World Cup of Softball Comes to OKC

July 19, 2011

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma's Keilani Ricketts and Jessica Shults return close to home as members of Team USA as Oklahoma City hosts the World Cup of Softball at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium. The pair will be joined by Oklahoma alum Jessica Legendre, playing for Great Britain, in the event that begins Thursday, July 21, and runs through Monday, July 25, and features six teams from across the world vying to be crowned the world's best.

Action for the U.S. kicks off Thursday night at 7 p.m. as it faces the Czech Republic, making its first ever appearance in the World Cup. The Americans return to the field Friday night at 7 p.m. to face the 2008 Olympic Bronze medalists in Australia. Saturday will see the U.S. play two games, taking on Canada at noon and the 2010 World Cup runner up Japan at 8 p.m.

The U.S. closes out preliminary play on Sunday at 4 p.m. with action against Great Britain before championship round play on Monday.

Team USA is coming off a second-place finish at the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship. The Americans fell to Japan, 7-0, in the championship game and finished the event 10-3. Ricketts went 2-1 at the event as she pitched 18.3 innings, striking out 22 while giving up 14 hits and four runs in five games. Shults also saw action in five games as she recorded four hits in six at bats, crossing the plate three times for the U.S. while recording one RBI.

Single session general admission tickets for the World Cup can be purchased now by calling 1-800-654-8337 or by visiting SoftballOutlet.com. Single session reserved seating tickets are only sold the day of the event at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium box office.

All-session tickets, which are $275 for the Ultimate Fan Zone seating in the first three rows of the stadium, $75 for other reserved seating and $40 for general admission seating, are also on sale now. The Ultimate Fan Zone package also includes a private autograph session and breakfast with the 2011 USA Softball Women's National Team, only open to Ultimate Fan Zone ticket holders, as well free parking and a replica USA Softball jersey.

Seven World Cup of Softball VI games, including six women's fast pitch games, will air across the United States this July on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com. The complete domestic ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3.com live air schedule is below.

July 21 at 7 p.m. USA vs. Czech Republic ESPN/ESPN3.com

July 22 at 7 p.m. USA vs. Australia ESPN/ESPN3.com

July 23 at 1 p.m. (Tape delayed broadcast of Noon game) USA vs. Canada ESPN/ESPN3.com

July 23 at 3 p.m. USA vs. Canada Men's slow pitch Border Battle III ESPN/ESPN3.com

July 23 at 8 p.m. USA vs. Japan ESPN2/ESPN3.com

July 24 at 4 p.m. USA vs. Great Britain ESPN2/ESPN3.com

July 25 at 8 p.m. Championship Game ESPN2/ESPN3.com

All times are local to Oklahoma City (CST) and subject to change.