Border Battle XIV
July 25-27, 2024
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | OGE Energy Field at Devon Park
Created in 2009, the annual Border Battle enters its 14th season of international matchups between USA Softball and Canada Slow Pitch National Teams with this year’s event taking place at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
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 XIV competition scheduled for Saturday, July 27.
Streaming will be provided through USASoftball.TV.
Women’s
| Date | Time (CT) | Matchup | Field | Live Streaming | Live Stats/Box Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, July 25 | 11:30 AM | USA Futures 6, JMI Sports 7 | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | |
| 1:00 PM | Canada 8, JMI Sports 10 | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| 4:00 PM | USA 19, JMI Sports 5 (5) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| 7:00 PM | USA Futures 13, Canada 1 (5) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| Friday, July 26 | 10:00 AM | Canada 4, JMI Sports 3 | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | |
| 11:30 AM | USA Futures 12, JMI Sports 1 (5) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| 1:00 PM | Canada 22, Tolbert’s All-Stars 2 (4) | Integris Field | Box Score | ||
| 4:00 PM | USA 19, Tolbert’s All-Stars 4 (5) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| 7:00 PM | USA 13, USA Futures 3 (5) *Slow Pitch Showdown | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| Saturday, July 27 | 11:30 AM | Canada 16, Tolbert’s All-Stars 2 (5) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | |
| 1:00 PM | USA Futures 6, JMI Sports 4 | Integris Field | Box Score | ||
| 1:00 PM | USA 28, Tolbert’s All-Stars 4 (4) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| 4:00 PM | USA Futures 17, Tolbert’s All-Stars 9 | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| 7:00 PM | USA 12, Canada 0 (5) *Border Battle | OGE Energy Field | Box Score |
men’s
| Date | Time (CT) | Matchup | Field | Live Streaming | Live Stats/Box Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, July 25 | 2:30 PM | Canada 33, Elevate & Celebrate 12 (6) | Integris Field | Box Score | |
| 2:30 PM | USA Futures 23, GGC/TWP 3 (4) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| 5:30 PM | USA 33, Elevate & Celebrate 6 (4) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| 8:30 PM | USA Futures 31, Canada 21 | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| Friday, July 26 | 1:00 PM | Canada 30, Elevate & Celebrate 13 (5) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | |
| 2:30 PM | USA Futures 22, Elevate & Celebrate 11 | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| 2:30 PM | Canada 31, GGC/TWP 11 (5) | Integris Field | Box Score | ||
| 5:30 PM | USA 33, GGC/TWP 5 (4) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| 8:30 PM | USA 22, USA Futures 21 *Slow Pitch Showdown | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| Saturday, July 27 | 10:00 AM | Canada 43, GGC/TWP 14 (4) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | |
| 2:30 PM | USA 37, Elevate & Celebrate 4 (4) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| 2:30 PM | USA Futures 27, GGC/TWP 11 (5) | Integris Field | Box Score | ||
| 5:30 PM | USA Futures 40, Elevate & Celebrate 25 (5) | OGE Energy Field | Box Score | ||
| 8:30 PM | USA 21, Canada 14 *Border Battle | OGE Energy Field | Box Score |
U.S. Women’s Slow Pitch National Team
The U.S. Women’s Slow Pitch National Team (WSPNT) kicked off the action at 4 p.m. CT this afternoon with a dominating 19-5 run-rule win (five innings) over local Oklahoma team, JMI Sports, behind an explosive offensive performance where the Eagles scored in each inning of the game. Team USA combined for a total of 22 hits with six batters recording a multi-hit game. The Eagles will return to OG&E Field tomorrow for a matchup against Kansas City team, Tolbert’s All-Stars, at 4 p.m. CT with the USA Women’s Slow Pitch Showdown to follow at 7 p.m. CT.
U.S. Women’s Futures Slow Pitch National Team
Despite a narrow 6-7 loss to JMI Sports in its first game of the day, the Women’s Futures team came out firing in its second matchup with a 13-1 run-rule victory (five innings) over Canada’s Women’s Slow Pitch National Team. Combining for 13 hits in the win, four batters recorded multiple hits including back-to-back triples from Jordan Mittelsdorf and Kelli Finan. The Women’s Futures Team will rematch against JMI Sports tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. CT before competing in the 2024 USA Women’s Slow Pitch Showdown against the U.S. Women’s Slow Pitch National Team at 7 p.m. CT.
U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team
A total of ten home runs – including three off the bat of Josh Riley (3-for-3) – boosted the U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team (MSPNT) to a 33-6 run-rule victory (four innings) over Elevate & Celebrate to kick off its Border Battle XIV run. The Red, White and Blue combined for a total of 34 hits in the win highlighted by perfect performances at the plate from Travis Clark (3-for-3), Phil Matte (1-for-1), Riley (3-for-3) and Jeremy Yates (4-for-4), along with seven additional three-hit showings from the rest of the squad. The Eagles will continue their 2024 Border Battle campaign tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. CT with a matchup against GGC/TWP before facing off against the Men’s Futures in the USA Men’s Slow Pitch Showdown at 8:30 p.m. CT.
U.S. Men’s Futures Slow Pitch National Team
Following a 16-run fourth inning, the U.S. Men’s Futures team claimed their first victory of the day with a 23-3 matchup (four innings) against Oklahoma’s GGC/TWP club team. Hot at the plate, nine U.S. batters tabbed a home run in the matchup, while 11 athletes on the roster recorded a hit in the matchup, combining for 23 hits and a .639 batting average. The U.S. once again proved dominant at the plate in their second matchup of the day, posting a 31-21 victory over Team Canada with a combined 33 hits and 9 home runs, with Tyler Marshburn tallying two over the fence. With an undefeated record heading into day two, the Eagles will take the field against Elevate & Celebrate tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. CT before going head-to-head against the U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team in the 2024 Men’s USA Slow Pitch Showdown at 8:30 p.m. CT.
Day two of the 2024 edition of Border Battle saw the action continue at Devon Park in Oklahoma City 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 from Oklahoma and Kansas as well as competed in the annual USA Slow Pitch Showdown. The Men’s and Women’s 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) proved to be a dominant force in its first matchup of the day with an 19-4 victory (five innings) over Kansas-based Tolbert’s All-Stars highlighted by perfect 2-for-2 performances at the plate from Tylia Sylestine, Ruby Richie and Dani Wayt. The Eagles combined for 16 hits and a .533 team batting average with 12 U.S. batters tabbing at least one hit in the matchup.
U.S. Women’s Futures Slow Pitch National Team
The U.S. Women’s Futures opened day two of Border Battle XIV with a 12-1 run-rule win (five innings) over JMI Sports that included a combined 16 hits and four multi-hit performances at the plate from the Eagles. Ta’Shelya Bynum, Nicole Matson and Stacey Moore each tallied a perfect 3-for-3 performance at the plate while Randi Pauly and Alyssa Derricks led the U.S. in RBIs with three apiece. The Women’s Futures team will take on JMI Sports (1 p.m. CT) and Tolbert’s All-Stars (4 p.m. CT) tomorrow to close out their Border Battle XIV run.
Women’s Slow Pitch Showdown
In the annual Slow Pitch Showdown matchup, the WSPNT came out on top with a 13-3 run-rule victory (five innings) over the Women’s Futures. The WSPNT pressed the gas early, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first thanks to a series of walks and base hits that put the WSPNT ahead, 7-0. Quick to answer back, the Women’s Futures came alive in the top of the second thanks to a single and a sac-fly before Kelli Finan tacked on another with an inside-the-park home run to narrow the WSPNT lead, 7-2. Strengthening their lead, the WSPNT added three more in the bottom of the frame – highlighted by a solo shot from Megan Baltzell – while the Women’s Futures plated their final run of the game in the top of the fourth thanks to an RBI-base hit from Chelsea Showers. The WSPNT proved consistent, scoring three more runs in the final two innings to seal the 13-3 run-rule victory.
The WSPNT collected 14 hits in the win and six multi-hit performances at the plate – highlighted by two home runs from Baltzell who had a perfect 2-for-2 performance. For the Women’s Futures, Showers posted two of the three RBIs in the matchup, while Finan clinched the other with an inside-the-park home run. The Women’s Futures collected six hits in the loss with all six hits coming from different U.S. batters.
Today’s Slow Pitch Showdown clinches the WSPNT’s fourth-consecutive win over the Women’s Futures since the event’s inception in 2019, leaving the WSPNT with a 4-0 Slow Pitch Showdown record.
U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team
With 14 runs scored in the first inning and 16 scored in the second, the U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team (MSPNT) got off to a hot start in day two of Border Battle play, tallying a 33-5 run-rule victory (four innings) in its first matchup of the day over local club team, GGC/TWP. Heath Barnes, Ben Dunn and Jason Matusik led the Red, White and Blue in home runs with two apiece to combine for a team total of 10 while Matusik and Jeremy Yates posted perfect 4-for-4 performances at the plate contributing to the Eagles’ combined 27 hits.
U.S. Men’s Futures Slow Pitch National Team
Putting up 22 runs in its first game of the day, the U.S. Men’s Futures claimed a 22-11 victory over Elevate & Celebrate to improve the Eagles to 3-0 in its 2024 Border Battle Campaign. Michal Rainer and Terry Lambright led Team USA with two home runs each while the U.S. offense dominated with a total of 22 hits and three additional home runs from Mitchell Lendeski, Ryan McClanahan and Tyler Storey. The U.S. will return to action tomorrow with contests against GGC/TWP (2:30 p.m. CT) and Elevate & Celebrate (5:30 p.m. CT) for its final two matchups of Border Battle XIV.
Men’s Slow Pitch Showdown
Both U.S. offenses came to play in the 2024 edition of the Men’s Slow Pitch Showdown, with the MSPNT posting a thrilling 22-21 win over the Men’s Futures after a tough seven innings of back-and-forth action. Putting runs on the board early, the MSPNT plated three runs in the bottom of the first thanks to home runs of the bats of Jeremy Yates and Phil Matte. Strengthening their lead, back-to-back solo shots from Heath Barnes and Jeff Roxby and a sac-fly from Tyler Marshburn tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the second for the MSPNT. The Men’s Futures’ bats broke open in the top of the third after three home runs narrowed the score, 6-4. Home runs from Josh Riley and Barnes in the bottom of the frame added four to the MSPNT lead before home runs off the bats of Connor Murray, Tyler Storey and Michal Rainer propelled the Men’s Futures to an 11-10 lead in the top of the fourth. The lead didn’t stick long, though, as four home runs from the MSPNT offense put them back on top, 19-11, in the bottom of the frame. Continuing the chip away at the lead, the Men’s Futures managed to plate three runs in the top of the fifth, while the MSPNT followed suit with three runs of their own. The Men’s Futures stayed hot in the top of the seventh, scoring five runs to narrow the MSPNT lead to 22-21 before a ground out and a line out ended the inning and sealed the win for the MSPNT.
The MSPNT maxed out its limit of 10 home runs in the offensive battle with Barnes going 4-for-4 at the plate while tabbing three home runs in the matchup. Also sending a max of 10 home runs out of the park, the Men’s Futures saw Kyle Overstreet, Terry Lambright and Tyler Storey send two home runs each. This matchup marks the 12th Slow Pitch Showdown victory for the MSPNT since its inception in 2009, with the MSPNT suffering only two losses to the Men’s Futures over the years.
The Red, White and Blue swept the final day of Border Battle XIV, including victories from the Men’s and Women’s Futures and two U.S. victories in the Men’s and Women’s Border Battle contests against Canada.
U.S. Women’s Slow Pitch National Team
The USA Softball Women’s Slow Pitch National Team opened day three of Border Battle XIV in dominating fashion, posting an impressive 28-4 run-rule victory (four innings) over Tolbert’s All-Stars behind an 11 run second inning followed by a 10 run third inning. Team USA combined for 24 hits in the win with seven batters recording a multi-hit game – including a perfect 4-for-4 performance from Ashley Langoni.
U.S. Women’s Futures Slow Pitch National Team
The Women’s Futures capped the weekend with back-to-back wins over JMI Sports and Tolbert’s All-Stars to end Border Battle XIV with a 4-2 record, falling only to JMI Sports and the U.S. Women’s Slow Pitch National Team (WSPNT). Scoring in the final two innings, the Women’s Futures tabbed a narrow 6-4 win over JMI Sports in their first matchup of the day behind a combined 12 hits and multi-hit performances from Ta’Shelya Bynum (2-for-3), Alyssa Derrick (2-for-2) and Pam Usry (2-for-3). In its second matchup of the day, the Women’s Futures team faced off against Tolbert’s All-Stars as the U.S. pulled ahead in the fourth inning, holding the lead to edge out the All-Stars, 17-9 – highlighted by a perfect 4-for-4 performance from Randi Pauly and seven additional multi-hit performances from the U.S. offense. The Women’s Futures close out the event with a combined 88 hits and a .486 team batting average.
Women’s Border Battle
Solid at-bats and a strong defensive showing helped the U.S. WSPNT claim the program’s fifth-consecutive Border Battle title as the Eagles outscored Canada 12-0 (five innings) to improve to a 5-0 overall record in the annual event. Tylia Sylestine led the U.S. offense with two singles, a triple and three runs scored followed by Megan Baltzell with a single, a home run – her fifth of the tournament – and four RBI. Closing out the weekend, the Red, White and Blue combined for 19 hits in the win with seven batters recording a multi-hit game.
Scoring in every inning, the U.S. got on the board early with four runs crossing the plate in the bottom of the first to get the lead, 4-0, thanks to a two-run blast from Megan Baltzell and a pair of singles from Meagan Pearson and Ruby Richie. Baltzell tacked on one more in the bottom of the second with a base hit, before two triples and a series of singles plated four more for the Eagles in the bottom of the third. Keeping the momentum, five base hits and two sac-flies in the bottom of the fourth set the U.S. up to tab the final three outs in the bottom of the frame to seal the shutout win in five innings, 12-0.
The U.S. offense combined for a .613 batting average through five games with 95 hits and 91 total runs. Leading the Eagles with a .833 batting average was Baltzell, followed by Pearson (.818) and Ruby Richie (.778). Baltzell led the U.S. WSPNT in home runs with three over the fence, while Alyssa Schreiner recorded two and Fiana Finau posted one.
U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team
A total of 10 home runs – including three off the bat of Kyle Pearson – lifted the U.S. MSPNT to a 37-8 run-rule win (four innings) over Elevate & Celebrate in day three of Border Battle XIV. The Eagles combined for an impressive 41 hits in the win including four five-hit performances and three four-hit showings at the plate.
U.S. Men’s Futures Slow Pitch National Team
Putting up 27 runs in their first game of the day, the Men’s Futures claimed a 27-11 run-rule win (five innings) over GGC/TWP before also defeating Elevate & Celebrate 40-25 (five innings) to close out its Border Battle XIV run with a 5-1 record – losing only to the U.S. MSPNT in the 2024 Slow Pitch Showdown. The U.S. dominated at the plate with a total of 67 runs scored on 58 hits while posting 17 home runs through two matchups. Mitchell Lendenski led the Red, White and Blue at the plate throughout the weekend with a .800 batting average, followed by Kyle Overstreet (.773) and Terry Lambright (.679). Lambright led the team in home runs with nine sent over the fence, while Tyler Storey blasted five out of the park, followed by Michal Rainer with seven.
Men’s Border Battle
The U.S. Men’s Slow Pitch National Team (MSPNT) proved dominant in the 2024 edition of Border Battle with a 21-14 win over Canada’s Men’s Slow Pitch National Team to clinch its 12th overall Men’s Border Battle title. Combining for 21 hits in the win, the Eagles sent seven home runs out of the park with Ben Dunn and Phil Matte tallying two and Heath Barnes, Kyle Pearson and Everett Williams each tabbing one. Ten U.S. batters collected at least one hit in the win with eight posting multi-hit performances.
Canada took the early lead with two runs on the board in the top of the first due to two solo shots, while the U.S. bats broke open in the bottom of the second after back-to-back home runs from Barnes and Dunn pushed four runs across, putting the U.S. ahead, 4-2. Canada quickly answered back with two home runs to regain the lead, 5-4 before a string of hits and a two-run blast from Matte put the Eagles on top once again, 9-5, in the bottom of the third. In the same inning, a base hit from Travis Clark and a grand slam from Dunn strengthened the U.S. lead, 14-5. Four home runs from Canada in the top of the fourth narrowed the U.S. lead, 14-12, while a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the frame pushed one U.S. run across before Canada sent a solo shot to right field to bring the score to 15-13. Quiet through the fifth inning, the U.S. bats came alive once again in the bottom of the sixth with home runs off the bats of Pearson, Matte and Williams along with a double from Jason Matusik widened the U.S. lead to 21-13. Team Canada managed to score one in the top of the seventh before the U.S. offense recorded the final out to end the matchup and seal the 21-14 Border Battle win. Combining for a .709 batting average and 151 hits through five games, the MSPNT offense was led by Josh Riley (.833), Matusik (.810) and Jeremy Yates (.810), while Barnes sent seven balls deep followed by six from Dunn and Pearson en route to a combined total of 47 long balls from Team USA.