USA Softball: Game schedule announced for XVI WBSC Men’s World Championship

March 28, 2019

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Game schedule announced for XVI WBSC Men’s World Championship

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 27, 2019 Web Release: Link

OKLAHOMA CITY — OKLAHOMA CITY — The path to the podium for the XVI World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Men’s World Championship has been revealed as the WBSC unveiled groups and the full competition schedule.  Held June 13-23 in Prague, Czech Republic, a total of 72 games will be played across 11 days as participating countries battle it out to earn the title of World Champion.    “The release of the schedule for the WBSC World Championship should serve as a notice for us to intensify our preparation and training,” said Head Coach Gregg Leather (Staten Island, N.Y.). “We are looking forward to getting on the field together and playing in events leading up to the World Championship.”   Click here to view the complete schedule for the USA Softball MNT at the WBSC Men’s World Championship   The 16 participating countries, representing five Olympic continents, have been drawn into two groups. Competing in Pool B, Team USA begins opening round action on June 14 at 7:30 p.m. local time (12:30 p.m. CT) against No. 19 Netherlands.  Team USA is also slated to play No. 4 Australia on June 15 at 7:30 p.m. local time (12:30 p.m. CT), No. 12 South Africa on June 16 at 4:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. CT), No. 2 Canada on June 17 at 7:30 p.m. local time (12:30 p.m. CT), No. 22 Singapore on June 18 at 4:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. CT) and No. 11 Denmark on June 19 at 4:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. CT) before closing out opening round against No. 8 Venezuela at 10:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. CT).    “The schedule is tough as expected,” continued Leather. “We have played most of the teams in our bracket over the last two cycles. We know our opponents well as they are deep and talented, but we can’t focus on them right now. We need to only be concerned with our team, maximize our strengths, and shore up our weaknesses. We know if we minimize mistakes and play well, we can compete with anyone. I think we are bringing a very versatile and deep team. Most of them have international playing experience so they will know what to expect and will be ready when the time comes.”   The top four finishers from each group will advance to playoffs in an eight-team, single-elimination bracket.    With a roster loaded with veteran leadership, Team USA looks to end a 19-year medal drought, having last stood on the podium at the 2000 edition in East London, South Africa. A mixture of World Championship newcomers and 11 returners from the 2017 MNT World Championship team comprise the 2019 roster that is hungry for the Gold.    “We are in a very tough pool, so to advance into the playoffs we will have to play our best,” said four-time WBSC World Championship participant and Team USA veteran, Matt Palazzo (Pleasant Hill, Iowa).  “Our coaching staff and administrators at USA Softball have put together a training and practice schedule leading up to the World Championship that will help prepare us to compete at our very best.  Our team is a close group and we are very excited for the challenge that lies ahead.  This is going to be a strong year for USA Softball!”   Led by Leather, the 18-athlete training roster was announced in January following the MNT Selection Trials in Clearwater, Fla. The final 17-player roster for the WBSC Men’s World Championship will be finalized later this summer.  Joining Leather on the coaching staff for the WBSC Men’s World Championship are Greg Hicks (Bakersfield, Calif.), Nick McCurry (Ashland, Ohio) and Ron Hackett (Richmond, Va.).   For updates on the USA Softball National Team program and events throughout the 2019 season visit www.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 through a network of Local Associations, which includes all 50 states and select metro associations.  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.   About the World Baseball Softball Confederation  Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland -- the Olympic Capital -- the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) is the world governing body for baseball and softball. WBSC has 208 National Federation and Associate Members in 135 countries and territories across Asia, Africa, Americas, Europe and Oceania, which represent a united baseball/softball sports movement that encompasses over 65 million athletes and attracts approximately 150 million fans to stadiums worldwide annually.    The WBSC governs all international competitions involving official National Teams. The WBSC oversees the Premier12, World Baseball Classic, Baseball World Cups, Softball World Cups and Softball World Championships, as well as baseball and softball events at the Olympic Games.   For more information, visit www.wbsc.org, which is available six languages: English, French, Japanese, Korean, Spanish and Traditional Chinese.

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