Women's Softball - USA v Canada (preliminary game) preview
Olympic News Service

Gold medal favourites, the United States of America, take on Canada in the
opening game of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games Softball competition at the
Blacktown Olympic Centre on Sunday.

With eight players from the Atlanta gold medal team back to defend the Olympic title, the US is expected to assert its dominance of world softball early, with a strong line-up against the fifth-ranked Canadians.

Gun pitcher Lisa FERNANDEZ and veterans Dot RICHARDSON, Sheila DOUTY and Michelle SMITH will lead the United States's campaign but the strong defensive play of the Canadians should provide staunch opposition.

Canada qualified for the Olympic competition with a gutsy fifth-placed performance in the 1998 World Championships. The Olympic team will be without star pitcher Lori SIPPEL, however, because he has since retired.

The current world and Olympic championships are held by the United States.