The American softball players will play Japanese at the final on Thursday, which is the third encounter of both ace teams at the Beijing Olympics.

The American team, with an all-success record, pounded the Japanese 4-1 after two tiring extra innings on Wednesday morning.

Japanese softball players could have booked an early ticket to the finals with their solid defense, but the outstanding pitcher Ueno Yokiko, who hurled during all the innings at a speed above 110 kilometers per hour, failed to block the attack of the United States in the ninth inning, or the second of the tie-breaker, after a 0-0 stalement during the seven normal innings.

Caitlin Lowe's single hit brought the speedy Natasha Watley home with the game's first run. Designated player Crystl Bustos then secured the victory. Seeing two teammates on bases, the slugger sent a knee-height pitch from previously untouchable Ueno soaring up into the left field stands to bring home three more runs.

Japan's desperate batters tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth. Sachiko Ito hit a ground ball into the center field to drove Fujimoto home and score the sole run of the game.

"I set her (Ueno) to pitch all the innings in order to stop the USA scoring. But Bustos is a wonderful batter and we need to find a way to counter her if we could reach the finals tomorrow," said Japan's coach Haruka Saito.

In the following match between Australia and Canada, the Aussies subdued the latter 5-3 to have a do-or-die clash with the Japanese for a last chance to the final.

Watched by Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, and former president Juan Samaranch, the seesaw battle was proved a the most lengthy one at this Olympics, which lasted three and a half hours.

The boyish Ueno Yokiko again played throughout the epic match.

In the first inning, Australian Stacey Porter broke the ice by scoring one point at Sandy Lewis' batting.

But advantage of the Oceanian team was just saved to the fourth inning, as a homer by Japan's Hirose Megu sent herself and her teammate Mabuchi Satoko to the home plate. The score was changed to 1-2.

Before the exhausted Japanese could stop to celebrate their success, a solo homer by Australian Kerry Wyborn in the seventh inning dragged them into a second extra on Wednesday.

The draw of 2-2 remained unchanged until the 11th inning, when both team made a single to rewrite the score to 3-3.

The evenly scale was finally turned upon conclusion of the 12th inning, when spectators were anxiously expecting the next one, short-haired Japanese girl Nishiyama Rei lighted people's hope with a single. Mishina Masumi, who had been in the third base, dashed out and reached the home plate before her Australian counterparts could deliver the ball back.

Japanese won, 4-3.

People cheered and applauded while the Japanese in red sportswear clapped hands with each other to celebrate.

"They showed so much fight and so much courage," said Australian short stop Natalie Ward.

"When the match is prolonged to this moment, mindset of the players has become the most important factor," said Saito Haruka, head coach of the Japanese team.

However, shaking the dominating position of three-time Olympic champion could be a difficult task.

With a win-loss record of 8-0, USA has reigned the eight-team field in Beijing just like what they did in Athens four years ago, outscoring the opponents with an overwhelming 57-2.

Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman and Monica Abbott all showed their values and characters when facing different opponents in the tournament. With three world-class pitchers in the circle, Americans could easily suppress any opponent's batters to make hits.

Besides, sluggers like Crystl Bustos and Jessica Mendoza, who led the home run tally in five and four apiece so far, could bring life to American's offence at the critical inning. Their powerful swing in the box has become most hurlers' nightmare.

"The key to each game is emotional stability. Our kids don't get frustrated and they can make subtle adjustments. That's the way the game is going to be played." predicted by US head coach Mike Candrea before the final.

Regarding the Japanese team, which won an Olympic silver in 2000 and a bronze in 2004, its two former encounters at this Olympics ended up as losses.

What's more, the just-finished do-or-die match could be draining both mentally and physically. Although the impressive Ueno said she had been trained to endue fatigue over long-time performance, people are wondering if she could hold her own in the final.

Anyway, Haruka is prepared.

"We will not only pull ourselves together for the gold tomorrow, but present our fans a wonderful performance to show our spirit," said the coach.

(Xinhua News Agency August 20, 2008)