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Tuesday, September 19
Rookie moved Richardson to second
Scripps Howard News Service
At first glance, the U.S. women's softball team looks like a
carbon-copy of the juggernaught that captured the gold medal at the
1996 Atlanta Games. Seemingly ageless Dr. Dot Richardson, 38, is back
to lead the team in charisma and emotion, and flame-throwing pitcher
Lisa Fernandez is ready to again befuddle the world's best hitters.
But the real star in Sydney might be someone few Americans have
ever heard of -- Crystl Bustos.
A 5-8 powerhouse from Canyon Country, Calif., Bustos joined
the national team last year and quickly cemented her reputation in
softball circles by supplanting Richardson as the team's shortstop.
Now she's just two weeks away from making a name for herself
internationally.
"I'm stepping into a legend's shoes, said Bustos, who turns 23 on
Sept. 8. "As shortstop you are in control of the infield. Dot is an
awesome team player to go over to second. To keep Dot's batting
average and my batting average in the lineup is unreal. You can't take
them out."
Indeed, Bustos' numbers are too good to keep out of any lineup. In
this year's pre-Olympic tour Bustos leads the U.S. team in hits,
doubles, RBI, total bases and slugging pct. and is second in batting
(.443) and homers (15).
"She's one of the best up-and-coming power hitters in the game,"
said Fernandez. "Being a rookie on the team, she did incredible
things last year for us with her stick. Our team is stronger
offensively with Crystl in the lineup."
Unlike most of her teammates who played for major universities,
Bustos took an untraditional route to the national team. She led Palm
Beach Community College to two national junior college titles, hitting
.614 and twice earning junior college player of the year.
She then went straight to the Women's Professional Softball League,
winning MVP honors her rookie year for Orlando in 1998.
Last year she left the WPSL to join the national team. She helped
the U.S. win the gold medal at the Pan-American Games, by batting .439
and with a team-high 18 hits and 15 RBI.
Bustos is expected to bat cleanup for the U.S. Olympic team, which
opens its run for another gold medal Sept. 16 against Canada. The U.S.
is the overwhelming favorite, and Bustos is a key reason why.
"From one to nine at any given time, anyone can put it over the
fence," said Bustos. "That's a powerful team. No other country has
that."
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