OKLAHOMA CITY — Thirteen umpires from six countries will partake in the World Cup of Softball VII and Border Battle IV in Oklahoma City, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) of America announced today. The World Cup of Softball, an international women’s fast pitch event that includes six countries, is June 27- July 2 at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium while the men’s slow pitch Border Battle IV is June 30.

“It is an honor to be selected as an umpire to represent your country in any international event,” said ASA Supervisor of Umpires Kevin Ryan. “These umpires have earned the right to do so. It is their umpiring ability that has allowed them this opportunity. I am sure they’re nervous and excited to be able umpire both the Border Battle and the World Cup.”

Umpires for the World Cup VII are Australia’s Ron Housion, Brazil’s Fernando Silva, Canada’s Peter Kluszczynski, Netherlands’ Bob Gieskens, Puerto Rico’s Reynaldo Mora and the United States’ Diane Carden (Newark, Del.), Mike Latona (Winter Haven, Fla.) and Sue Sawyer (Orange, Calif.). The umpires will work 18 international softball games that feature Australia, Brazil, Canada, Netherlands, Puerto Rico and the 2012 USA Softball Women’s National Team.

“This has been a 16-year goal of mine to be able to work such a high level of international softball,” said Sue Sawyer. “ You put in so much effort and spend so much time away from home and when you get the call that you’ve been selected for an event like this it’s truly an honor. “

Five umpires have been selected for the Border Battle IV, including Ben Clements of Canada. The U.S. umpires are Tom Borucki (Seaville, N.J.), Roger Garcia (Anchorage, Alaska), Chris McGee (Hattiesburg, Miss.) and Tim Watts (Lincoln, Neb.). In addition to the Border Battle IV, a game that will be internationally televised on ESPN, the umpires will also work the Slow Pitch Slowdown scheduled for Wednesday, June 27 at 7 p.m. in a matchup between the USA Softball Men’s Slow Pitch Team and the new USA Softball Men’s Futures Slow Pitch Team .

“Because this sport is not in the Olympics, to be invited to work this game is the highest honor that a slow pitch umpire can receive,” said Chris McGee. “The fact that only four Americans and one Canadian are selected just adds to the honor of being selected.”

Tickets for the World Cup VII and Border Battle IV are now on sale. Tickets to the Border Battle and all other slow pitch games games are included in all-session ticket packages for the World Cup, which are $275 for the Ultimate Fan Zone premium seating in the first three rows of the stadium, $80 for other reserved seating and $45 for general admission seating, and can be purchased online now at SoftballOutlet.com or by calling 800-654-8337. Single session general admission tickets are also available.

The World Cup and Border Battle are events sanctioned by the International Softball Federation.

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 http://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 nine World Championship titles including the last seven consecutive as well as claimed five World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about USA Softball, please visit http://www.usasoftball.com/.