OC Softball Players Feature In Team USA Victory Over Italy

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — It will be the United States vs. Canada at the Tokyo Olympics on Wednesday. Following the 2-0 victory over Italy, and a few fellow Orange County residents on that team, Orange County's U.S. players Janie Reed of Placentia driving in Aubree Munro of Brea handed in clutch performances with the second run.

Munro led off the fifth inning with an infield single, continued to second on a throwing error by third baseman Giulia Longhi, advanced to third on Haylie McCleney's single and scored on Reed's sacrifice fly.

Italy also had two players from Orange County in its lineup. Shortstop Amanda Fama of Anaheim was hitless in three at-bats and center fielder Giulia Koutsoyanopulos of Mission Viejo was hitless in two at-bats as Italy was limited to one hit in the game.

Canada was a 4-0 winner over Mexico in its opener Tuesday.

The game from Fukushima Azuma Baseball Stadium in Fukushima, about 150 miles north of Tokyo, will be televised live by cable's NBC Sports Network beginning at 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time.

The U.S. is ranked first by World Baseball Softball Confederation, the sports' international governing body, and Canada third. Italy is ranked ninth, the lowest in the six-team Olympic softball tournament.

Each of the six teams will play each other during the opening round. The top two teams will play for the gold medal next Tuesday.

Though the games have yet to "officially" begin, softball games were among those that team U.S.A. played right out of the starting get. Due to many events, the Olympics customarily hold events before the opening ceremonies, which will begin at 3:55 a.m. Friday PDT and shown live on NBC.

City News Service, Patch Editor Ashley Ludwig contributed to this report.