Border Battle XVI
June 18-20, 2026
Winesburg, Ohio | Winesburg Park
Created in 2009, the annual Border Battle enters its 16th season of international matchups between USA Softball and Canada Slow Pitch National Teams with this year’s event set to take place in Winesburg, Ohio.
The action will kick off with exhibition contests ahead of the annual Slow Pitch Showdown where the Men’s Slow Pitch National Team (MSPNT) and Women’s Slow Pitch National Team (WSPNT) will face off against their respective U.S. Futures teams. Capping the weekend, Team USA will matchup against Team Canada for the Men’s and Women’s Border Battle XVI competition scheduled for Saturday, June 20.
Team USA Records
WSPNT (5-1) ★ MSPNT (3-3) ★ W. Futures (6-0) ★ M. Futures (4-2)
Women’s
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Location | Stats | Box Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, June 18 | 10 a.m. | USA 13, Ohio 1 | Field 2 | Box Score |
| 11:30 a.m. | USA Futures 37, Pennsylvania 10 (4) | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| 11:30 a.m. | Canada 8, Indiana 6 | Field 2 | Stats | |
| 4 p.m. | USA 23, Pennsylvania 3 (4) | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| 5:30 p.m. | Ohio 9, Indiana 11 | Field 2 | Stats | |
| 7 p.m. | USA Futures 23, Canada 8 (5) | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| Friday, June 19 | 10 a.m. | USA Futures 17, Ohio 8 | Field 1 | Box Score |
| 10 a.m. | Canada 20, Pennsylvania 5 (5) | Field 2 | Stats | |
| 11:30 a.m. | Indiana 18, Pennsylvania 3 (6) | Field 2 | Stats | |
| 1 p.m. | Canada 6, Ohio 17 | Field 2 | Stats | |
| 4 p.m. | USA 22, Indiana 2 (4) | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| 7 p.m. | USA 21, USA Futures 23 (9) *Women’s Slow Pitch Showdown | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| Saturday, June 20 | 11:30 a.m. | USA 20, Ohio 7 | Field 1 | Box Score |
| 11:30 a.m. | Canada 10, Indiana 9 | Field 2 | Stats | |
| 1 p.m. | USA Futures 21, Indiana 5 (6) | Field 2 | Box Score | |
| 4 p.m. | USA Futures 28, Pennsylvania 7 (4) | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| 5:30 p.m. | Ohio 13, Pennsylvania 8 | Field 2 | Box Score | |
| 7 p.m. | USA 27, Canada 7 (4) *Women’s Border Battle | Field 1 | Box Score |
men’s
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Location | Stats | Box Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, June 18 | 8:30 a.m. | Ohio 25, Indiana 22 | Field 1 | Stats |
| 10 a.m. | USA 17, Ohio 18 | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| 1 p.m. | Canada 24, Indiana 41 (5) | Field 1 | Stats | |
| 2:30 p.m. | USA Futures 27, Pennsylvania 23 | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| 5:30 p.m. | USA 24, Pennsylvania 25 | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| 8:30 p.m. | USA Futures 29, Canada 15 | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| Friday, June 19 | 8:30 a.m. | Indiana 20, Pennsylvania 23 | Field 1 | Stats |
| 11:30 a.m. | Canada 24, Pennsylvania 4 | Field 1 | Stats | |
| 1 p.m. | USA Futures 8, Ohio 32 (4) | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| 2:30 p.m. | Canada 14, Ohio 33 (5) | Field 1 | Stats | |
| 5:30 p.m. | USA 26, Indiana 34 | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| 8:30 p.m. | USA 36, USA Futures 30 *Men’s Slow Pitch Showdown | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| Saturday, June 20 | 8:30 a.m. | Ohio 25, Pennsylvania 10 (6) | Field 1 | Stats |
| 10 a.m. | Canada 28, Indiana 30 | Field 1 | Stats | |
| 1 p.m. | USA Futures 27, Pennsylvania 11 (5) | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| 2:30 p.m. | USA Futures 19, Indiana 4 (5) | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| 5:30 p.m. | USA 33, Ohio 23 | Field 1 | Box Score | |
| 8:30 p.m. | USA 32, Canada 12 (4) *Men’s Border Battle | Field 1 | Box Score |
2026 Border Battle Recap – Day 1
The highly anticipated 2026 Border Battle XVI began today in Winesburg, Ohio, as the U.S. Slow Pitch National Teams, U.S. Futures Teams and Canada’s Slow Pitch National Teams took on local grassroots clubs in preparation for the USA Slow Pitch Showdown and Border Battle matchups set to take place over the next two days.
U.S. WOMEN’S SLOW PITCH NATIONAL TEAM
The U.S. Women’s Slow Pitch National Team (WSPNT) kicked off its Border Battle XVI campaign with a dominant 13-1 victory over the local Ohio team. Fueled by a seven-run first inning, the Eagles tallied 16 hits, with six players recording multi-hit performances, including a perfect 3-for-3 showing from Ruby Richie. The WSPNT followed the win with an explosive 23-3 victory over Pennsylvania, tabbing 22 hits and 23 runs in just four innings. Megan Baltzell led the charge with a perfect 4-for-4 performance at the plate. Through two games, the Red, White and Blue launched eight home runs, with Baltzell, Sarah Davis and Richie each recording two, while Patrika Barlow and Chelsea Zgrabik added one apiece. Team USA returns to action tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET against Indiana before taking the field in the USA Women’s Slow Pitch Showdown at 7 p.m. ET.
U.S. WOMEN’S FUTURES
The U.S. Women’s Futures team came out strong on Day 1, opening Border Battle XVI with a pair of run-rule victories over Pennsylvania (37-10, four innings) and Team Canada (23-8, five innings). The squad racked up 58 hits across the two games, highlighted by standout multi-hit days at the plate from Shenique Brass (7-for-8), Jaelyn Sanders (6-for-7), Melissa Rahrich (6-for-8) and Ashley Whaley, who posted a perfect 5-for-5 performance. Alycia Flores, Angelia Jones, Abbey Napolitani and Kaitlin Turnage each homered in Game 1, while Rahrich added a long ball in the second matchup. The Women’s Futures return to action tomorrow at 10 a.m. ET against Ohio before facing the WSPNT in the USA Women’s Slow Pitch Showdown at 7 p.m. ET.
U.S. MEN’S SLOW PITCH NATIONAL TEAM
The U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team (MSPNT) came up just short on opening day of Border Battle XVI, falling to Ohio (17-18) and Pennsylvania (24-25) in a pair of high-scoring contests. Jeremy Yates led the Eagle offense with eight hits on the day, followed closely by Bubba Mack with seven. Team USA recorded 54 hits across the two games, including 20 home runs. Bradley Jones (4-for-4) and Yates (5-for-5) turned in perfect performances in the second game of the day. The MSPNT continues its Border Battle XVI campaign tomorrow with a 5:30 p.m. ET matchup against Indiana before competing in the USA Men’s Slow Pitch Showdown at 8:30 p.m. ET.
U.S. MEN’S FUTURES
Scoring in every inning, the U.S. Men’s Futures team opened the tournament with a 27-23 victory over Pennsylvania. The U.S. offense was firing on all cylinders, with four players launching two home runs apiece and three others adding one each. All 10 batters recorded multi-hit performances, combining for 33 hits and a .647 team batting average. The momentum carried into Game 2 as the Futures defeated Team Canada, 29-15, behind a 29-hit performance. The squad launched 10 home runs in the contest, including three from Logan Rogers. With a perfect 2-0 record heading into Day 2, the Eagles will face Ohio at 1 p.m. ET before squaring off against the U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team in the 2026 USA Men’s Slow Pitch Showdown at 8:30 p.m. ET.
2026 Border Battle Recap – Day 2
Day two of the 2026 edition of Border Battle saw the action continue in Winesburg, Ohio as the U.S. Slow Pitch National Teams, U.S. Futures Teams and Canada Slow Pitch National Teams went head-to-head with various grassroots clubs as well as competed in the annual USA Slow Pitch Showdown. The Men’s and Women’s teams are looking ahead to the Border Battle matchups set to take place tomorrow.
U.S. WOMEN’S SLOW PITCH NATIONAL TEAM
The U.S. Women’s Slow Pitch National Team (WSPNT) opened Day 2 with a dominant 22-2 run-rule victory over Indiana (four innings). Fiana Finau led the charge with a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate as the Eagles totaled 22 hits and posted a .688 team batting average. Eight U.S. batters recorded multi-hit performances, while Patrika Barlow, Finau and Chelsea Zgrabik each launched a home run in the win.
U.S. WOMEN’S FUTURES
The U.S. Women’s Futures kicked off the day with a hard-fought 17-8 win over the local Ohio team. The Eagles combined for 21 hits and eight multi-hit performances, led by Angelia Jones and Gaby Nowack, who each went 3-for-4 at the plate. Karina Rocha drove in five runs to lead the offense, while Jones and Rocha each homered in the victory. The Women’s Futures will wrap up their Border Battle XVI campaign tomorrow with matchups against Indiana (1 p.m. ET) and Pennsylvania (4 p.m. ET).
U.S. WOMEN’S SLOW PITCH SHOWDOWN
For the first time since its inception in 2019, the U.S. Women’s Futures claim the win over the U.S. Women’s Slow Pitch National Team (WSPNT), securing a thrilling 23-21 victory in nine innings.
The Futures struck first with four runs in the opening frame before the WSPNT responded with six runs, highlighted by a grand slam from Meagan Pearson. The Futures tied the game, 6-6, in the second before a home run from Megan Baltzell helped the WSPNT regain the lead, 9-6. Ruby Richie later doubled to cap a five-run inning, extending the lead, 14-6. The Futures answered in the third, highlighted by a lead-off home run from Rocha, and eventually narrowed the deficit to tie the game once again, 17-17, in the fourth inning. The Futures took a four-run lead in the sixth before the WSPNT rallied to tie the game and force extra innings. In the ninth, Melissa Rahrich delivered the game-winning blow with a two-run homer to secure the Futures’ historic victory.
The Women’s Futures tallied 29 hits, with Rahrich and Rocha each going 5-for-6 with a home run. On the WSPNT side, Pearson, Richie and Jessica Tolbert each drove in four runs, while all 11 batters recorded at least one hit in the contest. The WSPNT finished with 25 hits and eight multi-hit performances.
With the win, the Women’s Futures earn their first Slow Pitch Showdown victory in program history, trimming the WSPNT’s all-time series lead to 5-1.
U.S. MEN’S SLOW PITCH NATIONAL TEAM
The U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team (MSPNT) opened Day 2 with a 26-34 loss to Indiana. The Eagles recorded 30 hits in the contest, led by Jeremy Fry’s perfect 5-for-5 performance at the plate. Nine additional U.S. batters posted multi-hit outings, while Fry and Jeremy Yates each blasted two home runs. Austin Andrews, Travis Clark, Bubba Mack, Tyler Marshburn, Filip Washington and Brandon Yoder also tabbed a home run in the matchup.
U.S. MEN’S FUTURES
The U.S. Men’s Futures dropped their first game of the day, falling 8-32 (four innings) to the local Ohio team, bringing their overall record to 2-1 in their 2026 campaign. Six Eagles homered in the contest while the offense combined for eight hits. The Men’s Futures will close out their Border Battle slate tomorrow against Indiana (2:30 p.m. ET) and Pennsylvania (5:30 p.m. ET).
U.S. MEN’S SLOW PITCH SHOWDOWN
The Eagle offense was on full display in the 2026 Men’s Slow Pitch Showdown as the U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team (MSPNT) defeated the Men’s Futures, 36-30.
The Futures jumped out to an early 6-0 lead behind three home runs in the first inning, but the MSPNT answered with an eight-run rally to take the lead, 8-6. The back-and-forth battle continued throughout the game, with the Futures holding leads of 18-9 and 24-16 before the MSPNT staged a comeback.
Home runs from Travis Clark, Filip Washington and Jeremy Yates highlighted a decisive fifth inning that put the National Team in front for good. The Futures tacked on a pair of runs with a two-run blast from Brock Frentzel in the sixth, but the MSPNT responded with six runs of its own to seal the victory.
The MSPNT launched 10 home runs and collected 37 hits in the offensive showdown, with Bradley Jones leading the offense with a 5-for-5 performance and two home runs. The Men’s Futures totaled 30 hits and matched the National Team with 10 home runs, highlighted by three from Terry Lambright and two from Logan Rogers.
The victory marks the eighth Men’s Slow Pitch Showdown win for the MSPNT since the event began in 2012, improving its all-time record against the Men’s Futures to 8-4.
2026 Border Battle Recap – Day 3
The Red, White, and Blue swept the final day of Border Battle XVI with victories from both the Men’s and Women’s Futures teams, capped by U.S. wins in the Men’s and Women’s Border Battle matchups against Canada.
U.S. WOMEN’S SLOW PITCH NATIONAL TEAM
The USA Softball Women’s Slow Pitch National Team (WSPNT) opened Day 3 of Border Battle XVI in dominant fashion, defeating Ohio, 20-7. Team USA jumped ahead early with a six-run first inning and scored in every inning but one en route to the victory. The Eagles collected 22 hits, with eight players recording multi-hit performances. Fiana Finau, Jessica Tolbert and Chelsea Zgrabik each went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Finau launched two home runs and Zgrabik and Sarah Davis added one long ball apiece.
U.S. WOMEN’S FUTURES
The Women’s Futures capped an undefeated weekend with back-to-back wins over Indiana and Pennsylvania, finishing Border Battle XVI with a perfect 6-0 record, highlighted by a historic victory over the WSPNT in the annual Slow Pitch Showdown. In their first matchup of the day, the Futures recorded a 21-5 run-rule victory over Indiana (six innings) behind a 15-run first inning. The squad totaled 24 hits, led by a perfect 4-for-4 performance from Kaitlin Turnage. The Futures carried that momentum into their second game, defeating Pennsylvania, 28-7 in four innings. Melissa Rahrich posted a perfect 4-for-4 outing, while eight additional players recorded multi-hit performances as the team tallied 26 hits.
The Women’s Futures finished the event with 158 hits and a .625 team batting average. Rahrich led the team with a .808 batting average, followed by Ashley Whaley (.765) and Angelia Jones (.700). The Futures blasted 16 home runs across six games, led by Jones with four, Rahrich with three and Abbey Napolitani with two.
U.S. WOMEN’S BORDER BATTLE
Solid at the plate and sharp on defense, the USA Softball Women’s Slow Pitch National Team (WSPNT) secured its seventh-consecutive Border Battle title with a 27-7 run-rule victory over Canada (four innings), improving to a 7-1 overall record in the annual event. Chelsea Zgrabik led the U.S. offense, going 4-for-4 with a single, double, two home runs, four RBI and three runs scored. Patrika Barlow also turned in a stellar performance, finishing 4-for-4 with a single, two doubles, a home run, five RBI and four runs scored, while Fiana Finau blasted two home runs and drove in five. Meagan Pearson added a home run of her own as the Eagles collected 22 hits, including seven multi-hit performances.
Canada struck first with five runs in the top of the first inning, but the U.S. quickly responded to even the score at 5-5 behind home runs from Finau, Zgrabik and Pearson. The Eagles took control in the second inning, exploding for 16 runs on a series of base hits, highlighted by back-to-back home runs from Finau and Zgrabik to extend the lead to 21-5. Canada added two runs in the top of the third to trim the lead to 21-7, but Team USA answered with five runs in the bottom half of the inning to move within one run of the run-rule at 26-7. Zgrabik and Finau combined to score the game-ending run in the fourth inning, sealing the 27-7 victory. The U.S. offense finished the weekend with a .578 team batting average, totaling 129 hits and 126 runs scored across six games. Zgrabik led the Eagles with a .800 batting average, followed by Jessica Tolbert (.692) and Ruby Richie (.688). Finau led the squad with six home runs, while Zgrabik added five. Megan Baltzell, Barlow and Sarah Davis each recorded three home runs, while Pearson and Richie added two apiece.
U.S. MEN’S SLOW PITCH NATIONAL TEAM
A total of 10 home runs — including three from Tyler Marshburn and two each from Bradley Jones and Travis Clark — powered the USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch National Team (MSPNT) to a 33-23 victory over Ohio on Day 3. The Eagles racked up 33 hits in the win, highlighted by a perfect 5-for-5 performance from Marshburn and four-hit outings from Clark and Jeremy Yates.
U.S. MEN’S FUTURES
Putting up 19 runs in their first game of the day, the Men’s Futures claimed a 19-4 run-rule win (five innings) over Indiana before also defeating Pennsylvania, 27-11, to close out their Border Battle XVI run with a 4-2 record – losing to the local Ohio team and the U.S. MSPNT in the 2026 Slow Pitch Showdown. The Futures dominated offensively, scoring 46 runs on 49 hits while launching 19 home runs across the two victories on Day 3. Chris Starcun led the Men’s Futures at the plate throughout the weekend with a .762 batting average, followed by Terry Lambright (.720) and Logan Rogers (.696). Rogers paced the team with 10 home runs, while Lambright added nine and Michael Rainer contributed seven.
U.S. MEN’S BORDER BATTLE
The U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team (MSPNT) proved dominant in the 2026 edition of Border Battle with a 32-12 run-rule (four innings) win over Canada’s Men’s Slow Pitch National Team to clinch its 14th overall Men’s Border Battle title. Combining for 31 hits in the win, the Eagles sent 10 home runs out of the park, with Heath Barnes and Filip Washington each tallying two. Ten U.S. batters recorded multi-hit performances, while Barnes, Jeremy Fry and Bubba Mack each turned in perfect 4-for-4 performances at the plate.
Canada took an early lead with six runs in the top of the first behind two home runs and an RBI-single. Team USA responded with nine runs in the bottom half of the frame, highlighted by home runs from Washington and Josh Riley. The Eagles continued their offensive surge in the second inning, plating another nine runs as three-run home runs from Jeremy Yates, Barnes and Washington extended the lead, 18-6. Canada answered with four runs in the third inning to cut the lead to 18-10, before the Eagles tacked on another five runs with a series of RBI-singles and a home run from Brandon Yoder to widen the lead, 23-10. Canada chipped away at the Eagles’ lead with two more runs in the top of the fourth, but the U.S. bats exploded for another nine runs — featuring long balls off the bats of Tyler Marshburn, Barnes and Austin Andrews to walk it off and seal the 32-12 run-rule victory in four innings.
The MSPNT offense finished the weekend with a .627 team batting average and 185 hits across six games. Jeremy Yates led the squad with a .885 batting average, followed by Jeremy Fry (.772) and Tyler Marshburn (.704). Brandon Yoder led the team with eight home runs, while Marshburn, Washington and Yates each added seven, contributing to a total of 59 home runs by Team USA. Following today’s matchup, the U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team has now clinched 14 titles — outnumbering the Canadian Men’s Slow Pitch National Team, 14-2, since the inaugural Men’s Border Battle in 2009.