The United States Olympic

THE UNITED STATES OLYMPIC softball team won 110 consecutive games before journeying to Sydney, Australia, for the 2000 Olympics. The favored Americans sparkled in game one as Lori Harrigan threw the first no-hitter in Olympic history in a 6–0 defeat of Canada. The following day, Danielle Henderson and Christa Williams combined for a 3–0 blanking of Cuba.

But the tide shifted in the next game. Captain Dot Richardson committed two 11th-inning errors, allowing Japan to take a 2–1 decision. Two extra-inning losses to China and Australia followed.

Still in uniform, the team gathered in a large shower at the athletic village. Standing under the pouring water, they vowed to wash away their misfortunes.

And the strategy worked. Shutouts over New Zealand and Italy vaulted the United States into the medal round. In the first game, Stacy Nuveman blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the tenth to defeat China 3–0. That same day, Richardson plated the winning run to edge out Australia 1–0. With the victory, the red-white-and-blue earned a place in the gold-medal game.

In the championship game, Japan’s Reika Utsugi crushed a changeup for a solo home run in the fourth. One inning later, Nuveman tied the game with an RBI-single. Knotted 1–1, the contest went to extra innings.

As a light rain fell, Nuveman walked and Jennifer McFalls substituted as a pinch runner in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Richardson walked, and Laura Berg launched a deep line drive. Shiori Koseki snagged the ball in her outstretched glove. But Koseki slipped, and the ball popped free as McFalls raced home. Gold for USA!

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POINT Showers of runs and errors marked the team’s first five games at the 2000 Olympics. Dedicated to a fresh start, they symbolically washed the slate clean. And ironically, they won the gold medal during a rain shower.

The prophet Ezekiel talked about showers. We must first be willing to stand under the water of God’s love to wash away our sin. Then the Lord sends down showers of blessings.

GOAL! Imagine the smell of light rain and the sound of drops splashing. Think about the way the world looks after a shower. Praise God for the showers of blessings he brings into our life.