at 3rd.
USA 3rd: Haber, on a 3-1 count, jacked a home run to right center. Holcombe popped to Arioto at 1st. Galindo fanned. Watley drew the game’s first walk. Hansen at-bat, Watley stole 2nd; Hansen ground out to Leles at 3rd.
Futures 3rd: Cannehy struck out the side: Reid, Schutzler, Lastrapes.
USA 4th: Mendoza lined out to Boyd at 2nd. Cochran flied out to short. Finch out 5-3.
Futures 4: Canney, notching 67 mph, struck out Boyd, Arioto. Leles ground to 3rd. Canney now had 8 Ks.
Between innings, Col. Parker sat on the upper deck greeting fans.
USA 5th: Taylor was hitting 66mph and breaking off her change of pace at 53. Duran flied out to short. Haber fanned. Holcombe popped to 1st.
Futures 5th: Langenfeld broke up a no-hitter with a single to right. Chavanne in to run. Purcell-Fitu became Canney’s 9th. Johnson flied out to left. Chavanne was thrown out by Holcombe trying to steal 2nd.
USA 6th: Galindo fanned. Watley ground to 2nd. Hansen flied to right.
Futures 6th: Reid, Schutzler and Lastrapes struck out. (#12)
USA 7th: Mendoza ground out to 2nd. Cochran doubled to center, only the third hit off Taylor. Finch squared to bunt but on two strikes hit into a fielder’s choice, 6-4. Duran was safe at 1st on an error at 3rd. Two on, Williams to run for Finch. Haber was put out at 1st unassisted.
Futures 7th: Boyd fanned. Arioto laced a single down the left field line but was out at 2nd on a rifle throw from Mendoza. Leles became Canney’s 14th and final strikeout.
Post-game comments
Coach Miller deplored the “pitiful hitting” by Team USA, but gave high praise to Eileen Canney (14K) – “a great performance – she really dominated.” He also had kudos for Jordan Taylor – “she really stepped up her game – a big step toward a future national team.” It is important for the Futures team to play well, to show that they’re ready to become part of the 2011 national team. Miller noted that the KFC Cup is the last outing for the 2010 national team as a unit. The USA will send a team to the Japan Cup that is comprised of players from the current national team, and the Futures team.
Injury report: while still taping her leg and ankle, Jennie Finch, whose ankle and shin bone were bruised earlier in the week, said she is fine. Not so fine: Catherine Osterman. Miller said Osterman has a partial tear in her biceps tendon and will not play in the Cup.
Alissa Haber, commenting on the home run which won the game, said Taylor usually throws a hard-to-hit changeup, so if any pitch was anywhere near her zone, Haber was determined to attack it – hard. The gopher ball was low. Haber said Team USA knew the Futures would give them a tough game – “they are getting better.” (Haber said she remembers SPY writing about a double she hit against former Alabama standout Stephanie Van Brakle – “that hit was my breakout and you told everyone about it.”
Futures coach Caryl Drohan called the KFC Cup “a great showcase for USA softball –“ it showcases our depth.” Drohan also noted the improved Futures play – one run losses to the USA and Japan and a win over Canada last night.
Drohan, who coached Canney at Northwestern, said Eileen was spotting her rise very effectively and the Futures were late making adjustments. She also complimented Taylor – “good mix of pitches, tremendously focused.”
The Futures play Canada again tonight, after Team USA plays Japan again.
TEAM USA 8, Japan 0 (6)
WP Monica Abbott. LP Sayuri Yamane
Japan 1st: Abbott, hitting her marks as high as 75 mph, struck out 3 of 4, Yamada reaching on an error by Charters at 2nd.
USA 1st: Watley beat out a grounder to short. Charters fouled out to 3rd. Mendoza and Cochran walked. Watley stole 2nd, advanced to 3rd on a throwing error. Finch slashed a single; Watley scored, Mendoza crashed into the catcher but was called out. Cochran advanced to 3rd. Japan changed catchers. Duran struck out. USA 1-0.
Japan 2nd: Down in order, the first two on strikes: Sakamoto, Mine, Oyanagi.
USA 2nd: Haber walked; pinch runner Lowe out stealing 2nd. Lappin singled; Bramlett walked; Watley singled. Bases loaded. Charters struck out. Mendoza hit the wall with a 3-run double. Cochran popped. USA 4-0.
Japan 3rd: Down in order: Mizoe, Kawano, Karino (K).
USA 3rd: Emoto to pitch for Yamane. Finch (K) and Duran went down; pinch hitter Lowe singled, Lappin fouled out to left fielder Kawano who made an all-out run up the line for a one-handed catch.
Japan 4th: Williams to 1st for Finch. Matsumoto broke up Abbott’s no-hit bid with a single but the next three batters went down.
USA 4th: With Bramlett on base (hbp), Watley racked her third hit, rbi. Charters out 1-3. Mendoza doubled, rbi, USA 6-0. Cochran grounded out to 2nd. Williams lined to left..
Japan 5th: Down in order again, two on strikes.
USA 5th: Yasufuku to pitch. Duran singled, but Lowe hit into a fielder’s choice. Lowe advanced on a wild pitch. Lappin grounded to short, but Bramlett reached on an infield hit. With a run rule in sight, Lowe on 3rd, Bramlett on 2nd, Watley ground to 2nd.
Japan 6th: Down in order; Nagayoshi a strike out.
USA 6th: Galindo made the first out. Mendoza singled to right. Cochran jacked a 2-run home run, 8-0. USA wins by run rule.
Post game notes:
Abbott, clocked as high as 77 mph (all-time high), yielded one hit, struck out 9, no walks. The USA racked 12 hits.
While the KFC Cup is the last tournament for the 2010 national team as a unit, several players will join some Futures players next week at the Japan Cup: Bramlett,Cochran, Haber, Hansen, Canney, Charters, Williams, Holcombe and Charters.
A solemn, disappointed Catherine Osterman said chances are slim she will be healed in time for the NPF championship at the end of August, (torn bicep),a real blow to Cat and the Pride. Cat said she has no plans to return to coaching for a year or two.
Coach Miller joined Abbott in praising Lauren Lappin’s work behind the plate. Abbott said they were in close communication in varying rise balls and curves..”Lauren has really come into her own,” Abbott said.
Poignant moment: Jennie Finch, savoring the greater control over her timetable enabled by retirement, talked of the family’s planning for her grandmother’s 90th birthday celebration. Jennie’s grandmother has played a central role in her life. Very sharp lady; remember years ago when she regaled me with stories about Jennie – games which occurred even before travel ball. I asked her to come sit with me in the press box, out of the heat; no, she wanted to be outside where she could feel close to the action.
Canada 5, US Futures 4
WP Tina Andreanna in relief. LP Stacey Nelson
Heartbreaking loss for the Futures who held a 4-0 lead through five innings, still led 4-2 going into the bottom of the 7th, before surrendering three runs to the Canadian National Team.
Top 2nd, Arioto walked. Iwata popped to 2nd. Wright jacked a 3-1 pitch off Ashley Lanz for a 2-run home run. Top 3rd, with two out, Schutzler doubled and scored on a single by Langenfeld. Top 4th, Wright singled to left field, Reid in to run. Reid stole 2nd and advanced to 3rd on a catcher throwing error. Johnson singled, rbi. With two out, Chavanne singled, but Schutzler popped to left, stranding two. All four US runs were charged to Lanz.
Canada narrowed the margin with two runs, bottom 6th. With one out, Matthews tripled down the left field line. Lever bunted to Nelson. Yee singled up the middle, rbi. Lawrick singled, rbi, cutting the US lead in half.
Top 7th, Langenfeld was hbp but Arioto ground into a double play. Iwata popped to 1st.
Bottom 7th: Ebert walked; Pare reached on an error at 3rd by Iwata on a bunt. Matthews walked, loading the bases. A run scored on Lever’s sac fly. Yee doubled to left, driving in two runs to win the game.
Canada had 9 hits, the US Futures 8.
