OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — The Amateur Softball Association and the city of Oklahoma City are proud to announce they have been awarded the 2010 ISF XII Women’s World Championship by the International Softball Federation. Oklahoma City will play host July 9-19, 2010 to the top 16 women’s fast pitch softball team’s in the world. Qualifying tournaments will take place around the world to determine the 16 teams that will compete in the 2010 event. Representation comes from five regions: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

“We are thrilled for an event of this caliber to be held here in Oklahoma City,” said ASA/USA Softball Executive Director Ron Radigonda. “We have demonstrated in past World Cup and NCAA Women’s College World Series competitions that the city of Oklahoma City is a strong supporter of this sport and knows how to host an event on the world’s stage. The four fields at ASA Hall of Fame Complex including Don E. Porter ASA Hall of Fame stadium will provide both players and spectators with the best softball experience imaginable. We are honored to have received this bid and look forward to the months of preparation.”

“Since this event hasn’t been held in the U.S. in 20 years, first and foremost I am glad we can bring it back to the United States,” said Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett. “Secondly, the fact that it is going to be held in our city certainly validates that we have one of the top softball venues in the world.”

“It’s very exciting to have the World Championships in our home country and for the ASA to host the second largest event for our sport other than the Olympics,” said 2004 & 2008 Olympian Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas). “With the 2009 World Cup coming soon and now the World Championships, I think the teams coming to the U.S. over the next couple years will be able to see the support of U.S. fans and we will have an opportunity to reclaim the No. 1world rankingon our home soil.”

The 2010 fast pitch event will mark the first time that any of the ISF’s four world championships (men’s, women’s, junior men’s, and junior women’s) will have been played in the United States since the IX Men’s World Championship in Michigan in 1996.

“Other than the Olympics, the women’s world championship is probably our highest profile event,” said ISF president Don Porter. “Oklahoma City has experience with hosting major softball tournaments and the facilities there are excellent. This will surely be a memorable event for the participants as well as the spectators and media.”

“I love wearing red, white and blue and to wear those colors in our home country while competing for a World Championship is something I thought I would never be a part of,” said two-time Olympian Jessica Mendoza (Camarillo, Calif.) “I know the ASA will host a great event in Oklahoma City and I know the fans will come out in great support. With softball out of the Olympics in 2012, this is the ultimate opportunity to see the best softball teams in the world compete for the top crown in sports.”

Team USA is the defending ISF world champion, having won the eleventh edition of the event in 2006 in China when they broke a scoreless tie after five innings, scoring three runs in the top of the sixth en route to a 3-0 victory over Japan in the gold medal game.