On 23 August 2004, USA and Australia met in the third Olympic softball final, which too place at the Olympic Softball Stadium in the Helliniko Olympic Complex in Athens. The US squad, considered one of the best softball teams of all time, was looking to three-peat as Olympic gold medallists, while Australia was playing its first Olympic softball final.
Even when Japanese pitcher Yukiko Ueno pitched the first-ever perfect game in Olympic softball history against China to close the preliminary round, the highlight of the competition was the star-studded US pitching staff. Veterans Lisa Fernandez and Lori Harrigan -- chasing their third Olympic gold medal -- combined with a 21-year-old Cat Osterman and a 24-year-old Jennie Finch -- both of them making their debut on the Olympic stage -- to pitch 54.2 scoreless innings to open the competition. Fernandez allowed the only run in the final when Australian Stacey Porter drove in Sandra Allen in the top of the sixth inning. It was also the last run of the competition.
The US batting lineup was also impressive. Six US batters finished among the top-10 hitters in the tournament, including Fernandez who led the stats in average with .545. Crystl Bustos, the most feared hitter of the moment, hit five home runs in nine games, with 10 RBI and nine runs scored to lead the three stats. As a team, USA batted .343 with nine homers and 46 RBI.
The Athens 2004 Games were softball’s third Olympic appearance. Australia, Canada, China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Chinese Taipei and USA qualified for the Olympics. Hosts Greece was the only new nation in the softball competition.
USA sailed to the playoffs, winning all its games with no runs against. Australia was second, Japan third and China fourth, completing the playoffs picture.
The two-time gold medal champions shutout Australia in the first semifinal to reach the final, while Japan had to play eight innings to defeat China and secure a medal. Finally, in the second semi-final, the Aussies topped Japan, 3-0, and advanced to their first Olympic final ever.
The final was played in front of the IOC President Jacques Rogge, along with 4,219 fans that paid a ticket to witness the third Olympic softball final in history.
Tanya Harding started for Australia, but she was subbed after 2.1 innings. She exited after allowing five runs on seven hits, including a homer off the bat of Stacey Nuveman and a pair of dingers by Bustos. A five-run difference was more than enough for Fernandez, who pitched the complete game for USA and gave up a two-strike, two-out RBI single to Porter.
Japan finished with the bronze medal, ahead of China in fourth. Canada, Chinese Taipei, Greece and Italy completed the final standings.
The US performance was so dominant that the 2004 Olympic softball team team was showcased in the cover of Sports Illustrated just eight days after the final, on 29 August 2004, with the headline “The Real Dream Team”.
