Border Battle team named
The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today the 15 members of the 2010 USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch National Team, all who will compete July 24 at the second Border Battle, a premier international slow pitch game between the U.S. and Canada. The roster includes seven returners and eight rookies who hail from 12 states across the country.
“It was a thrill and an honor to participate in the Border Battle last year and I am absolutely happy to be asked back. Why wouldn’t I want to be a part of something like that again?” said veteran Johnny McCraw. “It’s going to be hard to top last year though. Everything was perfect. But we’ll have some new faces this time who will represent this country and this sport well. Just watching them experience the Border Battle and seeing their reaction is what I’m really looking forward to in Oklahoma City. Thank you to ASA/USA Softball for making this happen for us.”
The game, which is slated for Saturday at 3 p.m. during the 2010 World Cup of Softball at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, will offer fans the rare occasion to see international men’s slow pitch alongside women’s fast pitch. In preparation for the Border Battle, both Canada and the USA will play exhibition games during the World Cup against local slow pitch teams at the Hall of Fame Complex, although the schedule has not yet been finalized.
Members of the 2010 USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch National Team are:
Rick Baker (West Harrison, Ind.)
*Scott Brown (Andover, Minn.)
Rusty Bumgardner (Gastonia, N.C.)
*Chaun Demars (Becker, Minn.)
*Hank Garris (Naples, Fla.)
JD Genter (Chickamauga, Ga.)
Brett Helmer (Circero, N.Y.)
*Jeremy Isenhower (Olathe, Kan.)
Jason Kendrick (Naples, Fla.)
*Scott Kirby (Miramar Beach, Fla.)
*Chris Larson (Vancouver, Wash.)
Johnny McCraw (Lake Wylie, S.C.)
*Jeff McGavin (Macomb, Mich.)
*Ryan Robbins (Columbus, Ind.)
Brian Wegman (Hamilton, Ohio)
*Rookie
“I was surprised to be selected for the team because there are a lot of good softball players to chose from. It could have been any number of guys,” said rookie Jeff McGavin (Macomb, Mich.), who has been playing slow pitch for 11 years. “To be one of the 15 to make it, it’s an honor. The thought of putting on that uniform just sends chills down my spine. It’s a pretty cool thing to play for the USA. It’s something that you want to do the right way. I’m really looking forward to putting everything I have into the Border Battle. Just playing, and having it aired on television, is a bit nerve wracking but it will be a great experience, a great honor for me.”
Steve Shortland (San Antonio, Texas), who has 29 years of slow pitch experience, will return as the Head Coach of the Men’s Slow Pitch National Team. Assisting him are Pat Dalsanders (Spokane, Wash.) and Randy Raper (Hackleburg, Ala.), both who coached alongside Shortland at the inaugural Border Battle. Todd Joerling (New Melle, Mo.), a member of the 2009 team, will serve as the honorary captain this year.
“The Border Battle is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our sport and I am truly honored to be part of it again,” Shortland said. “The 2009 USA team was perhaps the greatest collection of slow pitch talent ever assembled and we look forward to putting an even better product on the field in 2010. Based on last year’s event, we realize how talented Canada is and we can’t rely on reputation alone to win. This team will work hard to keep the Border Battle title here in the United States.”
The Border Battle is scheduled to be shown live on the networks of ESPN as are all USA Softball Women’s National Team games during the World Cup. Last year, when Team USA battled back to top Team Canada 30-23, ESPN recorded a 0.7 as a standalone game reaching over 650,000 households.
Tickets for the Border Battle are on sale now as a part of the 2010 World Cup of Softball Ultimate Fan Zone ticket package ($325/$275), the All Session Reserved ticket package ($75) and the All Session General Admission ticket page ($40). Individual tickets will go on sale later this summer. To purchase tickets, call 800-654-8337 or visit http://www.softballoutlet.com.
