ACOG - News - IBM

(22 July 1996; Day 3)

USA Posts Wild Win Over Korea

The ball was bouncing all over Atlanta-Fulton Country Stadium, but in the end it bounced in the favor of the USA.

In a sloppy game featuring as many errors and dropped pop-ups as great catches and defensive gems, the USA (2-0) repeatedly turned its blunders into gems and Warren MORRIS provided the key hit with a tape-measure three-run home run to center as the USA downed Korea 7-2.

It was a night to remember for both the fans and players alike. With the pressure of a key game in the race towards the medal round, the play on the field sent eyes gazing to the replay screen atop the stadium as everyone questioned: Did that really just happen?

Playing in already hot and humid conditions at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, the USA turned up the heat on Japan early as the game got off to its wild start in the bottom of the first inning. Though it resulted in only one run for the USA squad, despite the no-out, bases loaded situation, it was just a start of what was to come.

The first four batters reached base with shortstop Jason WILLIAMS kickstarting the rally with just an ordinary single up the middle. Mark KOTSAY then grounded to the right side of the infield where second baseman BACK Jae-Ho fielded the ball only to have his throw pull the shortstop off the base as WILLIAMS reached safely. Jacque JONES, squaring to bunt, was hit in the left knee to load the bases for Travis LEE, who responded with a single to left and 1-0 USA lead. After Matt LECROY struck out , Chad ALLEN lined into a inning-ending double play.

But, the replay-watching had just begun.

After KANG Hyuk hit a 2-0 Seth GREISINGER fastball into the seats in rightfield for a 1-1 tie, JIN Kab-Yong followed one batter later with a single to left. KOTSAY bobbled the ball as JIN rounded second. But, KOTSAY fired a liner to MORRIS to throw a shocked JIN out at second. The next batter singled, increasing the significance of the play. But, if KOREAN head coach KIM Choon-Nam was not shaking his head yet, he would after a second and even third Korean player would be thrown out on the base path in the contest.

With the game tied, MORRIS, who also hit the game-winning homer at the NCAA Division I College World Series, delivered a three-run homer to center that proved to be the game-winner.

"It looked like we were getting off to a slow start," said MORRIS. "I wanted to jump start the offense and sometimes hitting in the ninth spot you get taken for granted. I hit it well."

But, the Korean squad failed to give in despite the 'USA, USA' chants from the crowd following MORRIS' home run as the USA led 4-1.

Leading off in the top of the fifth, CHEA Jong-Kook singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice. A second sacrifice was then laid down, but CHEA failed to advance to third. On the next play, WILLIAMS had a grounder to the hole bounce off the heel of his glove into short left, and CHEA headed home. But, WILLIAMS advanced the ball to catcher A.J. HINCH, who despite having the ball arrive late, blocked the plate and made the tag as CHEA attempted to lift his foot in the direction of the plate for the out.

"He never reached the plate," said HINCH, a Stanford baseball product. "The play kinda happened in slow motion for me. Jason WILLIAMS threw a perfect strike and made it real easy for me. I just blocked the plate."

The response of the Korean bench was utter amazement as the squad stayed in the dugout in protest of the call until the umpire crew called them out.

"It actually happens alot in international competition for different reasons," said USA head coach Skip Bertman of the incident.

In the sixth, Korea threatened again by loading the bases on a single and pair of walks. CHO In-Sung then hit a deep fly ball to center that looked more like a grand slam than a sacrifice fly to the 45,278 fans in attendance. But, Jacque JONES leaped gently against the wall to pull the ball down and hold the damage to just one run.

That would be all the scoring for the Korean squad as the USA led 5-2. BERTMAN's troops would add a run in both the seventh and eighth innings as Jeff WEAVER pitched the final three inning, pitching out of a self-inflicted jam in the ninth as a result of two walks, to preserve the effort of winner GREISINGER.

Korea would add one more baserunning mistake to the highlight film in the eighth as JIN Kab-Yong was thrown out at third after the USA had watched his gapper fall between them and roll to the wall in right.

This is an official publication of the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games Sports Publications Department. Written by Steven R. Shaff.


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More tickets were sold to the competitions of the 1996 Games than to any other Olympic Games or sports event in history. The 8.6 million ticket sales figures topped sales to the Los Angeles and Barcelona Games combined.