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As most readers of this blog would probably be aware, there's some major softball going on, with the KFC World Cup taking place in Oklahoma City. Games involving the USA squad are being shown on ESPN and ESPN2. This article shows the schedule.

Team USA opened up last night with a run-rule-shortened 9-1 win over Venezuela.

As I write, the USA is playing its second game, leading 8-0 over China after three complete innings; another run-rule game thus seems likely.

All three American pitchers that have gone so far are ones who ended their collegiate careers in 2006. Jennie Ritter (Michigan) and Alicia Hollowell (Arizona) threw last night, and Cat Osterman (Texas) is currently in the circle.

Other players on the US roster include former Arizona outfielder Caitlin Lowe and former Tennessee pitcher Monica Abbott, who faced each other in this spring's Women's College World Series; Natasha Watley, one of the heroes of UCLA's 2003 NCAA championship; and Jennie Finch, the star pitcher of Arizona's 2001 NCAA championship team.

Update: The USA finished off China, 8-0, in a five-inning game shortened by run-rule.

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