WINESBURG, Ohio — The USA Softball Men’s and Women’s Slow Pitch National Teams (SPNT) have arrived in Winesburg, Ohio, ahead of the 16th edition of Border Battle, set to take place June 18-20 at Winesburg Park. Athletes from the USA Softball Men’s and Women’s Slow Pitch National Teams and Futures Teams will compete in a series of matchups against the Canadian Men’s and Women’s Slow Pitch National Teams, along with various grassroots clubs, in the action-packed three-day event.
With a series of exhibition games kicking off on Thursday, June 18 at 8:30 a.m. ET, the action will continue through the weekend with the Men’s and Women’s U.S. Slow Pitch National Teams facing off against their respective U.S. Futures Teams in the Slow Pitch Showdown set to take place on Friday, June 19 beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Closing out the weekend with the highly anticipated international matchups between Team USA and Team Canada, the Women’s Border Battle contest is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 20 with the Men’s Border Battle to follow at 8:30 p.m. ET. The three-day event is free to attend. A complete schedule can be found on USASoftball.com.
Fans can follow the premier international slow pitch event through live streaming and live stats. All games, including the USA Slow Pitch Showdown and Border Battle contests, will be streamed on USASoftball.TV. Fans can also follow each U.S. Slow Pitch National Team through the GameChanger app, where live stats will be available throughout the event.
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Hailing from 10 different states, the 14-player WSPNT roster consists of 12 veterans and 2 rookies who will get their career debut for Team USA. At the helm of the WSPNT for the ninth-consecutive year is head coach Don Cooper (Wash.) alongside returning assistant coaches Shannon Cooper (Wash.) and Tammy Higginbotham (Wash.). Highlighted by four veterans and nine rookies, athletes from 10 different states will take the field for the Women’s Futures as returning coach Ted Carter (Ky.) will lead the 13-player roster with the help of Shannon Ellingsworth (Ky.) and Mandy Hollman (Ky.).
Previously announced by USA Softball, the U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team (MSPNT) roster includes 13 veteran athletes representing eight states. Hall of Famer Brett Helmer (N.Y.) returns for his eighth-consecutive year as head coach and will be assisted by Tim Barnes (Texas). Led by nine veteran athletes, the Men’s Futures roster will include four rookies set to rep the Red, White and Blue for the first time in their careers as Rob Humphrey (Iowa) returns as head coach for the 11th-straight year alongside assistant coach Nick Shaw.
The U.S. Men’s and Women’s Slow Pitch National Teams will look to capture their seventh-consecutive Border Battle titles after sweeping Team Canada in 2025. The MSPNT earned a 38-21 run-rule victory in five innings, while the WSPNT secured a 12-5 win. The annual international rivalry dates back to 2009 when the MSPNT claimed the inaugural Border Battle trophy and has since compiled a 13-2 all-time record against Canada. The WSPNT joined the event in 2017 and has posted a 6-1 record against Canada’s Women’s Slow Pitch National Team.
A staple since 2012, the Slow Pitch Showdown has seen the MSPNT capture seven wins over the Men’s Futures, compiling an all-time record of 7-4. Following its introduction in 2019, the Women’s matchup has also delivered strong competition, with the WSPNT remaining undefeated at 5-0 after a 13-9 win in 2025.
For more information on the USA Softball Men’s and Women’s Slow Pitch National Teams programs and to learn about the history of the Border Battle, please visit USASoftball.com.