ESPN set to televise the General Tire World Cup of Softball VIII, Border Battle V, and Slow Pitch Showdown
OKLAHOMA CITY — Beginning July 11, the General Tire World Cup of Softball will be telecast around the world across ESPN networks. . Five women’s fast pitch games and two men’s slow pitch games, including the annual Border Battle matchup between USA and Canada and the second annual Slow Pitch Showdown between the USA Men’s National Team and USA Men’s Futures Team, will air on either ESPN or ESPN2.
“We couldn’t be more happy to have the General Tire World Cup of Softball as well as the Border Battle and Slow Pitch Showdown returning to Oklahoma City this summer,” said ASA Executive Director Ron Radigonda. “The World Cup was created to give fans the opportunity to witness the top women’s softball players in the world on an annual basis, and to be able to televise the event worldwide on ESPN networks allows us to achieve that goal. We are thrilled to be working with General Tire again this summer as they have stepped up as the title sponsor. We are grateful for their dedication and support of our sport and its mission.”
The ESPN networks are the exclusive domestic home of the General Tire World Cup of Softball and feature over 14 hours of live coverage including the Championship Game on Sunday, July 14 at 9 p.m. ET. All telecasts will be aired in HD and also available for live streaming via WatchESPN.
“We look forward to once again sharing USA team competition with fans here in the United States and also viewers around the world,” said ESPN Vice President, Programming & Acquisitions, Julie Sobieski.
The games will also be available on ESPN International networks, airing on either ESPN Atlantic, ESPN Israel, ESPN Pac-Rim, ESPN Middle East and North Africa, and ESPN Caribbean depending on the matchup.
“We are excited and honored to be back to the World Cup of Softball in 2013,” says Travis Roffler, Director of Marketing for General Tire. “Elevating our involvement to the title this year is a testament of our confidence in the series. This is a fantastic event series with an enthusiastic group of fans for our General Tire brand.”
The complete domestic ESPN telecast schedule is below:
Thursday, July 11 – USA vs Canada – 7:00 PM CST – ESPN
Friday, July 12 – USA vs Australia – 7:00 PM CST – ESPN
Saturday, July 13 – USA vs Canada (Border Battle V; taped on Thursday) -11 AM CST – ESPN
USA vs Japan – 8:00 PM CST – ESPN
Sunday, July 14 – USA vs Puerto Rico – 12:00 PM CST – ESPN
USA vs USA Futures (SP Showdown; taped on Thursday) – 2:00 PM CST- ESPN
Championship Game – 8:00 PM CST – ESPN2
All-session tickets, which are $30 for general admission seating, $60 for other reserved seating, and $250 for the Ultimate Fan Zone reserved seating in the first three rows of the stadium can be purchased by phone at 800-654-8337 or online at SoftballOutlet.com.
Single-session tickets are also now available at $10 for general admission seating and $20 for reserved seating.
The Ultimate Fan Zone package includes a private autograph session and meal with the USA Softball Women’s National Team, open only to Ultimate Fan Zone (UFZ) ticket holders, as well as free parking, a white ASA/USA Softball hat and the opportunity for personalized name slide on the video board with a photo opportunity and more.
The 2013 USA Softball Women’s National Team roster will be finalized later this week following the USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Camp in Oklahoma City. Click the following links to see the rosters for the USA Men’s Slow Pitch National Team, USA Men’s Slow Pitch Futures Team and the athletes competing at selection camp for a spot on the USA Softball Women’s National Team.
USA Softball Women’s National Team Roster
USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch National Team Roster
USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch Futures Team