But no miniature toilet would do for this losing streak, the longest in team history. Next, they lost to China, 2-0, in 14 innings because a bunt that looked like it would go foul stayed fair. After the Australia game, the bus ride back to the eight-bedroom dorm the 15 players share was, needless to say, long. As the water rained down, they scoured themselves. They ripped off their jerseys, threw them on the floor, stomped on them, yelled, wept.
Desperate situations call for desperate measures.
We wiped ourselves clean of this voodoo hex, wiping all the bad stuff away. The players also held a meeting in which they passed a softball around. When each player received it, she said something positive about herself. All the exorcising worked, at least for one game. And it could be the start of a beautiful story.