2007 Northwest High School graduate and current University of Texas pitcher Brittany Barnhill has accomplished quite a bit in her career. She shattered the state record for career strikeouts, was named all-state three times and was the 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year.
The list of acolades could go on forever but the chance to play against the USA Olympic Softball Team is an honor of a different kind. Barnhill got that chance Thursday night in Fort Worth where she suited up with the Fort Worth Diamonds - a team of college stars - and took on the country's best softball players.
The game was closer than most expected after four innings. The estimated crowd of 6,211 at Gateway Park, however, watched the Olympic Team exploded like the post-game firework show as USA ran away with a 12-0 victory.
Barnhill got the chance to throw against the country's best hitters. She did not disappoint as she allowed just one hit and two walks in two innings of work. The only run she allowed was set up by two Diamond errors which made it 2-0 after four innings.
Sara Odom of Oklahoma State replaced Barnhill in the fifth innning and never got an out before she was pulled. USA scored 10 times in the inning and never looked back.
USA is now 38-1 for the season and is headed to Oklahoma for an Olympic preview with opponents China and Canada.
The Olympians took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when a groundout by Crystal Bustos scored Natasha Watley who reached base on a fielder's choice against starting pitcher Kari Galm.
Galm allowed four hits in the first two innings but allowed just one run.
Barnhill took over in the third frame where she got into trouble immediately when two errors and a walk loaded the bases with no outs. Natasha Watley scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.
Barnhill got out of the jam by retiring the next three batters.
After a somewhat quiet start offensively, USA woke up big time in the fifth frame. The team scored 10 runs on seven hits to put the game out of reach.
Tairia Flowers put up the first extra base hit of the game with a two-run homerun to right center field. The next three batters singled to set up a grand slam by Caitlin Lowe.
Three more runs were scored when the Diamonds went for the out at home but an error was costly.
For the first time this tour, all three USA pitchers saw time in the circle for a combined one-hit performance. Jennie Finch earned the start in the win going two innings to push her record to 11-1. Monica Abbott and Cat Osterman both threw two innings apiece with the no-hitter broken up on a single allowed by Osterman in the sixth inning.
