(Andrea Duran is a Selma native and infielder on the U.S. softball team, which is favored to successfully defend its gold medal.)
It is finally good to get out and play some games at the Olympics after our long Bound 4 Beijing Tour and practices. The team is doing great so it's a lot of fun.
Personally I am getting a little bit of a slow start, but my time will come. I am just trying to stay positive, which isn't that hard because the team is winning and we are playing really well right now!
As for my first at-bat of the Olympic Games I tried not to make it any bigger than what it was because it is still the same game that I have been playing for the past 13 years of my life just on a bigger stage. I really wanted to hit so when the pitcher hit me I was kind of like, "Oh well, I am on base, woo hoo haha."
I think I scored the first run of the Olympics for us so that was kind of cool! My cousin said he got a picture of it.
Our schedule has been pretty busy so there's not that much room for free time which is okay because it's good to stay focused.
My typical day lately has been get up, get semi-dressed and then walk the long walk to the huge dining hall where I usually eat a bowl of oatmeal, some fruit and whatever else looks good. From there I return back to my room to finish getting dressed and head with the team to the bus that takes us to the field.
The drive is about 40 minutes, give or take 10 minutes or so. We play our game at noon and then head back on the bus. Sometimes I read on the bus or just mellow out. When we get back to the dorms I usually wind down, get something to eat, take a shower and then we have a team meeting. Then we hang out with some teammates, then get to sleep only to wake up and do it all over again.
Like I said before, I don't mind the schedule because it keeps us focused.
The Olympic Village has been fun. It's amazing all the countries that you see and all the different kinds of people you see. It's really fun to people watch.
Well tomorrow we get to sleep in before the game against the Netherlands because we play at night so i am excited for that!
Well send a lot of good karma and good energy towards Beijing to help us get gold!
-- Andrea Duran
you all did great in the olympics. one game doesnt mean s*** thats why there r 7 games 4 the world series. im not even a member of the usa team n i feel like a part of me has been taken away, 2012, damn tennis sucks ass! take that out! or that handball crap.