OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. ---The Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today the return of Steve Shortland (San Antonio, Texas) as the head coach for the 2010 USA Softball Men’s National Slow Pitch team who will compete in the second Border Battle against Canada on July 24. Also returning will be USA assistant coaches Randy Raper (Hackleburg, Ala.) and Pat Dalsanders (Spokane, Wash.) who along with Shortland led Team USA to a 30-23 victory in 2009 at the inaugural Border Battle in Oklahoma City. All three coaches on the staff bring a wealth of slow pitch experience as players and coaches.

“The Border Battle is a tremendous opportunity to showcase our sport and I am truly honored to be part of it again,” said Shortland. “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.”

A retired U.S. Air Force member after 23-years of service, Shortland brings 29 years of slow pitch knowledge and experience to this position having started his slow pitch career playing in high school before becoming heavily involved during his time in the military. The Overland Park, Kan., native was an active player at all the different bases he was stationed during his career in addition to playing on civilian tournament teams. For the last seven seasons, he changed roles into the head coach for the Men’s Class A Armed Forces team who has competed in the Hooters Championship Series and Men’s Class A Championship in Oklahoma City.

Raper has been in active duty with the United States Air Force for the past 29 years and is due to retire this fall with 30 years of service. He was an assistant coach on the U.S. Armed Forces slow pitch team from 2004-2006. He also won five gold medals as an assistant coach to Shortland with the All Air Force team at the Armed Forces Championships. His primary duties with Team USA will include base coaching and instructing players.

Dalsanders is a retired Air Traffic Controller of 39 years and presently is a manager of Air Traffic Instructional Services for Raytheon. He has been involved as a slow pitch coach and player for the Dan Smith/Menosse softball team for over 12 years. His primary role will be player development and to provide leadership and experience in the dugout.

The official 2010 Border Battle roster will be announced at a later date to be determined.

The second Border Battle will take place Saturday, July 24 at 3 p.m. at ASA Hall of Fame Complex. Tickets are on sale now at www.softballoutlet.com

About ASA

The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The ASA has become one of the nation's largest sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of 76 local associations. The ASA has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 210,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than three million. For more information on the ASA, visit www.asasoftball.com.

About USA Softball

USA Softball is the brand created, operated and owned by the ASA that links the USA Men’s, Women’s, Junior Boys’ and Junior Girls’ National Team programs together. USA Softball is responsible for training, equipping and promoting these four National Teams to compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of the only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won eight World Championship titles including the last six consecutive as well as claimed two World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about USA Softball, please visit www.usasoftball.com.