The Great Britain Senior Women’s National Fastpitch Team will make history on Thursday and Friday, 6 and 7 July, when they welcome the Oklahoma City Spark from Women’s Professional Fastpitch to the National Baseball & Softball Complex at Farnham Park for a two-game series.

This will be first time a professional softball team has played in the UK, and the series, hosted by BaseballSoftballUK, is a can’t-miss opportunity to watch some of the world’s best softball players in action.

For the GB Women’s Team, the Royal Spark Challenge is an opportunity to prepare against top-quality opposition for next week’s WBSC Women’s World Cup Group Stage Tournament in Ireland, where the team will take on the USA, Australia, Chinese Taipei, Ireland, and Botswana, with two teams moving on to next year’s Women’s World Cup Finals in Italy.

Here’s what to expect from the Royal Spark Challenge.

Details

Dates: 6 and 7 July 2023

Time: First pitch will be at 6:30 pm on both evenings, with pre-game ceremonies starting at 6:20 pm.

Food: There will be a BBQ along the third-base line

Cost: Absolutely nothing. The Royal Spark Challenge is completely free!

Stream: If you can’t get to Farnham Park, you can watch live on BaseballSoftballUK.com/Watch starting at 6:30 PM (12:30 pm for our friends in Oklahoma!).

Seating and Entertainment

The National Baseball and Softball Complex at Farnham Park has been dressed up for the Royal Spark Challenge, with Field 3 hosting the games on both Thursday and Friday. Seating is first come, first served, but with a grandstand installed behind the backstop, and plenty of outfield seating, you’re sure to get a great view of the game.

Great Britain Softball, Oklahoma City Spark, and special Royal Spark Challenge merchandise will be available for purchase during the games.

There will also be in-game entertainment, and postgame autographs following the final out each night.

The Teams

Great Britain: GB comes into the Royal Spark Challenge following last year’s silver medal-winning performance at the 2022 European Women’s Championship. Of the 19 players on Great Britain’s roster, 12 return from last year’s squad, led by pitcher Georgina Corrick, who has just finished her pro season with Athletes Unlimited X. British fans will also be familiar with Chloe Wigington as well as reserve player Laura Hirai, who is the first player to be named to both the GB Women’s Senior National Softball Team and the GB Women’s Baseball Team.

Oklahoma City Spark: The Spark are in the midst of their inaugural season in Women’s Pro Fastpitch, and have come out hot, with a 9-4 record. The Spark are led by the NCAA’s all-time home run leader Jocelyn Alo, and features several former and current USA Softball National Team members, including Kelani Ricketts and Michelle Moultrie. The Spark are one of the best softball club teams in the world.