Welcome to this daily summary of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Softball tournament, giving you the latest news and key updates on the pinnacle event.

 

Japan shut out USA, 2-0, in the gold medal game of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic softball tournament Tuesday night at Yokohama Stadium, concluding the 17-game tournament.

 

Veteran right-hander Yukiko Ueno added another historic moment to her legendary career, pitching a masterpiece (6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 K) to help clinch back-to-back Olympic softball gold medals for Japan, a feat that spans 13 years.

 

"This is the pressure that I am carrying," Ueno said. "There was pressure because this Olympics was held in my hometown, but I was determined to throw until I couldn't throw anymore.

 

The 2008 Beijing hero added: "I went through a lot over the past 13 years to be able to take the mound here; and with that in mind, I wanted to stay out there as long as I possibly could."

 

"Obviously we are a bit disappointed," said USA starter Cat Osterman, who, like Ueno, was the starting pitcher in the Beijing final. "You get to the gold medal game and you have your eyes on that prize. At the same time, this was a tremendous Olympic Games and the goal in the long run is to not overlook everything we accomplished on the way to the gold medal game."

 

In the bronze medal game, Canada defeated Mexico, 3-2, securing Canada's first-ever medal in Olympic softball history.

 

"We'd like to think that the success today will be the building blocks for success in Canadian softball," said retiring Canada head coach Mark Smith.

 

Kelsey Harshman's sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning pushed across the decisive run for Canada.

 

"It's great to be a part of these moments," said Harshman, "but these moments aren't possible without those who play next to you. We as a team wanted to take a moment to relive this moment, think about all the stuff we've overcome to get to this moment, to be able to relive that moment over and over."

 

Mexico's fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Games is the highest for any country making its Olympic softball debut.

 

Mexican athlete Danielle O'Toole said: "This is obviously the best experience of my life. The rest of the team feels the same way."

 

"I am really proud of this team and the position we have now in the sport," said Mexico head coach Carlos Bernaldez. "We were 20-something in WBSC World Rankings, and now we are No.5. I think from now on, Mexico will be of relevance in the world of softball."

 

Tokyo 2020 All-Olympic Softball Team

 

The Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee and the WBSC jointly announced the first-ever All-Olympic Softball Team and Individual Awards.

 

The Most Valuable Player (MVP) award went to two-way player Yamato Fujita (Japan). She appeared in all games, going 7-for-18 (.389 batting average), with 3 home runs, while pitching 8 innings and allowing only 2 runs.

 

Canada wins country’s first-ever Olympic softball medal with bronze at Tokyo 2020

In a cloudy and grey afternoon in Yokohama, Canada defeated Mexico by a score of 3-2 and claimed today the Tokyo 2020 bronze medal, the first Olympic softball medal in the country’s history. Kelsey Harshman hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning to give Canada the win in a dramatic game, with intermittent rain during big parts of the match.

 

Mexico’s first attack saw Nicole Rangel and Anissa Urtez hit back to back singles with one out. But Canadian starter Sara Groenewegen keep them scoreless striking out Brittany Cervantes and forcing a full-count fly ball by Suzannah Brookshire.

With one out in the bottom of the second, Jenn Salling surprised with a bunt single to leadoff the inning, and moments later Erika Polidori grounded hard to third base. Amanda Sanchez fielded and assisted to second base to start the double play but Chelsea Gonzalez couldn’t control the ball, leaving the two runners safe. Salling and Polidori advanced on a Groenewegen grounder, and finally scored on a bloop single to left field off the bat of Emma Enztminger.  

In the top of the third, Cervantes made it a one-run ball with an RBI single. Sydney Romero drew a leadoff walk, and advanced to second on a Rangel grounder. With two outs in the scoreboard, Cervantes hit the ball off the end of the bat for a short single to left field to plate Romero from second base.

 

Jenna Caira went into the circle for Groenewegen in the fourth. One inning later, Mexico’s Romero started the fifth with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Second baseman Harshman made a good play that saved a run on a hard grounder by Urtez, but Brookshire delivered a 2-out RBI single to tie the game 2-2. With runners still in the corner, Daniell Lawrie replaced Caira and ended the inning forcing a grounder to third base.

In the bottom of the same inning Canada retook the one-run lead. Janet Leung and Hayward hit back to back infield hits to open the attack, and one out later Harshman delivered a sacrifice fly to the left field to make the score 3-2. Leung’s run would give Canada the bronze medal in Tokyo.

Lawrie was the winner of the game, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings giving up 1 hit while striking out 4 hitters. It was her first win of the tournament, and her second in her Olympic career -she posted a 1-1 record in Beijing 2008.

 

After the game, Salling and Lawrie retired from the National Team, leaving their cleats at Yokohama Stadium home plate as a symbolic way to say goodbye to the game.

Canada became the fifth nation in history to win a softball medal in the Olympics, joining Australia, China, Japan and USA. The red and white team is only one of three countries to participate in the five Olympic Games (Australia and USA have also been ever present).

 

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