US softball nearing perfection and gold
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The US softball team, unbeaten, unscored upon and almost unbelievable, rolled to its eighth consecutive shutout Sunday, 5-0 over Australia, and into the gold-medal game.
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ATHENS, Greece -- There were 17 seconds left, and it was finally time for the change. The US women&#39;s basketball team had clinched the Olympic gold medal Saturday for the third time in a row.
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Lisa Fernandez pitches a three-hitter Sunday and as the Americans roll to their eighth shutout in eight days, 5-0 over Australia, putting them into the gold medal game.
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The United States womenâs national team advanced to the Gold medal match with a 2-1 win over Germany at Heraklio Stadium in the semifinal on Monday.
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ATHENS -- Through five games, the US women are outscoring opponents by 29 points a game. They've been dominant to the point of ennui. They crush their opponents on the glass, hand out twice as many assists per game, and, generally, have it their way, every game. They lead the Olympics in nine statistical categories.
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The latest regime of George Steinbrenner&#39;s Evil Empire has picked a perfect time to prove just how all conquering it can be. By Todd Plitt, USA TODAY.
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The United States and Australia kept  unbeaten records at the Olympic women's basketball tournament  on Monday to stay on course for a gold medal showdown.
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It&#39;s safe to say Justine Henin-Hardenne is back on top of her game. She&#39;s healthy for the first time in months - and has a gold medal to prove it.
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ATHENS, Greece - Right now, the Americans aren't just a Dream Team - they're more like the Perfect Team. Lisa Fernandez pitched a three-hitter Sunday and Crystl Bustos drove in two runs as the Americans rolled to their eighth shutout in eight days, 5-0 over Australia, putting them into the gold medal game...
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They are America's newest golden girls &#151; powerful and just a shade from perfection. The U.S. softball team won its third straight gold medal with an unprecedented and nearly unblemished romp through the Olympics, capped by a 5-1 victory Monday over an Australian team that, like the rest of softball's elite, never had a chance.
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ATHENS, Greece -- He told them to play for themselves and for their country, and they did. But the US softball team was playing for coach Mike Candrea, too.
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ATHENS - The single best women&#39;s basketball player in the world might be debatable, but there&#39;s no doubt about the team. The United States reinforced its dominance Saturday with a 74-63 win over Australia
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ATHENS -- Yukiko Ueno pitched the first perfect game in Olympic softball history, leading Japan to a 2-0 win over China yesterday and a spot in the semifinals.
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At first glance, it would seem to be the perfect matchup &#151; a dream draw, if you will. All the United States has to do to claim a third straight gold medal in women's basketball on Saturday is beat Australia, which is 0-12 against U.S. teams in the Olympics and world championships.
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Tanya Harding jumped up, shrieked with delight and wrapped her arms tightly around Australian catcher Marissa Carpadios as the two kicked up dust with a dance in the infield dirt. The Aussies were guaranteed one more game at the Olympics &#151; and another shot at the United States. This time for a gold medal.
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NEW YORK -- The Americans are going for the gold _ in gold. The U.S. women's team unveiled its jerseys for the upcoming World Cup, and the look certainly is distinctive. The primary jersey is gold, with red, white and blue trimming.
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ATHENS -- After Australia beat the United States softball team in a preliminary-round game four years ago on a walk-off homer, American ace Lisa Fernandez received a card from the Aussie team with the message, &quot;Lisa, we got your number.&quot;