Softball at the 2000 Summer Olympics

Softball
at the Games of the XXVII Olympiad
VenueBlacktown Olympic Centre
Dates17–26 September 2000
Teams8
Medalists
1st place, gold medalist(s)  United States
2nd place, silver medalist(s)  Japan
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)  Australia

Final results for the Softball competition at the 2000 Summer Olympics:

Medals

Gold Silver Bronze
United States

Laura Berg
Lisa Fernandez
Lori Harrigan
Michele Smith
Christie Ambrosi
Jennifer Brundage
Crystl Bustos
Sheila Cornell
Danielle Henderson
Jennifer McFalls
Stacey Nuveman
Leah O'Brien
Dot Richardson
Michelle Venturella
Christa Lee Williams

Japan

Misako Ando
Yumiko Fujii
Taeko Ishikawa
Kazue Ito
Yoshimi Kobayashi
Shiori Koseki
Mariko Masubuchi
Naomi Matsumoto
Emi Naito
Haruka Saito
Juri Takayama
Hiroko Tamoto
Reika Utsugi
Miyo Yamada
Noriko Yamaji

Australia

Joanne Brown
Kerry Dienelt
Peta Edebone
Tanya Harding
Melanie Roche
Natalie Ward
Brooke Wilkins
Sandra Allen
Sue Fairhurst
Selina Follas
Fiona Hanes
Kelly Hardie
Sally McDermid
Simmone Morrow
Natalie Titcume

Schedule

Starting 17 September, there will be four preliminary games each day until 23 September for a total of 28 games. Two semi-final games played 25 September, with the game for third place same day. The final game for the gold medal played on 26 September at 7:30 pm local time.

Competition format

Eight teams competed in the Olympic softball tournament, and the competition consisted of two rounds. The preliminary round followed a round robin format, where each of the teams played all the other teams once. Following this, the top four teams advanced to a Page playoff system round consisting of two semifinal games, and finally the bronze and gold medal games.

Group stage

Qualified for the semifinals
Eliminated

The top four teams advanced to the semifinal round.

Team W L RS RA WIN% GB Tiebreaker
 Japan 7 0 18 7 1.000
 Australia 6 1 22 5 .857 1.0
 China 5 2 26 4 .714 2.0
 United States 4 3 19 6 .571 3.0
 Italy 2 5 3 27 .286 5.0 1–0 vs. NZL
 New Zealand 2 5 12 22 .286 5.0 0–1 vs. ITA
 Cuba 1 6 13 18 .143 6.0 1–0 vs. CAN
 Canada 1 6 6 30 .143 6.0 0–1 vs. CUB

Games

17 September

Preliminary round

17 September 10:30 Canada 0 6 United States
17 September 13:00 Italy 0 5 China PR
17 September 17:30 Cuba 1 4 Japan
17 September 20:00 New Zealand 2 3 Australia IN 10 INNINGS
18 September 10:30 China PR 1 3 Japan
18 September 13:00 Cuba 0 3 United States
18 September 17:30 New Zealand 3 2 Canada IN 10 INNINGS
18 September 20:00 Australia 7 0 Italy
19 September 10:30 Japan 2 1 United States
19 September 13:00 Italy 1 0 Cuba
19 September 17:30 New Zealand 0 10 China PR MERCY RULE, BOTTOM 6TH
19 September 20:00 Australia 1 0 Canada
20 September 10:30 New Zealand 6 2 Cuba
20 September 13:00 Japan 1 0 Australia IN 8 INNINGS
20 September 17:30 Canada 7 1 Italy
20 September 20:00 China PR 2 0 United States IN 14 INNINGS
21 September 10:30 New Zealand 0 1 Italy
21 September 13:00 United States 1 2 Australia IN 13 INNINGS
21 September 17:30 Cuba 0 7 China PR
21 September 20:00 Japan 4 3 Canada IN 10 INNINGS
22 September 10:30 United States 2 0 New Zealand
22 September 13:00 Canada 1 2 Cuba
22 September 17:30 China PR 0 1 Australia
22 September 20:00 Japan 2 0 Italy IN 8 INNINGS
23 September 10:30 Australia 8 1 Cuba
23 September 13:00 China PR 1 0 Canada
23 September 17:30 New Zealand 1 2 Japan
23 September 20:00 United States 6 0 Italy

Semi finals

25 September 9:30 Japan 1 0 Australia
25 September 12:00 China PR 0 3 United States

Final

25 September 19:30 Australia 0 1 United States

Grand final

26 September 19:30 Japan 1 2 United States IN 8 INNINGS

Medal round

The loser of 1&2 seed game played the winner of the 3&4 seed game in the bronze medal match. The loser of the bronze medal match won the bronze medal while the winner went on to play the winner of the 1&2 seed game for the gold medal in the gold medal match.

SemifinalsBronze medal gameGold medal game
1 Japan11 Japan1
2 Australia04 United States2 8
2 Australia0
4 United States1
3 China0
4 United States3 10

Final team standings

Rank Team Games Wins Losses
 United States (USA) 10 7 3
 Japan (JPN) 9 8 1
 Australia (AUS) 9 6 3
4  China (CHN) 8 5 3
5  Italy (ITA) 7 2 5
6  New Zealand (NZL) 7 2 5
7  Cuba (CUB) 7 1 6
8  Canada (CAN) 7 1 6

References