BEIJING — What does it say when five members from the 2004 United States Olympic softball team, a group that set at least 18 records en route to winning nine consecutive games and the gold medal, weren’t considered good enough to play this time around?
It says that the competition in Beijing is likely to endure some very long days. To be more precise, some very long innings and rather short games.
The Americans opened the tournament Tuesday afternoon by setting an Olympic record for runs scored, finishing with 11 in a five-inning shutout of Venezuela, which failed to get a hit in its Olympic debut.
While a familiar face, softball icon Jennie Finch, was in the circle for the winners, and Crystal Bustos and Natasha Watley, two mainstays from 2004, each homered, in many ways it was a day for newcomers.
In her first Olympic game, Caitlin Lowe perhaps insured the no-hitter with a fine running catch in center field. She was no less sterling at the plate, with three hits, including an inside-the-park home run.
“I was pretty nervous,” Lowe said. “I told Natasha that after the first hit, my legs were shaking when I got to first base.”
More than the opposition, the uneasiness likely stemmed from the occasion and the pressure that inherently comes with putting on the U.S. team uniform. The Americans have won the gold in each of the previous three Olympics, with the 2004 team thoroughly dominating play, scoring 51 runs and allowing but one.
The starting centerfielder for that team, Laura Berg, hit .368 in Athens, but on Tuesday she was on the bench, replaced by Lowe. Similarly, Bustos, who started at third base four years ago, is now the designated hitter, with Andrea Duran now playing defensively.
“At first it seemed kind of daunting, coming out here and playing with people like Crystal Bustos and Jennie Finch,” Duran said. “But ever since I’ve joined the team — Oh my God — they’ve made it so easy to just be with them and hang out with them.”
But U.S. coach Mike Candrea said the quintet of newcomers weren’t just handed their spots on the team.
“We’ve got 10 people back from 2004 who understand what the Olympics are about; they have a strong passion for the game and what it takes to win,” Candrea said. “It was our job to then go out and find five more people who could come in and show that same drive, who had those same aspirations.
“These young players have bought right into that and they’ve done a great job doing what they’re supposed to do.”
Perhaps the toughest task among the U.S. rookies will fall on pitcher Monica Abbott. The 6-foot-3 NCAA champion from Tennessee only has to replace Lisa Fernandez in the circle. Fernandez was a star member of each of the previous three Olympic championships, the winning pitcher in the gold medal game in the last two.
On Tuesday, Abbott was eased into her debut, replacing Finch for the final three outs. The rout immediately set off questions about whether this team will be able to measure up to its Olympic predecessor.
A sterner test will certainly come Wednesday against long-time rival Australia. Even so, comparisons to the past weren’t on the minds of the players.
“We’re not looking to top what we did in 2004,” said Finch. “We’re looking for this team to make its own name and statement.”
Anthony Cotton: 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com
