By Lisa Knight
Team USA just finished up its week-long tour in California while making stops in Visalia, Rohnert Park, Sacramento, Stockton and Salinas. And expectedly, they won every game.
On May 16th in front of over 4,800 fans and in 90 degree weather, Cat Osterman threw a complete game no-hitter in Visalia, Calif. The USA Softball Women’s National team combined for 15 hits with no strikeouts to beat the Visalia All-Stars 13-0. Local favorites Andrea Duran and Stacey Nuveman both hit triples while Duran put up four RBI and Nuveman two.
Monica Abbott had 13 strikeouts in recording her first perfect game of the Tour as Team USA stopped in Rohnert Park, Calif. on May 18th to face the Nor Cal Assault. Crystl Bustos was 2-for-2 with two homeruns and seven RBI to help down the Assault 18-0.
With half of the runs scored coming off homeruns and capitalizing on six errors, the USA Softball Women’s National team shut out Team Sacramento 22-0 as the Tour made a stop in Sacramento on May 19th. Tairia Flowers broke out of her slump with two homers and five RBI for the night.
With the win, Finch upped her record to 9-1 on the tour. She threw 6 innings with seven strikeouts scattering five hits.
The USA Softball Women’s National team extended its KFC Bound 4 Beijing record to 35-1 with a 10-0 shutout over the Nor Cal Heat in Stockton, Calif. on May 22. Jessica Mendoza was 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored while Cat Osterman threw a full 7 innings with 15 strikeouts and allowing only three hits. Crystl Bustos blasted her 19th homerun of the Tour in the win.
On May 23, Monica Abbott made her first start in over five years at the Salinas Sports Complex in her hometown of Salinas, Calif. and over 3,000 fans came out to show their support as Abbott hurled the team to a 10-0 victory over the Salinas Storm.
Abbott worked a complete 7 inning game with 16 strikeouts. She allowed two hits and one walk to extend her record to 10-0.
Team USA (36-1) did not allow a run through out their Northern California swing.
As always the USA Team was gracious with their fans, signing autographs and posing for photos after the games.
