Topping Named to U.S. Olympic Team Jan. 9, 2004 – Oklahoma City, Okla.
USA Softball announced today the list of 15-players and three alternates
that will train for the next seven months in preparation of defending
its gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. Chosen from
an 18-member team selected September 8, 2003, the 15-players will be nominated
to the United States Olympic Committee as the team to represent the U.S.
in 2004.
The 15-member roster and three alternates for the 2004 USA Softball Olympic
team are:
Laura Berg, Santa Fe Springs, Calif. – Outfielder Laura Berg
is one of four two-time Olympic gold medalists to be selected to the 2004
Olympic team. Along with her two Olympic gold medals, Berg has captured
gold at three World Championships and two Pan American Games.
Crystl Bustos, Canyon Country, Calif. – Third baseman Crystl
Bustos captured gold at the 2000 Olympic Games and is one of the most
feared hitters in the game today. In 2003, she led the U.S. to a gold
medal at the Pan Am Games after collecting nine RBI in nine games.
Lisa Fernandez, Long Beach, Calif. – Right-handed pitcher
Lisa Fernandez, who is widely regarded as the best softball player in
the world, makes her third Olympic team. She has pitched in last two Olympic
and World Championship gold medal games.
Jennie Finch, La Mirada, Calif. – A right-handed pitcher,
Jennie Finch adds to the strong pitching staff among the 2004 USA Softball
Olympic team. She is a 2003 Pan American gold medalist and 2002 ISF World
Champion.
Amanda Freed, Cypress, Calif. – A 2000 Olympic team alternate,
Amanda Freed joins the 2004 Olympic roster as an outfielder/pitcher after
taking home the gold at the 2003 Pan American Games. In 2002, she also
led the USA Softball National team to the ISF World Championship title.
Lori Harrigan, Las Vegas, Nev. – Left-hander pitcher Lori
Harrigan is one of the four two-time Olympic gold medalists to be chosen
for the 2004 Olympic team. In the opening game of the 2000 Olympics, she
became the first pitcher to throw a solo no-hitter in Olympic competition.
Lovieanne Jung, Fountain Valley, Calif. – Second baseman
Lovieanne Jung makes her first appearance on USA Softball Olympic roster.
She captured gold at the 2002 ISF World Championships and the 2003 Pan
Am Games. At the Pan Ams she hit .455 with a team leading 10 base hits
in nine games.
Kelly Kretschman, Indian Harbour Beach, Fla. – A 2000 Olympic
team alternate, this marks Kelly Kretschman’s first Olympic team
roster. A member in 2000 and now 2004, the 5’6” outfielder led
the 2003 USA Softball Elite team to the Canada Cup gold medal title and
a sweep of Olympic bronze medalist Australia in the Pacific Challenge.
Jessica Mendoza, Camarillo, Calif. – Outfielder Jessica Mendoza
makes her first Olympic team roster after being a consistent member of
the USA National Team since the 2001 season. She brings experience to
the outfield after capturing gold at the 2002 World Championships and
the 2003 Pan Am Games.
Tairia Flowers (formerly Mims), Tucson, Ariz. – A utility
player at first base, third base and catcher, Flowers joins her first
Olympic squad after three national teams. She is a 2002 World Champion
and 2003 Pan Am gold medalist.
Stacey Nuveman, La Verne, Calif. – Catcher Stacey Nuveman
was an integral part in the USA’s come back during the 2000 Olympic
Games. In the playoffs versus China she blasted the game winning home
run and drove in the tying run in the gold medal game versus Japan.
Leah O’Brien-Amico, Chino Hills, Calif. – First baseman
Leah O’Brien-Amico is considered as one of the best clutch players
in the game. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time World Champion
and two-time Pan Am gold medalist. She returned to national team competition
in 2002 after taking a year off to give birth to her son Jake Thomas Amico.
Cat Osterman, Houston, Texas – The youngest and only
collegiate member of the Olympic roster, Osterman will provide depth
in the circle in 2004. Leading the 2003 Pan American team to its fifth
consecutive gold medal, the left-handed pitcher recorded a 2-0 record
and tossed a perfect game against Canada in the gold medal game. In 2002,
she was a member of the USA Softball Elite National team.
Jenny Topping, Whittier, Calif. – Providing depth behind
the plate, Topping enters the 2004 Olympic team roster after taking home
the 2003 Pan American gold medal.
Natasha Watley, Irvine, Calif. – A highly recognized shortstop,
Natasha Watley joins her first Olympic team after three National team
appearances. She took home the 2002 World title and 2003 Pan American
title. She was honored in 2003 by the NCAA as the Top Collegiate Female
athlete and finished the 2003 season batting .432 in the lead-off spot
for Team USA.
Coaches for the 2004 USA Softball Women's Olympic Team will be Head Coach
Mike Candrea (Casa Grande, Ariz.) from the University of Arizona, Assistant
Coach Ken Eriksen (Temple Terrace, Fla.) from the University of South
Florida and Assistant Coach John Rittman, (San Jose, Calif.) from Stanford
University.
The 2004 USA Softball Olympic alternates are: Jaime Clark, Tustin, Calif. – Shortstop Jaime Clark is making
her first Olympic team as one of three alternates named. She was
a member of the 2003 Pan American gold medal team and hit .778.
A former standout at the University of Washington, Clark was also a member
of the 2001 Pan American Qualifier team.
Nicole Giordano, Saugus, Calif. – A 2003 Pan American gold
medalist, outfielder Nicole Giordano lists as an alternate for the 2004
Olympic team. She has been a member of three National team rosters
and also led the U.S. to the 2002 ISF World Championship gold medal.
Lauren Lappin, Anaheim, Calif. – One of three alternates
named the to the 2004 Olympic squad, 19-year-old Lappin makes her first
appearance among the national team ranks. During the 2003 season, this
shortstop/catcher led the USA Softball Elite squad to the gold medal at
the Canada Cup and a sweep of Olympic bronze medalist Australia in the
Pacific Challenge.
The 15-member roster consists of four two-time Olympic gold medalists
and six of the 15-member 2000 Olympic Team. Twelve of the 15 named were
members of the 2002 World Championship gold medal winning team.
Narrowed from a field of 46 of the nation's top female softball players,
the 15-member roster and three alternates will begin their quest for gold
on February 20 in Palm Springs, Calif., with the kick off of the “Aiming
for Athens” tour. Consisting of two parts – a collegiate
tour and a grassroots tour – the team will travel the nation before
departing in late July for Athens. (Please visit www.usasoftball.com
for tour dates and schedule.)
After capturing its first Olympic gold medal in the sports history at
the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA, the USA Softball Women’s National
Team defended its gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. In Olympic
Competition, the women have tallied a 15-4 overall record since their
first title in 1996.
After winning the past five World Championships, the past five Pan Am
Games and the only two Olympic gold medals, the USA Softball Women’s
team has been the undisputed No. 1 team in the world for the past 17 consecutive
years.
In 2002, the Women’s team captured their fifth consecutive World
Championship title qualifying them as the top seed at the 2004 Olympic
Games in Athens. USA Softball Women’s National Teams have been among
the most dominating of any sports team in history. The USA’s ability
to bring home the title in World Championships, Pan American Games and
Olympic Games is unchallenged, with a total of 15 gold medals.
As the National Governing Body of Softball, USA Softball is responsible
for training, equipping and promoting women’s, men’s, junior
girls’ and junior boys’ National Teams that compete in international
and domestic competitions. USA Softball is one of the only two women’s
sports to capture back-to-back gold medals at the Olympic Games since
1996.
The final roster for the 2004 Olympic Team must be submitted to the United
States Olympic Committee for final approval.
Interviews with the players and coaches of the 2004 Olympic Team can be
arranged by contacting Brian McCall, Director of Communications at 405-425-3463
or Julie Eversgerd, Assistant Director of Communications at 405-425-3431.
Bios are available on USA Softball’s official website www.usasoftball.com.
