The US women dominated the sport and are now no part of the Olympics.
The United States softball team jumps on pitcher Lisa Fernandez after they defeated Australia 5-1 in the gold medal game at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The 2004 U.S. Olympic Softball Team and three-time gold medalist Fernandez have been inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. (Al Behrman / Associated Press)
International Softball Federation President Don Porter talks to reporters outside the convention hall at the 117th International Olympic Committee meeting for the Olympics 2012 in Singapore. Porter was stunned by the decision to eliminate softball and baseball as an Olympic sport by the International Olympic Committee. (Roslan Rahman / AFP / Getty Images))
U.S. Olympic softball player Jessica Mendoza speaks on stage during the 29th annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards presented by the Women’s Sports Foundation in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin / Getty Images)
Three-time Olympic gold medalist Leah O’Brien-Amico shows off her medals for playing softball for the United States. (Stephen Osman / Los Angeles Times)
Lisa Fernandez, winner of three Olympic gold medals, is one of the most dominating pitchers in the history of international softball. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
A dejected Victoria Galindo settles for silver in a shocking softball loss to Japan at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Members of the United States softball team wave to the crowd after winning 9-0 over China in the women’s preliminaries of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. (Vladimir Rys / Getty Images))
USA pitcher Jennie Finch shown pitching during the Beijing 2008 Olympics. Finch was able to turn her skills on the diamond into fame in other arenas. She is a model and appeared on “Celebrity Apprntice.” (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press)
The USA women’s softball team listens to the Star-Spangled Banner during the medal ceremony. The team defeated Japan in the gold medal game at the Syndney Olympics in 2000. (Paul Morse / Los Angeles Times)
