USA Softball announces creation of USA Softball All-American Games to be held in August

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 4, 2017

MEDIA CONTACT

Katie Willis

Communications Coordinator

E: kwillis@usasoftball.com

P: (405) 425-3425

USA Softball announces creation of USA Softball All-American Games to be held in August

OKLAHOMA CITY – USA Softball, the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States, announced today the creation of the USA Softball All-American Games, a prestigious tournament to be held at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex – OGE Energy Field – INTEGRIS Field August 18-20, 2017. Held at the "Softball Capital of the World"™ in Oklahoma City, Okla., the USA Softball All-American Games provide national exposure to elite athletes in the 12-Under Junior Olympic (JO) fast pitch division and will highlight the top competitors from across the country.

"The USA Softball JO Commissioners are very excited to host an event that showcases 360 of the best 12-under players from around the country," said USA Softball of Southern California JO Commissioner Kristi Allen. "We are excited to give these athletes the opportunity to play at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex representing USA Softball."

With teams selected from the 10 USA Softball Regions, a total of 24 teams from across the U.S. will compete in the USA Softball All-American games. Each region can select up to two teams to represent their region at the USA Softball All-American Games and each team will consist of 15 athletes and two coaches. Athletes must be on a USA Softball registered team for the 2017 season and must be age eligible for the 12-Under JO division. Each region is responsible for the selection process for their teams, and players must commit and be registered no later than July 1.

Teams competing in the USA Softball All-American Games will be invited to participate in an exposure camp to highlight their skills. The USA Softball All-American Games will also have an Opening Ceremony, free live streaming and live stats through USASoftball.com and a tournament "swag" bag, which will include their USA Softball All-American jerseys and other official USA Softball and sponsor merchandise.

"What a great opportunity for 12-under female athletes across the country to be identified by members of USA Softball's local associations," said Director of Championships Chris Sebren. "To have the opportunity to come together as individuals and compete as regional teams in this inaugural All-American Games will be such a great experience for them. These select individuals will join some of the best athletes across the world who will be competing in Oklahoma City this year as we host the NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS) and the World Cup of Softball. What a great way for USA Softball to finish off our fast pitch season in Oklahoma City with the inaugural All-American Games."

Information on regional tryout and selection processes will be available the first week of February. For more information on the USA Softball All-American Games, please visit www.usasoftballallamericangames.com or send an email to AllAmericanGames@usasoftball.com.

About USA Softball

USA Softball is a 501(c)(3) not-for profit organization headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla., and is designated as the National Governing Body (NGB) of Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 70 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 150,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2 million. USA Softball is dedicated to providing people of all ages the opportunity to play the game they love at a variety of levels by offering recreational, league, tournament and competitive play for fast pitch, slow pitch and modified pitch. USA Softball annually conducts thousands of tournaments throughout the country including over 100 National Championships. The USA Softball umpire program is among the nation’s largest and are widely known as the best trained umpires in the game.

As the NGB for the sport of softball, USA Softball is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in events such as the Olympics, Pan American Games, World Championships and other international and domestic events. For more information on USA Softball, including its founding and history as the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA), please visit, www.USASoftball.com.

Codi Warren I Managing Director of Communications

USA Softball

2801 NE 50th Street

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73111

405-425-3431 (O)

Visit Us Online: USASoftball.com

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