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August 21, 2004 11:24 am

U.S. women ready for softball medal round

By STEVE RIVERA

Gannett News Service

ATHENS, Greece - Three-time Olympian Lisa Fernandez said the U.S. women's softball team has ``a clean slate'' when it comes to achieving a three-peat in its quest for gold.

No. 1 seed Team USA's 7-0 record means nothing on Sunday when it faces No. 2 seed Australia in the medal round of the competition to see who advances to the gold-medal game on Monday at Helliniko Stadium.

And while Team USA's unbeaten record and 42 innings of shutout ball means nothing, so does its 10-0 victory against Australia last week.

Team USA is expecting a tougher game, perhaps in part because Australia's ace Tanya Harding could pitch. Harding, who didn't pitch in the first meeting, is 3-0 at the 2004 Athens Games and has a history of success against the U.S. team, having beaten Fernandez twice (1996 and 2000) in Olympic play.

Coach Mike Candrea was undecided on who will pitch, but his top options are Fernandez, who threw a one-hitter against the Australians in the 10-0 win or Jennie Finch, who is 2-0 and ready to take on the Aussies.

``As a pitcher you want the ball,'' Finch said. ``The team is going to try and repeat what we've done the last few days.''

The team tied its own record of 41 runs through seven games and was not scored on.

``We're all pleased with how we are playing but we also know that we can play a whole lot better,'' said right fielder Kelly Kretschman. ``We're still waiting for that one game where we all break out. We're not there yet.''

Team USA will have at least two opportunities. The winner of the USA-Australia game advances to Monday's gold medal game, but the loser must play the winner of Sunday night's China-Japan game to play in Monday's title game.

But first Australia for Team USA.

``We're looking forward to it,'' Candrea said. ``We have got some videos and we're going back to the drawing board to figure some things out.''

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