web Charlotte

July 16, 2009

Oklahoma City, Okla. - Lutz on News 14

The Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) has announced ESPN will televise 14 hours of softball in high definition, July 16-20 at the KFC World Cup of Softball presented by Six Flags. Live from the mecca of softball at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, the coverage includes one inaugural USA Men's Slow Pitch National team game on July 18 (4:00 p.m. - Eastern) in the previously announced Border Battle.

Charlotte 49ers head men's basketball coach and former ASA Slow Pitch player, coach and National Champion Bobby Lutz will step in as the analyst for the Border Battle, which will pit the USA vs. Canada.

Lutz is entering his 12th year at the helm of the 49ers men's basketball program and became the 49ers all-time winningest coach in 2007-08 and is now one win shy of 200 victories as the 49ers head coach. He spent much of his youth around the stout, family-run Howard's Furniture slow-pitch softball team and eventually played on and coached the team, which won national championships in the mid-seventies and early 80's.

"I am extremely excited about my involvement in this special event for slow pitch softball," said Lutz. "Some of my fondest memories in sports are those associated with Howard's Furniture softball. In addition, were it not for softball I probably would still be a high school coach today. My first college basketball position came about exclusively because of a former teammate, H. T. Waller, who convinced Cliff Ellis to give me an opportunity @ Clemson. I look forward to being a part of slow pitch softball showcased nationwide."

In addition to the television coverage on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN HD and ESPN2 HD, new this year all seven USA games will be streamed live on ESPN360.com. Selected games from ESPN's coverage will also be broadcast globally to 146 countries across ESPN's international networks including Atlantic, Pacific Rim, Australia HD, Brazil HD, Israel, Middle East, ESPN Caribbean, ESPN2 Caribbean, and ESPN America.

The talent line up for the KFC World Cup of Softball includes analyst two-time Olympic gold medalist Michele Smith and Los Angeles Dodgers play-by-play announcer Eric Collins. For the Border Battle, Charlotte 49ers head men's basketball coach and former ASA Slow Pitch player, coach and National Champion Bobby Lutz will step in as the analyst. Lutz is entering his 12th year at the helm of the 49ers men's basketball program and became the 49ers all-time winningest coach in 2007-08 and is now one win shy of 200 victories as the 49ers head coach.

The complete domestic ESPN air schedule is below. All times are eastern.

Thursday, July 16 - USA vs. Netherlands 8 p.m. ESPN
Friday, July 17 - USA vs. Italy 8 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, July 18 - USA vs. Canada - 1 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, July 18 - Border Battle - USA vs. Canada Men's Slow Pitch 4 p.m. ESPN
Saturday, July 18 - USA vs. Japan 8 p.m. ESPN
Sunday, July 19 - USA vs. Australia 1:00 ESPN
Monday, July 20 - Championship Game, #1 seed vs. #2 seed; 9 p.m. ESPN2

The 4th World Cup of Softball and the Border Battle are sanctioned by the International Softball Federation, the governing body of softball internationally as recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). For complete results, blogs, bios, photos, multimedia and more of the World Cup of Softball, log on to http://www.usasoftball.com/.