2020 Tokyo Olympics: Team USA to play Japan for softball gold in a rematch of 2008 classic

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics softball remaining will probably be a rematch in additional methods than one. By topping Japan 2-1 on a walk-off house run from Kelsey Stewart on Sunday, the U.S. earned the benefit within the championship sport towards that very same Japanese group. 

The U.S. and Japan had already each clinched a spot within the gold-medal sport, however by advantage of Sunday’s win the U.S. will bat final when the sport counts for far more on Tuesday.

It will likely be the identical championship matchup from the 2008 Beijing Video games, the final time softball was within the Olympics. Japan (4-1) defeated the U.S. (5-0) in that sport for its first ever gold medal within the sport. The U.S. got here into that sport having gained three straight gold medals.

The undefeated U.S. and Japanese groups enter Tuesday’s championship sport with equally spectacular resumes. Japan recorded a +14 run differential in group play, whereas the U.S. boasts the world’s top-ranked squad. 

Pitchers Cat Osterman — who gained gold with the People within the 2004 Video games — and Monica Abbott are the one remaining People from the 2008 Video games, and Japan returns pitcher Yukiko Ueno, catcher Yukiyo Mine and Eri Yamada. Ueno held the U.S. to just one run in that championship sport. 

The U.S. will battle Japan for redemption and a gold medal in Tuesday’s remaining.