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An ace from Kentucky named Montana who went to Alabama and pitches for Utah put all of America on her back Monday night.
Montana Fouts flirted with perfection as Team USA beat Japan 2-0 in the gold medal game of softball’s International Cup in Oklahoma City.
Fouts made the No. 1 ranked team in the world (for now) look helpless. She retired the first 18 batters she faced. Pinch hitter Yamato Fujita slapped a single through the right side to lead off the seventh inning and spoil Fouts’ bid for perfection.
A one-hit shutout would suffice. Fouts struck out eight, registering a backward K for the final out. She ripped off her mask and pounded her chest.
“She had her rhythm, she was very focused, nothing got her rattled, nothing took her off course,” Team USA coach Patty Gasso said. “It was outstanding. Out-standing.”
More: Why Patty Gasso felt 'very lucky' coaching both USA softball teams in International Cup
Fouts redirected the credit to her catcher, former Arizona star Dejah Mulipola.
“She’s just so experienced, and she’s just so smart,” Fouts said of Mulipola. “I was trusting her brain, and she executed. And my defense had our back.”
There weren’t many plays the defense had to make. Japan barely got the ball out of the infield.
“I know what it’s like to be on the other side facing her,” Team USA left fielder and lead-off hitter Maya Brady said. “Especially when she’s focused, she’s almost impossible to hit. I just feel very lucky to play behind her.”
Fouts is on a remarkable run. Not even two weeks ago she threw a complete game for the Utah Talons as they won the AUSL title. The Talons repeated as champs, with Fouts going the distance in both championship-clinching games. Fouts was recently named AUSL Pitcher of the Year, and she came to Oklahoma City as the ace of USA Softball.
Now, having blanked Japan, she’s cemented her status as best pitcher in the world.
“I would say right now she’s it, yes,” Team USA legend Jennie Finch told The Oklahoman.
Finch, an Olympic gold medalist from 2004, watched from the press box at Devon Park as Fouts breezed through the Japanese lineup with one devastating rise ball after another.
Fouts, from Grayson, Kentucky, grew up idolizing Finch. Now the admiration is mutual.
“She was absolutely dealing out there,” Finch said. “It’s so much fun to see her at this level, on this platform, and just continue to get better. That’s what’s so exciting.”
Fouts’ gem came just a few days removed from a rare dud, when she allowed five runs against Canada and failed to make it out of the first inning.
That night, in the bowels of Devon Park, Fouts “realized what a special opportunity” she had to represent her country.
“I’ve had my heart broken here before, I’ve had really awesome moments in this park, and just to have another opportunity to wear USA across my chest, I’m not gonna let how I feel about (my) performances dictate what I give to (my teammates),” Fouts said.
Fouts was the giver of gold on Monday night.
The U.S. approached the International Cup as a “dress rehearsal” for 2028, Brady said. That’s when Olympic gold will be on the line in Oklahoma City.
Gasso still must finalize her team, but as of now America has its ace.
Montana Fouts.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: USA softball's Montana Fouts now best pitcher in world with International Cup gold
Continue reading...
Montana Fouts flirted with perfection as Team USA beat Japan 2-0 in the gold medal game of softball’s International Cup in Oklahoma City.
Fouts made the No. 1 ranked team in the world (for now) look helpless. She retired the first 18 batters she faced. Pinch hitter Yamato Fujita slapped a single through the right side to lead off the seventh inning and spoil Fouts’ bid for perfection.
A one-hit shutout would suffice. Fouts struck out eight, registering a backward K for the final out. She ripped off her mask and pounded her chest.
“She had her rhythm, she was very focused, nothing got her rattled, nothing took her off course,” Team USA coach Patty Gasso said. “It was outstanding. Out-standing.”
More: Why Patty Gasso felt 'very lucky' coaching both USA softball teams in International Cup
Fouts redirected the credit to her catcher, former Arizona star Dejah Mulipola.
“She’s just so experienced, and she’s just so smart,” Fouts said of Mulipola. “I was trusting her brain, and she executed. And my defense had our back.”
There weren’t many plays the defense had to make. Japan barely got the ball out of the infield.
“I know what it’s like to be on the other side facing her,” Team USA left fielder and lead-off hitter Maya Brady said. “Especially when she’s focused, she’s almost impossible to hit. I just feel very lucky to play behind her.”
Fouts is on a remarkable run. Not even two weeks ago she threw a complete game for the Utah Talons as they won the AUSL title. The Talons repeated as champs, with Fouts going the distance in both championship-clinching games. Fouts was recently named AUSL Pitcher of the Year, and she came to Oklahoma City as the ace of USA Softball.
Now, having blanked Japan, she’s cemented her status as best pitcher in the world.
“I would say right now she’s it, yes,” Team USA legend Jennie Finch told The Oklahoman.
Finch, an Olympic gold medalist from 2004, watched from the press box at Devon Park as Fouts breezed through the Japanese lineup with one devastating rise ball after another.
Fouts, from Grayson, Kentucky, grew up idolizing Finch. Now the admiration is mutual.
“She was absolutely dealing out there,” Finch said. “It’s so much fun to see her at this level, on this platform, and just continue to get better. That’s what’s so exciting.”
Fouts’ gem came just a few days removed from a rare dud, when she allowed five runs against Canada and failed to make it out of the first inning.
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That night, in the bowels of Devon Park, Fouts “realized what a special opportunity” she had to represent her country.
“I’ve had my heart broken here before, I’ve had really awesome moments in this park, and just to have another opportunity to wear USA across my chest, I’m not gonna let how I feel about (my) performances dictate what I give to (my teammates),” Fouts said.
Fouts was the giver of gold on Monday night.
The U.S. approached the International Cup as a “dress rehearsal” for 2028, Brady said. That’s when Olympic gold will be on the line in Oklahoma City.
Gasso still must finalize her team, but as of now America has its ace.
Montana Fouts.
Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at [email protected]. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: USA softball's Montana Fouts now best pitcher in world with International Cup gold
Continue reading...
