THE GOLD MEDAL GAME

United States vs Japan

 

Japan Wins the Gold Medal/Championship 3-2 (8)

 

The Gold Medal Championship Game of the 2003 ISF Junior World tournament rematched the 1999 finalists – the United States and Japan .

 

More currently, it brought together again the two protagonists from Sunday night, a tension-filled contest won by Japan 2-1.  The Gold Medal Game pitted the USA ’s Monica Abbott against Japan ’s Yuir Kushima, the pitchers from Sunday night.  (The word was out; the stands were again packed, as was the hill overlooking the field; the softball-loving Chinese sensed a good game in the offing.)

 

Like 1999, and especially like Sunday night, Japan won – and physical and mental errors by the United States were influenced the decision.

 

The game started on a high defensive note.  Yuri Masuyama hit a high fly deep to center field, pulled down by a speeding Jackie Rinehart, the right fielder, with her glove outstretched.  Abbott then gunned down the next two batters.

 

Caitlin Lowe grounded to short, Norelle Dickson grounded to 2nd.  Caitlin Benyi lined out to right.  0-0

 

Moe Yamazaki opened the 2nd for Japan with a walk.  Hitomi Sajida bunted; a diving Lisa Dodd, playing 1st, got a glove under the ball but couldn’t hold it, and was charged with the error, two Japanese on base.  Yukie Iwai sacrificed, putting runners at 2nd and 3rd, with one out.  Yumi Shimabukuro nailed the first hit of the game, a solid rbi single to center.  Japan led 1-0 with runners at the corners.  Yuir Kashima, whose 2-run homer was the margin Sunday night, was batting when Japan pickled.  The runners did not advance and Shimabukuro was called out on the hesitation rule.  Two down.  And this time, Abbott struck out Kashima on a 2-2 count.

 

Emily Zaplatosch led the bottom of the 2nd, looking at a third strike.  Dodd laced a single into left field, the first USA hit.  DH Desiree Williams followed with a single to left.  Both advanced on Andrea Duran’s grounder to 1st.  With two out, Jodie Legaspi reached on a squibbler to 3rd, and was awarded an rbi and a hit.  Jackie Rinehart doubled to right, driving in the go-ahead run, 2-1.  The ever-dangerous Lowe was intentionally walked, loading the bases.  Dickson grounded to 3rd.  USA 2-1.

 

Naoko Sakamoto was the first Japanese batter in the top of the 3rd, striking out.  Speedy leadoff hitter Masuyama slid into 2nd with a double. Haruka Fujino hit a high fly ball to Rinehart in right, Masuyama taking 3rd with two out.  Sayuri Honda struck out for the second time, Abbott’s 5th K.

 

Down 2-1, Japan put Yamazaki on the mound to face Benyi who hit a deep fly to center. Zaplatosch singled to right, and Dodd advanced her to 2nd with a 5-4 sacrifice.  Williams hit a soft liner into center field, the sixth US hit.  Duran grounded to 2nd.  USA 2-1.

 

Yamazaki hit a fly ball to Lowe in center for the first out in the 4th.  Sajinda fanned.  Iwai lofted a high fly to deep right which Rinehart ran under for the third out.

 

Legaspi ground out to 2nd but Rinehart was safe on an error at 1st.  Dodd advanced her with a 1-3 sacrifice, two down.  Dickson hit back to the mound.  USA 2-1.

 

Shimabukuro started the 5th – with a K.  Abbott hit Kashima with the first pitch.  Sakamoto advanced her with a 1-4 sacrifice.  Leadoff hitter Masuyama singled to left, her second hit.  Kashima slipped at 3rd and hesitated, but Duran, who bobbled the ball,  threw to second for a possible rundown but Masuyama escaped – only to be gunned down by Zaplatosch trying to steal 2nd.  Duran was charged with an error. A throw home might have prevented the run. Game tied 2-2.

 

Benyi led the USA 5th with a double to center.  Zaplatosch popped to the pitcher. Dodd ground out to 3rd.  On a 3-2 count, Williams fanned on an outside pitch.

 

The 6th began with Fujino at bat; she became Abbott’s 9th K.  Honda hit a fly to left.  Yamazaki struck out.

 

Duran and Legaspi bounced out to short.  Rinehart hit back to the pitcher.  End of 6.

 

Sajida led the 7th with a grounder which Abbott tried to backhand and couldn’t, the ball rolling to Benyi, too late for the out.  But, Iwai popped to Zaplatosch and Shimabukuro popped to Benyi.  Now, Kashima, the Sunday night menace, fouled off several pitches before popping up to Dodd in foul ground.  Abbott was charged with the error.

 

Now, the USA controlled its destiny, coming to bat in the bottom of the 7th with the top of its lineup.  Lowe went down 5-3.  Dickson struck out.  Benyi grounded to 2nd.

 

At the end of regulation, the score was tied 2-2.

 

With Kumi Suzuki the pinch runner starting at 2nd, under international tie breaker rules, Sakamoto popped up to Abbott, who didn’t field the ball, and was charged with the error.  With two on and no out, Masuyama collected her third hit, an rbi single past Abbott, driving in Suzuki with the go ahead run.  Fujino hit a fly ball to left and Duran held the runner.  Honda grounded to Benyi who fired a shot to Zaplatosch to put out Sakamoto.  Fujino left early – for Japan ’s third out.  Japan led 3-2.

 

With Benyi on 2nd as the ITB runner, Zaplatosch laid down a perfect sacrifice, Benyi advancing to 3rd.  Dodd lined out to Honda in left. Benyi, the tying run, appeared ready to tag and go – but held her base.  A play at the plate would have been close if Honda made a great throw, and the Japanese do have strong arms.  Now, it was up to Desiree Williams – who ground out to 2nd for the final USA out. 

 

Japan wins the 2003 ISF Junior World Championship and Gold Medal.

 

The USA wins the Silver Medal.  A repeat of the 1999 finish.

 

The USA had six hits, Japan four.  But, the USA had four errors, to just two for Japan .  Abbott struck out 10 batters. 

 

Williams was 2-4.  Rinehart was 1-3 with a double.  Benyi was 1-4 with a double.  Zaplatosch was 1-4.  Dodd was 1-3 plus a sac bunt.  Legaspi was 1-3.

 

Matsuyama was Japan ’s leading hitter – 3-4 with a double and the winning rbi.  Shimabukuro was 1-3 with an rbi.

 (ISF and the China organizing committee can take great pride on putting on a very thrilling, well-managed tournament.  We thank the players, the coaches, the umpires and the many, many volunteers who performed in the highest traditions of our sport.  RFH)

End

 

Team USA

 

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