The U.S. softball team may have been comprised of 17 rookies but they still outscored their opponents 78-8 in nine unbeaten games en route to Sunday's gold medal.

“This is simply a great feeling to win and represent the United States,” said Stacey May-Johnson, who finished the tournament hitting .522 with 12 RBI.

Dumped from the Olympics program as of 2012 by a heavily European influenced IOC, the pinnacles of international softball are now the world championships and Pan Am Games.

The continued U.S. dominance in the sport may have been another factor counting against softball.

Sunday's 11-1 victory over Canada in four innings (mercy rule applied) emphasized the gulf between the United States and its rivals.

The United States has won every gold medal since softball was introduced in the Pan American Games in 1979 and is undefeated since 1987. Its record is 87-3.

But head coach Ken Eriksen refused to minimize the achievement of his players.

“With this new team we had to go out and find the best people that we could find to make a team, not necessarily the best players,” he said. "I congratulate each and every player for a job well done.”

The roster of mainly current and recent college stars played only a handful of exhibition games prior to their arrival in Guadalajara but the team had worked hard in the summer to prepare for the games.

“It was great to come out and win all of our games here,” said pitcher Keilani Ricketts, who recorded 22 strikeouts in 16.1 innings pitched over the week with a .43 ERA.  “Our defense and offense was working hard every single game and it is a pitchers dream to have that behind you. This gold medal is what we have worked really hard for."