USA softball shows no mercy in opener

By STEVE RIVERA

Gannett News Service

HELLINIKO, Greece - Mike Candrea & Co. can finally breathe easy. Team USA's first game was a mercy-rule 7-0 victory over Italy at Helliniko Stadium on the first full day of Olympic Games competition.

``It felt great,'' said Candrea, Team USA's coach, after the victory was clinched after five innings. ``This morning I was anxious to get up and get to the ballpark.''

Candrea, whose wife, Sue, died unexpectedly in July while traveling with the softball team, said the final two weeks of practice seemed as if they lasted two years.

``When I first got into the dugout I felt a little of an emotional moment,''' he said. ``But it was a calming effect because I was in my element. Once the game started, the juice started flowing.''

``She's always in our hearts,'' said starting pitcher Jennie Finch, who got to know Sue Candrea well while pitching for Candrea at the University of Arizona.

Finch gave up no hits in her three innings of work and struck out five of the 10 batters she faced. Lorri Harrigan gave up two hits in the fourth before getting out of the inning by getting Jennifer Spediacci to fly out to left field. Cat Osterman relieved Harrigan and struck out two to end the fifth inning.

``I felt good out there,'' Finch said. ``I wanted to throw strikes and use my defense because we have the best defense in the world. I wanted to put the pressure on the hitters and let them do the work.''

Team USA jumped on the Italians from the start, scoring once in the first inning and three more in the second. ``We want to be aggressive from the get-go,'' Candrea said. ``We want to throw the first punch.''

Team USA faces a tougher test on Sunday against Australia, a 4-2 winner over China on Saturday.

``We know Australia is a very aggressive team,'' Candrea said. ``

Saturday's victory was the 71st in a row for Team USA, dating back to July 2003.

Before the game, former president George Bush greeted the team, offering support.

``That was awesome,'' Finch said. ``We step off the bus and here's President Bush right there saying `hello' and knowing us by our names. It was an incredible honor. He gave us good luck.''

Shortstop Natasha Watley was the offensive star, going 4 for 4 with a triple, a double and two infield singles. She ended the game when her bases-loaded double scored the team's sixth and seventh runs.