RONALD BLUM
FILE - In this July 21, 2021 file photo, Canada's Victoria Hayward holds her helmet aloft during the softball game between Mexico and Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Fukushima , Japan. Hayward will be back on the field this weekend as a softball player — and as an owner. After hitting .300 at the Tokyo Olympics, the Canadian outfielder heads one of four teams that start play Saturday, Aug. 28, at Athletes Unlimited outside Chicago.(AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)
League of their own: Softball players are part-owners

By Ronald Blum Aug. 28, 2021 11:51 AM EDT
Victoria Hayward will be back on the field this weekend as a player — and as an

Japan's Munetaka Murakami celebrate after a semi-final baseball game against South Korea at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. Japan won 5-2. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Japan beats US 2-0 to win 1st Olympic baseball gold medal

By Ronald Blum Aug. 07, 2021 09:21 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Japan's players sprinted onto the mound and the

Dominican Republic's Johan Mieses reacts after scoring on a RBI double by Melky Cabrera during the bronze medal baseball game against South Korea at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 7, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Dominicans top South Korea 10-6, win baseball bronze

By Ronald Blum Aug. 07, 2021 03:41 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — With some names that seemed more relevant to Old-Timers

Israel's Jeremy Bleich reacts after hitting two South Korea batters in a row in the tenth inning of a baseball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. South Korea Won 6-5.(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Olympic baseball a cross between Double-A and Old-Timers Day

By Ronald Blum Aug. 06, 2021 05:51 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Imagine Olympic swimming without the world’s top 100. Or

Japan's Masato Morishita pitches during a baseball game against Mexico at Yokohama Baseball Stadium during the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Scioscia 1 win from matching Lasorda with gold medal

By Ronald Blum Aug. 06, 2021 12:58 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Mike Scioscia is one win from matching mentor Tommy

South Korea's Euilee Lee wipes his face during a semi-final baseball game against the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Alvarez a summer-winter medalist, US reaches baseball final

By Ronald Blum Aug. 05, 2021 09:37 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Eddy Alvarez sat in the U.S. dugout after the final out,

United States' Scott Kazmir pitches in the second inning of a baseball game against the Dominican Republic at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Casas' 3rd homer, Kazmir help US beat Dominicans 3-1

By Ronald Blum Aug. 04, 2021 02:18 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — For Triston Casas, the Olympics feel as comfortable as

Dominican Republic's Jose Bautista reacts after hitting the game winning RBI single during the ninth inning of a baseball game against Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. The Dominican Republic won 7-6. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Bautista's hit, and bat flip, helps Dominicans oust Israel

By Ronald Blum Aug. 03, 2021 09:07 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — José Bautista had just gotten his first Olympic hit,

United States' Tyler Austin departs after a baseball game against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. Japan won 7-6. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Japan rallies against bullpen to beat US 7-6 in 10 innings

By Ronald Blum Aug. 02, 2021 02:35 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Brandon Dickson, a 36-year-old nine seasons removed from

Mexico's Adrian Gonzalez wipes his face during a baseball game against Israel at Yokohama Baseball Stadium during the 2020 Summer Olympics, Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Israel gets 1st Olympic baseball win; Mexico eliminated

By Ronald Blum Aug. 01, 2021 02:49 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Israel had just routed Mexico for its first Olympic

Israel pitcher Zachary Weiss walks off the mound during the seventh inning a baseball game against South Korea at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
MLB vets immerse in Jewish heritage, build Israel baseball

By Ronald Blum Jul. 31, 2021 05:44 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Now an Olympian representing the country, Ian Kinsler

United States' Mark Kolozsvary, left, and David Robertson celebrate their win after a baseball game against South Korea at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Saturday, July 31, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. United States won 4-2. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
At home in Japan, Nick Martínez pitches US over South Korea

By Ronald Blum Jul. 31, 2021 02:19 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Nick Martínez stepped onto the mound, and it felt like

A basket of baseball is pictured before a baseball game between Israel and the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Ryan: Olympic SSK baseball vastly superior to Rawling models

By Ronald Blum Jul. 30, 2021 12:55 PM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Joe Ryan thinks the world of the baseball being used at

United States' Tyler Austin, right, celebrate with Eddy Alvarez after hitting a home run in the third inning of a a baseball game against Israel at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Friday, July 30, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
US prospects, released players beat Israel 8-1 in Olympics

By Ronald Blum Jul. 30, 2021 02:00 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — The United States started a pitcher who was Tampa Bay’s

Israel's Ryan Lavarnway, right, celebrate with Danny Valencia after hitting a home run in the ninth inning a baseball game against South Korea at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Thursday, July 29, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Hit batters lift South Korea over Israel in Olympic baseball

By Ronald Blum Jul. 29, 2021 09:42 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Most of the Olympics is a competition among the best in

Matt Liberatore, of the National League, pitches during the first inning of the MLB All Star Futures baseball game, Sunday, July 11, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Gabe Christus)
Baseball organizer ran out of balls at Olympic qualifying

By Ronald Blum Jul. 29, 2021 06:13 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Baseball's world governing body ran out of baseballs

Canada's Danielle Lawrie reacts after a softball game against Mexico at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. Canada won 3-2. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Players, coaches criticize IOC dropping softball as sexist

By Ronald Blum Jul. 28, 2021 03:04 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — As much as losing to Japan stung American softball

Dominican Republic's Julio Rodriguez celebrates after hitting a single against Japan during the first inning of a baseball game at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 28, 2021, in Fukushima, Japan. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
EXPLAINER: Olympic baseball a throwback to pre-analytics age

By Ronald Blum Jul. 28, 2021 01:15 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — If the Colorado Rockies were in the Olympics, they'd

Members of team Canada stand during the playing of their national anthem ahead of a softball game against Mexico at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
Canada wins softball bronze, appeals to IOC to stay for '24

By Ronald Blum Jul. 27, 2021 04:57 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — Canada had just won its first bronze medal in softball,

Members of team United States react after a softball game against Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan. Japan won 2-0. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Japan beats US 2-0, turns incredible DP to win softball gold

By Ronald Blum Jul. 27, 2021 02:10 AM EDT
YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) — They marched single file onto the podium near shortstop