Watley provides big spark

Natasha Watley, Olympic softball team shortstop and game havoc-wreaker, can remember being in Spokane four years ago. Given the whirlwind five-month nature of the team’s preparation tour, however, she can’t remember the particulars of the game.

“The games all tend to run together,” Watley said in a telephone interview from her home in California.

As a refresher, the more than 3,000 folks in attendance can’t forget the USA leadoff hitter and flash-of-light speedster’s 5-for-5 evening that generally set the tone for a doubleheader sweep by players with superb talent.

The Olympians visit here again Thursday to play a nine-inning exhibition game against area talent at 7:30 p.m. at Franklin Park, a treat for Spokane and perhaps a historic one since the announcement that this is softball’s swan song as an Olympic event.

United States teams have won the previous three and are favored to win again. But Watley acknowledges that these are bittersweet times for players whose increasingly popular spectator sport stateside is likely being swept into the Olympic dustbin.

“Softball is something you work so hard at to be at a higher level and (make it) a front-page sport,” Watley said. “It’s hard to tell us it isn’t respected worldwide. It is a popular sport and it’s disheartening to know how far come we’ve come and now it’s like taking five steps back.”

Television ratings for the sport in the U.S. have increased. Watley said they had to play in a minor league baseball stadium on this tour to accommodate a crowd of 8,500. Area All-Star coach and game architect Fuzzy Buckenberger said he is hoping for 3,500-4,000 for Spokane’s visit.

The slight has been motivational for the players, 13 of whom played here in 2004. The Olympians began their “KFC Bound 4 Beijing Tour” Feb. 19 to prepare for and raise funds to compete in the Games, which run Aug. 12-21 at the Fengtai Softball Complex in China. It was there they won the World Championship in 2006.

They are coming off an 11-day break with a 51-1 record, the lone loss 1-0 on March 26 to Virginia Tech and Angela Tincher’s 10-strikeout no-hitter.

“We used it as a positive,” Watley said. “It’s a given that on any day you can get shut out and that we had to kick it up a notch. Just because you wear the USA uniform, there’s no guarantee.”

The series resumes Tuesday in Portland and Spokane is the 54th of 60 games being played by the Olympians. For the most part the results – as they were here four years ago – have been one-sided. They’ve won 43 by shutout and are averaging nearly 12 runs per game.

But simply witnessing the team in action is an experience.

“Obviously, for the Olympic team in its last tour to come to Spokane and getting to see them is unbelievable,” said Buckenberger, an ASA softball commissioner. “Personally, I’m excited for the players on our team. It’s going to be something in their lifetime they’ll never forget.”

Watley can be forgiven for forgetting her last appearance here. The UCLA graduate and current Bruins volunteer assistant coach has played on two World Cup, Pan American and World Championship teams, as well as the 2004 Olympic gold medalists. During the Olympics she tied for team highs in hits with 12, batted .400, drove in four runs and stole five bases. At UCLA she was a four-time NFCA All-American, stringing together a 32-game hitting streak in 2001.

On the tour she’s second with a .472 batting average behind Jessica Mendoza’s .474. The pair and Caitlin Lowe are the only ones who have played in all 51 games.

“We’ve pretty much covered everywhere except for what’s left of the tour to the Northwest,” Watley said. “We’ve had our ups and downs, but are starting to jell right now.”

Her signature game remains the same – slap hitting and speed, with a perfect 20 for 20 in stolen bases.

“That’s what my job is and what I do,” she said.

The difference between this team and four years ago, Watley’s first Olympics, is their experience.

“The majority of us were newcomers, now the majority is more veteran,” Watley said. “It’s a different dynamic because last time around we didn’t know what lay ahead. We were just playing the game.”

She said the strength of USA team is its pitching. Returnees, the ever-popular Jennie Finch (17-1 on the tour with 178 strikeouts in 1022/3 innings) and Cat Osterman (12-0 with 193 Ks in 92 innings), have been bolstered by the addition of ex-Tennessee great Monica Abbott (13-0, 176 Ks in 89 innings).

“I think our strongest weapon is pitching, that’s what makes us great,” Watley said.

But there is pop in the bats. Crystl Bustos (23 home runs) and Mendoza (20 doubles, 16 homers) return to Spokane. Newcomer Andrea Duran has added 19 homers.

Other familiar names are catcher Stacey Nuveman, three-time Olympian Laura Berg, Kelly Kretschman, Lovie Jung and Tairia Flowers. Lisa Fernandez and Jenny Topping, here last time, are replacement players who have game time with this year’s squad. Arizona coach Mike Candrea remains at the Olympic team helm.

“The only difference from last time is the new players are young, fast and strong and can contribute in a lot of ways,” Watley said.

There are other avenues for softball players, including professional play, but Watley hopes for an Olympics reprieve.

“I’m not ready to hang up my cleats yet,” she said. “It is a great sport and in that sense we’re trying to make it one for the whole world.”