------Japan v Australia------

Result
Australia - 1 to 0

Brett's Fielding Position and the Batting Order
Playing centrefield
Batting at #3

Brett's Statistics - Game
Batting - 2 hits from 4 at-bats - 2 x singles
------------------1 x run scored
------------------1 x strike out

Brett's Plate Appearances
First at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - one down
Strike out
Second at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Led off the innings
Ground ball to second base
Out 4-to-3
Third at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - one down
Single
Went to second base on a walk to the next batter
Went to third base on an infield ground-out/fielder's choice
Scored on a hit to rightfield
......and this was the only run of the ballgame!!!

Fourth at-bat
Righthanded pitcher
Bases empty - two down
Ball - high outside
Ball - low
Called strike
Hit back up the middle and into centrefield
Single
Left stranded at the end of the innings

Email from Brett
Well, let me say to everyone that I have to say that that was the toughest, most draining, most exhilarating, most everything game of my life!!!!!!
To win 1-0 against Japan and to go to the Gold Medal match and to be assured of a Gold or Silver is unbelievable!!
Everyone counted us out as always and we snuck in under the radar and now we go for Gold tomorrow
Today was so close and tense as you can imagine
And for the thirty minute or so phone call from my sis in london to home was full of tears
I was also choked up!
I managed to get a one-out single to left, David Nilsson then walked, Glenn Williams grounded out, and Brendon Kingman got the hit that scored me and that is sending us to Gold!
Our pitching was dominant again and that is what carried us through
Not much else to say - except it's totally "f*&îng" marvelous!!!
The worst we can do is Silver but we are going after that Gold
And sis, I promise I will bring it to London for you
For everyone in Australia I think that the game will be on about two or three o'clock in the morning, and for you in america it will be on about one in the afternoon
Hope you can watch us do well
Thanks again for the emails
I will be back in the States in two days with some jewellery!!!
Wish us all luck
Bye

Pre-Game Notes
Article from the Cairns Post

Australians set for tilt at history

Australian baseball coach Jon Deeble maintains his team can still win an historic Olympic medal despite being thumped 11-0 in its final preliminary match.

Australia will face Japan on Tuesday for the right to play the gold medal match on Wednesday after qualifying in fourth position for their maiden appearance in the Games play-offs.

Australia lost to Canada in a largely meaningless preliminary round match on Sunday night after both teams went into the game with 4-2 winning records and certain semi-final positions.

What needed to be determined was the finishing order behind joint gold medal favourites Japan and Cuba, who had secured the top two places.
Canada's victory meant they finished third to book a showdown with world champions Cuba in the second semi-final.

Australia will be hoping to repeat their surprise 9-4 victory over Japan in the preliminary rounds last Wednesday, and Deeble said the landslide loss to Canada would not be on his players' minds come finals time.

Deeble had rested star catcher David Nilsson and other key players from the Canada game to freshen them up for the play-offs.

"Our finals start on Tuesday. I wouldn't read too much into that performance [against Canada]," he said.
"I needed to rest Nilsson and a few other guys who'd had a heavy workload.
It also gave us a chance to use some [different] pitchers."

Left-hander Adrian Burnside started on the mound after returning from an arm injury, while Wayne Ough, Graeme Lloyd and Phil Stockman also pitched against the Canadians.

Having already found Japan's measure, Deeble said Australia weren't trying to avoid Cuba in the semi-finals by losing to Canada.

"To win a gold medal, you've got to beat them both," he said. "We wanted to win the game [against Canada]."

Australia, who posted a record 22-2 win over the Netherlands a night before losing to Canada, are chasing their first Olympic baseball medal and are at least guaranteed a play-off for bronze on Wednesday.

Australia in baseball playoffs

Australia will play Japan in the semi-finals of the Olympic baseball competition after qualifying in fourth position for its maiden appearance in the Games playoffs.

Australia lost 11-0 to Canada overnight in the last of the preliminary round matches after both teams went into the game with 4-2 win-loss records and assured of semi-final positions.

What needed to be determined was the finishing order behind joint gold medal favourites Japan and Cuba, who had the top two places sewn up.
Canada's victory meant it finished third and will now meet world champion Cuba in the second semi-final on Tuesday night after Australia take on top qualifier Japan hoping to repeat its surprise 9-4 victory over the Asians in the preliminary rounds last Wednesday.

Australia is chasing its first Olympic baseball medal and is at least guaranteed a playoff for bronze on Wednesday.

Australia's best finish in baseball at the Olympics was seventh in both Sydney four years ago and Atlanta in 1996.

Game Reports

and CLICK HERE to see a close-up of the article and to read the text

AUSTRALIAN BASEBALL'S GREATEST MOMENT
A-ROOS TO PLAY FOR OLYMPIC GLORY!

GOLD or SILVER... SILVER or GOLD?
What a tantalising thought for long-suffering Australian baseball fans following what is, without doubt, the GREATEST moment in the history of our sport in this country... to date!

And the only reason we say "to date" is just in case we happen to snatch the GOLD medal tomorrow night!

Just the same, we don't need to think that far ahead to hail THIS as the greatest moment in Australian baseball history and one of much more significance than our home soil victory in the not-so significant Intercontinental Cup in November 1999.
Sure the Intercontinental Cup is indeed significant to baseball followers, but to those non-baseball people we hope to "convert" in Australia it pales in importance when compared with Australia's passion for Olympic Games glory!

GOLD or SILVER... SILVER or GOLD?
C'mon let's be honest Australian baseball fans how many of you, like me, had hardly dared to dream that we would ever see this day arrive?
How many of you, like me, thought that it was always going to be one of those dreams that, just when you are about to win an Olympic medal, you wake up to find that it is just that... a bloody dream!!?
How many of you, like me, thought during those nerve-wracking moments in the seventh innings that it would end up with another hard-luck story as we lose the semi-final in agonising fashion, then maybe slump to another crestfallen defeat in the game for a BRONZE medal??
Sadly, we had become accustomed to think this way.

GOLD or SILVER... SILVER or GOLD? ... Does it really matter?
Well, it might sound awfully stupid to suggest that playing for an OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL is not one of the most special things in sport, but the writers on this web site pride ourselves on our unwavering honesty and, right now, it probably doesn't matter too much what happens in the final as our baseball men have already climbed the biggest hurdle... to ensure a medal... to avoid coming up agonisingly short once again!

Yes, of course we will trumpet our delight if we can secure gold, but THIS day will live long in our memory as the moment we really put Australia on the world baseball map... and hopefully into the hearts and minds of Australian sports fans?

Moving on to the game... How many of you, like me, thought that the fact we had beaten the top-ranked Japan in an earlier round game might not necessarily be good news for our men?
There's something in that old saying about the chance of lightning striking twice!!

However, in this case, there seemed a most positive air of confidence in the 'A-ROOS' team who had the look of a team who had done it before and sensed that they could do it again.

But let us not forget for a moment that this Japan team, comprised entirely of Japanese Major League players, must rank as one of the most credentialed teams ever to appear in Olympic (or any) international baseball competition.

We remind you of this mainly to ensure that we don't gloss over the magnificence of our own team and how far we have come in terms of world baseball strength that we could take them on... not once, but twice... and to beat them under the most intense pressure!

Let us start with the obvious... PITCHING!

How many of you, like me, have been telling anyone who would listen how many great players Australia has been sending to the US (and other) pro leagues... and especially the extraordinary number of world class pitchers we seem to produce?

Well my friends, this is the day that all of those boasts was to be proven in the most obvious and impressive way!

Australia's pitchers have performed quite superbly in most games and the depth of class pitching we have taken to Athens is clearly the main reason that we will be bringing home a medal.

How could you possibly get a better start than that supplied by Chris Oxspring on the big stage... or a better late relief / closers performance than that supplied by Jeff Williams to shackle the Japanese for the second time!?

Oxspring has added poise and confidence to his god-given talents over the past couple of years and his near seven innings start in this HUGE game will never be forgotten by Australian baseball fans who knew how important it would be in the scheme of our chances to win a first ever Olympic medal.
He was nothing short of brilliant today, mixing up his location and changing speeds, then making sure he showed the hitters something different the second and third times through their lineup.
The fact that he didn't surrender the lead under, what would have been the most unfortunate circumstances, in the 7th is some proof that there must be a baseball god up there as this would have been a horrible travesty of justice for him.

Australia's 10th player to reach the US major leagues Jeff Williams was then called upon again snuff a two-out fire in the seventh, then he went on to slam the coffin lid shut on Japan's dreams of a first Olympic gold medal.

We refuse to discuss in any detail the nerve-wracking events of the seventh inning when a couple of "difficult errors" may have contrived to cost Australia its moment of glory as this would only serve to dampen the upbeat mood of the moment.

Our players would know only too well that the third out was a routine outfielder's ball that was left to the short stop, while the next was one of those things that often happens when the ball is slapped back through the pitcher's mound... that's baseball!

The fact that Jeff Williams (who looks more like 22yo than 32!) was able to steer us safely to victory on this big day will have him forever mentioned in the same breath as Oxspring in Australia's baseball folklore of the future... a combined SHUTOUT!

Pitching and defence wins big games is a well worn baseball mantra, but you need to score more runs than the opposition to win any game... this is a fact!

For the most part Australia's defence was splendid again today, with a special mention for our emerging star Glenn Williams who is a professional short stop, but he has done tremendously well at third base to fill a need for the team... he was really good again tonight and his ninth innings put-out capped his breakthrough tournament.

Spare a thought for the Japanese starter Matsuzaka who could do little more than strike out THIRTEEN of the finest Australian hitters in his 7.2 innings today... to lose the game by a single run was hardly what he deserved for his efforts!

It all came together for Australia in the sixth innings when, after neither team had really looked like scoring, "cometh the hour cometh the man" in the shape of Australia's sweet-swinging left hander Brett Roneberg.

Whereas some of our hitters were left whiffing the air by Matsuzaka San, young Roneberg gave our other batters a lesson in "taking what the pitcher offers you", not trying to overpower a guy who was already nearing double-digit K's at the time.

Roneberg, whose swing reminds us more and more of future MLB Hall-of-Famer and 500 home run man Rafael Palmeiro, was the only hitter who could manage more than one hit today and his "spark plug" single in the sixth innings was one of his finest moments.

The moment that will rank with (or surpass) his former team mate Gary White's gold medal medal winning hit at the 1999 Intercontinental Cup came when veteran Sydney slugger Brendan Kingman strode to the plate with Roneberg moved over into scoring position.

Many moons ago Kingman had re-written the Australian Baseball League record books with his .487 season average and 27 home runs... but that was in 1998 with a metal bat, this was 2004!

Taking a leaf out of young Roneberg's book, the hefty hitting Kingman didn't try to smash the ball out of the park, he simply "rode" an outside pitch with a short-arm jab into right field to send Roneberg flying across the plate for the game breaking and game winning run.

While Kingman beamed a satisfied smile with the mega-RBI, we suspect that Brett Roneberg will never forget the moment he was greeted by his team mates in the Aussie dugout after scoring a run that will live forever in the memory of baseball fans in this country!

'Slugga' Kingman added one more special memory to cherish in his retirement... with the medal!

GOLD or SILVER... SILVER or GOLD?
Australia's wily manager Jon Deeble, who has also etched his name even deeper into Australia's baseball history, has said that "the team will not be satisfied with anything less than a GOLD medal".
Of course we would expect nothing less of 'Deebs' or any other manager in his situation, but the reality for we Australian baseball fans who are soaking it up tonight is that we will not be complaining about taking either home from Athens!

GOLD or SILVER... SILVER or GOLD?
Either one should be enough to launch baseball into the spotlight as an elite sport in Australia... if it doesn't we can all start complaining VERY loudly!!

What ever happens NOTHING can take this magic moment away from those men who represented Australian baseball on this day... to come home with an Olympic medal is something that can NEVER lose its glitter.

Let's hope that they also become pioneers of a bright future for Aussie baseball!

Australia stuns Japan, advances to gold medal game

Australia's Men's Baseball team will get a chance to uphold its Olympic Games motto of 'nothing but gold will do' after beating Japan 1-0 in the first semifinal at the Olympic Baseball Centre.

Chris OXSPRING (AUS) was only slightly better than Daisuke MATSUZAKA (JPN) but he proved to be good enough, pitching 6-2/3 shut out innings to pick up the win.

MATSUZAKA was nearly unhittable, striking out 13 batters in 7-2/3 innings, yet Australia found a way to get to the Japanese ace by making him throw pitches and playing for the timely hit.

In the top of the sixth inning, with both pitchers cruising, MATSUZAKA found himself in a bit of trouble.
After striking out Gavin FINGLESON (AUS) to start the inning, Brett RONEBERG (AUS) singled off the flame-throwing righty.
This brought up David NILSSON (AUS), whose walk moved RONEBERG to second base.
Aussie clean up hitter Glenn WILLIAMS (AUS) hit a slow grounder to second baseman Atshushi FUJIMOTO (JPN) who only got NILSSON at second on the fielder's choice.
This kept the inning going and enabled RONEBERG to move to third base.
The next batter, Brendan KINGMAN (AUS), roped an RBI single to right field which scored RONEBERG and put Australia up 1-0.

Japan threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning as two, two out errors by shortstop Rodney van BUIZEN (AUS) helped put runners on first and third and signalled the end of OXSPRING's day.

Manager Jon DEEBLE (AUS) opted to go with southpaw Jeff WILLIAMS (AUS), who coincidently plays for the Japanese professional league team the Hanshin Tigers, to pitch against the left handed hitting Atsushi FUJIMOTO.
Jeff WILLIAMS got FUJIMOTO to pop up to Glenn WILLIAMS (AUS) at third base, retiring the side.

Japan did not have another chance to score in the final two innings.

Australian pitchers showed impeccable command throughout the day as neither WILLIAMS nor OXSPRING walked a single Japanese batter.

OXSPRING allowed two hits to the third, fourth and fifth batters in the Japanese lineup while Jeff WILLIAMS picked up the save, throwing 2-1/3 innings of no hit baseball.

Australia now advances to the gold medal game and will play the winner of Tuesday night's game between Cuba and Canada.
Japan will play the loser of that game for the bronze medal.

Aussies stun Japan for gold medal shot

Australia has earned a shot at a surprise baseball gold medal at the Olympic Games, upsetting Japan 1-0 in its semi-final at the Helliniko Olympic Complex.

Centre fielder Brett Roneberg scored the winning run for Australia in the sixth inning to sink Japan, which had been equal favourite for the gold medal with Cuba.

Australia will now play the winner of the Cuba-Canada semi-final overnight in the gold medal match on Thursday Australian time (EDS: 0300 AEST), and is now guaranteed at least a silver medal.

A single to right field from Aussie first baseman Brendan Kingman brought Roneberg home, then Australia survived a nervous seventh inning before sealing victory.

Two errors in the field allowed Japan first baseman Michihiro Ogasawara to third base and within sight of a levelling run.
But relief pitcher Jeff Williams mopped up Atsushi Fujimoto for the final out - his fly ball caught by shortstop Rodney van Buizen.

Williams then pitched nervelessly in the eighth and ninth innings, with the Japanese unable to register a hit on his pitching.

Australia's starting pitcher Chris Oxspring was outstanding until replaced, giving up only five hits to the powerful Japanese team.

It is Australia's second win over Japan at the Games, with the Aussies producing a 9-4 upset in the preliminary round.

Australia upsets Japan in baseball

Brendan Kingman's sixth-inning single sent Australia to a 1-0 victory over stunned Japan on Tuesday, putting the Aussies in the gold medal game.

A bunch of career minor leaguers led the Aussies to their biggest victory in international play.

Australia failed to reach the medal round during the 2000 Sydney Games.

"It's very important for the program in Australia," said manager Jon Deeble.
"We were very disappointed after the Sydney Olympics. The day after the Sydney Olympics, we put a plan in place to win the gold medal in Athens."

So far, some career minor leaguers have things going according to plan.

Kingman, a stocky first baseman whose career includes stints in the systems of the Florida Marlins and Seattle Mariners, provided the decisive two-out hit in a game that came down to one swing.
Kingman, 31, singled off right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka, who led Japan to its biggest Olympic win earlier in the tournament - a 6-3 victory over Cuba in the preliminaries.

This time, Japan's all-pro lineup froze up.

Right-hander Chris Oxspring gave up five hits and struck out five in 6-2/3 innings.
Oxspring, 27, pitched out of the bullpen for San Diego's triple-A Portland Beavers before heading for Athens.

"It's the best day of my life and I'm sure everyone in the dugout felt the same," Oxspring said.
"It's very important for us, but more important for Australian baseball."

Japan's best threat came in the bottom of the seventh, when Oxspring retired the first two batters.
A pair of errors put runners on first and third, but right-hander Jeff Williams retired Atsushi Fujimoto on a popup.

Japan didn't get a hit the rest of the way off Williams, 32, who appeared in 37 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers before signing with Japan's Hanshin Tigers last year.

Determined to reach the gold medal game, Japan sent a roster loaded with players from its pro leagues.
Instead, it got the same disappointing result.

"We had only one week to prepare before coming to Athens, but we can't make it as an excuse," said manager Kiyoshi Nakahata.

Japan sent a mix-and-match roster of pros and college players to Sydney, where it lost to Cuba in the semifinals and then to South Korea in the bronze medal game.
The best it can hope for this time is bronze.

Aces of bases: Australia one win from gold

In the most monumental moment in Australian baseball history, the Olympic team has produced a stunning performance to qualify for the gold-medal game with a 1-0 semi-final victory over Japan on Tuesday.

Australia will meet the winners of the other semi-final between Cuba and Canada (to be played on Tuesday night) for the gold medal on Wednesday.

Australia have lost to both sides already in this event but, with no expectations, are poised to cause the biggest upset in Olympic baseball history, surpassing the one they supplied against Japan.

Putting the win in context, beating Japan in baseball is like Australia beating Russia in ice hockey.

Australia skipper David Nilsson, who spent several years in the Major League in the US, described the win as "the best moment in Australian baseball".
"Everyone is very proud," he said.
"Obviously we feel we're playing well, but we have to get over this one and look to the next game.
We came here to win the gold medal, so we still have one more game to go.
Good pitching and a really focused performance got us through today.
Japan also played well, but the good guys won."

The gold or silver will be Australia's first Olympic baseball medal.
Their previous best finish at the Games was seventh in 2000.

And they weren't expected to even figure in the finals in Athens, especially after losing their opening two games to Cuba and Chinese Taipei.
But since then the team has turned around its performances, making it to the final four after winning its next four games - including one against Japan, 9-4, in a pool game.

After a loss to Canada, the team came out in the semi and defeated the gold-medal favourites.

And Australia did it despite a dominant performance from Japanese starter Daisuke Matsuzaka, who struck out 13 Australians over 7 innings, the second-best effort in Olympic baseball history.

The Australians had a taste early of what they would be up against in Matsuzaka - who baffled the Cuban hitters earlier in the tournament - when each of their first three hitters to the plate all struck out.

While Australia remained unable to touch Matsuzaka through the second and third, Japan were able to take hits off Australian starter Chris Oxspring, only to have good defence and solid pitching under pressure stop any threat of runs.

Japan continued to threaten and it seemed only a matter of time before they would post a run or two, but Oxspring continually worked his way out of jams.

Andrew Utting ended Matsuzaka's hopes of a no-hitter with a single in the fifth, then in the sixth Australia finally took to the starter.

After striking out his 11th hitter to start the inning, a single to Brett Roneberg followed by a walk to Nilsson gave Australia another scoring chance.
Glenn Williams advanced the lead runner to third, and Sydney's Brendan Kingman stepped up and drove in the run with a single to right field.

Two fielding errors in the seventh allowed Japan to get a runner as far as third, before reliever Jeff Williams, who plays in the Japanese league, came into the game and retired the side.

He did the same in the eighth, and then closed it out in the ninth to secure the memorable win.

Pitcher Graeme Lloyd has won two World Series rings with the New York Yankees, but he couldn't hide his excitement at making the Olympic final.

"What a great game," Lloyd said.
"Japan played a great game but we got that one run and that's all we needed.
This is just amazing.
When you're playing your event at the Olympics, and you're getting to the gold medal, it's a thrilling feeling and we can't wait to have a go at it tomorrow."

Asked if it was all cream now for the Australians having won a medal and not expected to win the gold, Lloyd said "The guys out there in the circle said we want some more. It's not over yet."

Aussie baseballers to play for gold

Australia's baseball team is guaranteed of at least a silver medal at the Athens Olympics after defeating Japan 1-0 in the semi-finals.

The victory sees Australia move into Wednesday's gold medal match against the winner of the Cuba and Canada fixture, while Japan will battle the loser of that game for bronze.

The Australians, who have never won a medal of any colour since baseball made its Olympic debut in 1992, scored their only run through a two-out single from Brendan Kingman that plated a runner in the sixth inning.

The Aussies then called on reliever Jeff Williams, who plays in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers, to squash any hopes of a Japanese rally.

"It feels great to shut the door on anyone," Williams said.

Japanese ace Daisuke Matsuzaka tossed a gem of a game for Japan, striking out 13 batters over seven and two-thirds innings.

It was Australian's second win over Japan in the tournament, following their preliminary win six days earlier.

The Japanese came into Athens with high hopes of a gold after they suffered the embarrassment of losing out on a medal in Sydney when they were defeated by arch rival South Korea.

They brought a squad they dubbed their "Dream Team" to Athens, made up completely of the best of their pro league.
Leaving the field, several Japanese players said they felt crushed by the loss.

"Honestly, we really wanted the gold medal, but we lost and now can't get it," Japanese shortstop Shinya Miyamoto said.
"That is a shock for me."

Australian manager Jon Deeble said he wants nothing less than the gold to make up for the embarrassment of not performing well in front of the home fans at the Olympics in Sydney.
He said after Sydney, the Australians had set their sights on turning their nation into a baseball power.

"There were a lot of broken hearts after Sydney and we were determined that that was never going to happen again," Deeble said.

Prior to the commencement of the Games, Japan and Cuba were considered the two best teams in the Olympic baseball draw.

Defending champions the United States are not competing in Athens, after failing to progress past an Olympic qualifying tournament.

Australia set to bring home a medal!!!!!!

Well, well, well...what can we say.....Aussie, Aussie, Aussie!!!!!!!

What a game!!!

Australia has just defeated Japan by one run in the semi final of the Olympic Games.

The win has now secured the team a place in the GOLD MEDAL ROUND!!!!
Australia is set to bring home a medal.....what colour will it be????......GOLD, GOLD, GOLD!!!

Outstanding pitching efforts by Chris Oxspring and Jeff Williams held Australia in strong medal contension throughout the entire game.

Oxspring, who pitched 7 innings was purely dynamic.
Closing pitcher Jeff Williams shut the Japanese down three up, three down in the last two innings to secure the win.

The admiration these two outstanding pitchers have received from their team mates this evening is indescribable.

The Aussies will play the winner of the second semi final against Cuba and Canada tomorrow night/Thursday morning at 1.30am our time.

This is the first time in Olympic history that Australia has made a finals round...let alone win a medal.

We will post an air time on the web for you all as soon as we finalise the time.

AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aussies in for baseball gold medal shot

Australia is assured of its first ever Olympic baseball medal following a shock win over Japan in Athens.

In the nation's finest moment in the sport, the unheralded Australians defeated the Japanese 1-0 in the Olympic semi-final to advance to the gold medal game.

The Australians are guaranteed at least a silver medal from Wednesday's final, to be played against the winner of the Cuba-Canada match later Tuesday local time.

Starting pitcher Chris Oxspring, first baseman Brendan Kingman, centre fielder Brett Roneberg and relief pitcher Jeff Williams all took turns at assuming hero status as Australia powered its way to an upset.

Oxspring was outstanding on the mound, shutting down Japan's potent batting and limiting it to just five hits.

Then in the sixth inning, with Roneberg on third base and two outs, Kingman stepped up and belted the ball through right field for a single to bring Roneberg home for the winning run.

Australia then had to survive a nervous seventh inning, with two errors in the field allowing Japan's first baseman Michihiro Ogasawara to advance to third base and within sight of a levelling run.

But then coach Jon Deeble replaced the tired Oxspring with relief pitcher Jeff Williams, who plays professionally in Japan, to pitch against his Hanshin Tigers teammate Atsushi Fujimoto.

It proved a master stroke, with Williams mopping up Fujimoto for the final out Australia needed to close the seventh inning when the Japanese batter popping a fly ball to shortstop Rodney van Buizen.

Then the 32-year-old Williams pitched nervelessly in the eighth and ninth innings, with the Japanese unable to register a hit on his pitching.

'The last inning I was shaking like a leaf - if they had any cameras on me they'd have seen me just shivering,' said Canberra-born Williams, who formerly played Major League baseball for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
'Words can't express how I feel right now. This is just tremendous for Australian baseball.'

Australia has finished seventh at the past two Games and wasn't expected to win a medal here, even after it upset Japan 9-4 in the preliminary round.

Most of its players play overseas - many in US minor leagues - and weren't expected to be able to match it with the gold medal favourites Japan and Cuba.

But Williams said the team, which lost its opening two matches to Cuba and Taiwan before starting a six-match winning streak going into Wednesday's final, hadn't finished the job yet.

'We came into this thinking nothing short of gold,' he said.
'We're going to maintain that focus. Now that we've got to this game - it's a huge celebration for us, no doubt about it.
'But we'll still come out focused and ready to play tomorrow.
We'll keep our wits about us - we have this whole tournament.'

Australia stun Japan

Australia have produced the biggest baseball shock of the Olympics with a 1-0 semi-final win over Japan.

A two-out single from Brendan Kingman in the sixth inning was enough for Australia to overcome Japan's all-professional team.

But Japan pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka will consider himself unlucky after striking out 13 batters over seven and two-thirds innings.

Australia face the winner of the other semi-final between Cuba and Canada.
And Japan will play the loser of that game in the bronze medal match.

Australia's relief pitcher Jeff Williams, who plays in Japan for the Hanshin Tigers, held his nerve at the end to deny the favourites.

Japan were considered among the best teams at the Olympics after the USA - who failed in an Olympic qualifying tournament - were unable to defend their title.

Baseballers chasing gold

Chris Oxspring experienced the “best day of his life” after pitching Australia into the gold medal match with a nail-biting 1-nil baseball semi-final win over Japan.

Oxspring pitched six and 2/3 innings to silence the Japanese batting line-up before teammate Jeff Williams closed out the match without offering a hit in the remaining two and 1/3 innings.

Australia’s winning run came in the sixth inning when first baseman Brendan Kingman drove a ground ball into right field to send centerfielder Brett Roneberg across home plate.
The run was set up when Roneberg hit a single into left field and then moved to second base after catcher Dave Nilsson was walked.

It was the second time Australia had beaten the all-star Japanese “Dream Team” in the tournament, having scored a 9-4 win in the preliminary rounds.

With Australia pitching Oxspring and Japan using their No. 1 pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, the game was always going to be a tight, low-scoring affair.

The crucial out for Australia came in the seventh inning when Williams took the mound to replace Oxspring with Japanese runners on first and second base and with two batters out.
Williams, who plays professionally in Japan, held his nerve and Atsushi Fujimoto flied out to third baseman Glenn Williams.

Oxspring, who is contracted to the San Diego Padres in the United States, again showed why a Major League call-up appeared inevitable, giving the Japanese batters little respect.

“It is one of the most important days of my life to play against one of the world’s best teams in one of the biggest tournaments in the world,” said Oxspring.
“I was very fortunate to pitch well and I had a great defence behind me.
This win is extremely important for us as a team, but also very important for baseball in Australia.
It will change how baseball is perceived.”

Head coach Jon Deeble paid tribute to his team, saying “it is a big difference to being able to adapt to a seven-day tournament such as this.
“We’ve had a great recovery system and game plan in place and the guys have never failed to keep executing the key plays.”

Australia Benefiting From A Pair Of "Sox"

Just about everybody was stunned when USA baseball failed to even qualify for these Olympics Games, but the good news -- all is not lost.

Not only is Team Australia managed by Jon Deeble, a scout for Boston, it also features a pair of Sox who just may figure into the future at Fenway.
With Team USA a no show here in Athens we offer a pair of reasons to pull for the Aussies.

"It has just been outstanding, this whole experience and to just get a chance to win a Gold Medal.
It's just an unbelievable childhood dream," says John Stevens of the Pawtucket Red Sox.

You haven't seen them at Fenway just yet, but don't rule it out.

Pawtucket's John Stevens and Portland's Brett Roneberg both took time off from their Minor League careers to play for Team Australia.

"I almost didn't come. I was going to stay there and workout this season and try to add to my numbers and finish strong," says Brett Roneberg of the Portland Sea Dogs.

"It is a difficult decision just hitting in the spot that I was and just away from a call up from Boston and it is difficult, but right now it's definitely worth it," Stevens says.

Together this pair of Sox helped lead their countrymen to an improbable upset over Japan to earn a spot in Thursday's Gold Medal game.

There is no rest for the weary, both are expected back in their respective Red Sox uniforms before Friday -- bragging rights included.

"Yeah definitely, there are a few in the clubhouse that are definitely going to be wearing that medal in front of them and having a few laughs," Stevens says.

"It's going to be great because a lot of people in my clubhouse told me that we were not going to get anywhere at all.
Now to come back and show them that medal is going to be just great for me, great for my family and great for Australian baseball," says Roneberg.

Australia will play Cuba for the Gold Medal Thursday and believe it or not, both players will board a plane for Boston.
They are expected to make their respective road trips beginning on Friday.

Comments
Chris OXSPRING (AUS) - pitcher
On the victory
"It's the best day of my life and I'm sure everyone in the dugout felt the same.
It's very important for us but more important for Australian baseball."
On his pitching performance
"I was very fortunate that I threw the ball well, had great defence behind me and the result was in our favour."
On being taken out of the game in the seventh inning
"You never want to come out. You dig your own hole and you always want to get out of it.
But I think Jon (DEEBLE) made the right decision in bringing Jeff WILLIAMS (AUS) in to face the left-handed hitter. It worked out for us."

Jon DEEBLE (AUS) - team manager
On the victory
"It's very important for the programme in Australia.
We were very disappointed after the Sydney Olympics. The day after the Sydney Olympics we put a plan in place to win the gold medal in Athens."
"We're excited but we're going to keep an even keel. We're not going to be happy with a silver medal. We're going out there to win a gold medal."
On Australia's poor start to the tournament
"When we were 0-2 at the start of the tournament we never faltered from our game plan.
We kept executing and executing."

Jon DEEBLE (AUS) - manager
On his team's performance
"We stuck to our plan. Our pitching was fantastic and it was a good team effort. We were good since day one."
On Australia's first Olympic Games medal in Baseball
"It is really important, but our job is not done yet. We are sure we will win the gold medal."

Chris OXSPRING (AUS) - pitcher
On their performance
"We had good pitching when we needed it. It was a great day to pitch. The wind turned out to be in our favour."
On his emotions after reaching the final
"It is by far the greatest victory in my career.
I actually don't know if I can pitch any better.
We believed we had a chance to win and now we have a good chance for the gold."
On their opponents
"Japan is a great team.
Their pitching is unbelievable.
They had a lot of pride in themselves, but also had a lot of pressure to win."

Brendan KINGMAN (AUS) - first baseman
On their performance in the semi-final
"It was fantastic.
We had some wonderful pitching and the guys played very well."
On his emotions after reaching the final
"It is unbelievable.
For twelve months we have been working really hard.
It's a reward, because in Sydney we were really disappointed with the outcome."
On the final
"We will try our best and remain strong."

Brett RONEBERG (AUS) - centre fielder
On their performance
"One word describes everything: unbelievable.
Pitching won the game. No doubt about that."

Daisuke MATSUZAKA (JPN) - pitcher
On his performance
"I couldn't do what I intended. I gave them a chance to score a run and I feel very disappointed about that."
On his reputation as the best pitcher in Japan
"I don't really think I am because the results don't show that."

Kiyoshi NAKAHATA (JPN) - team manager
On the loss
"I feel very sorry that we disappointed them. This is my own responsibility.
The players played very well and put forth all the effort."
"We had only one week to prepare before coming to Athens.
But we can't make it as an excuse.
All the team members have to do their best and this is our result."

Norihiro NAKAMURA (JPN) - third baseman
On Australia
"The fact that we lost to Australia twice means that they were better than us."
On today's loss
"I'm sorry that we could not bring some good news to NAGASHIMA (JPN), but we want to do all that we can now to bring home at least the bronze."

Naohiro NAKAHATA (JPN) - manager
On today's result
"We couldn't get any runs in today. I'm truly sorry."
"We've played very well up to this point and the fact that we did not get any runs in this time puts me at a loss for words."
"I apologize as manager.
I'm very upset and ashamed that we were not able to respond to NAGASHIMA's wishes. I'm simpy lost for words.
But I still think that our team was the best."
"I sincerely apologize to all the Japanese fans for today's result."

Kenji JOJIMA (JPN) - catcher
On tomorrow's game
"All that we have to do now is to finish the job that we came here to do."

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