They are the last Olympic medals softball is certain to receive, since it and baseball were voted out of the 2012 games. Either could be reinstated for 2016 in another vote next year, but both sports will face the likes of rugby and golf - sports much more popular with the IOC's large base of European representatives.
"Rugby? That's pretty cool," Torbert admitted. "But, dude, we went to trampoline yesterday. Trampoline!"
Yes. Trampoline.
Actually, trampoline is a discipline of gymnastics. Besides, table tennis isn't going anywhere - there's no such thing as Softball Diplomacy.
But yesterday, and the week that preceded it, should have provided enough evidence that the United States isn't unbeatable, and that softball shouldn't suffer from baseball's arrogance.
Major League Baseball and its union, for all of its posturing about growing its sport globally, will not make available its players for Olympic competition. Some IOC members, as well as the International Softball Federation, consider softball's exit a casualty of an IOC backlash toward baseball.
There also is the perception, not entirely inaccurate, that softball in the Olympics has been nothing more than a marketing tool for softball in the United States.
After all, America had won each of the three gold medals since the sport joined the Games in 1996. Until Canada took a first-inning lead a week ago, the United States hadn't trailed since 2000. Until yesterday, it hadn't lost in 22 games; it allowed one run in 2004.
Entering yesterday's game the U.S. team here had logged no-hitters from Monica Abbott against the Netherlands and Cat Osterman against Australia, scored a record 11 runs in a shutout against Venezuela and set a single-inning record with nine runs against China.
There's more.
