EVENT DETAILS

24 IA vs NE Battle of the Borders – MAJ

  • Tournament Date
    Apr 06 - Apr 07 2024
  • Entry Fee
    $625
  • Stature
    USSSA NIT
  • Age Groups
    8U - 14U
  • Additional Note
    • 18th Annual Battle of the Borders
    • Des Moines, IA
    • Iowa vs Nebraska
    • 4 Iowa Teams vs 4 Nebraska Teams
    • Round Robin
    • USSSA NIT
    • Invite Only (Based on 2023 team rankings)

Tournament Division

Division Entry Fee Gate Fee Max Entries Teams
Entered
Game
Guarantee
Format

Event Ballparks

Venue Name Address Maps link
James Cownie Sports Complex 2501 SE 22nd St, Des Moines, IA, 50320 Open in Maps
Holiday Park - Baseball 1701 Railroad Ave, West Des Moines, IA, 50265 Open in Maps
Walker Johnston Softball Complex 9000 Douglas Ave, Urbandale, IA, 50322 Open in Maps
Grimesplex 1000 NE Heritage Drive, Grimes, IA, 50111 Open in Maps
Venue Name
James Cownie Sports Complex
Address
2501 SE 22nd St, Des Moines, IA, 50320
Venue Name
Holiday Park - Baseball
Address
1701 Railroad Ave, West Des Moines, IA, 50265
Venue Name
Walker Johnston Softball Complex
Address
9000 Douglas Ave, Urbandale, IA, 50322
Venue Name
Grimesplex
Address
1000 NE Heritage Drive, Grimes, IA, 50111

Event Lodging

Note: If you don't know which venue you'll be playing at and want to book in advance, click here to find hotels that are geographically centered between all venues.

Venue Name Address Dates Details
James Cownie Sports Complex 2501 SE 22nd St, Des Moines, IA, 50320 Apr 6-7 Find Hotels
Holiday Park - Baseball 1701 Railroad Ave, West Des Moines, IA, 50265 Apr 6-7 Find Hotels
Walker Johnston Softball Complex 9000 Douglas Ave, Urbandale, IA, 50322 Apr 6-7 Find Hotels
Grimesplex 1000 NE Heritage Drive, Grimes, IA, 50111 Apr 6-7 Find Hotels
Venue Name
James Cownie Sports Complex
Address
2501 SE 22nd St, Des Moines, IA, 50320
Dates
Apr 6-7
Venue Name
Holiday Park - Baseball
Address
1701 Railroad Ave, West Des Moines, IA, 50265
Dates
Apr 6-7
Venue Name
Walker Johnston Softball Complex
Address
9000 Douglas Ave, Urbandale, IA, 50322
Dates
Apr 6-7
Venue Name
Grimesplex
Address
1000 NE Heritage Drive, Grimes, IA, 50111
Dates
Apr 6-7

Format

FORMAT:  The format consist of  Major teams with age groups 9 – 14.  Each age group will include 4 Iowa Teams and 4 Nebraska Teams .  Each Iowa team will play a round robin against the four Nebraska teams thus giving each team a 4 game guarantee.  Each team will play two games on Saturday and two games on Sunday.

USSSA NIT POINTS:  Each team will earn USSSA NIT points based on team’s record.  (USSSA tie-breaking criteria will be used in case of tie).  The Battle of the Border NIT will be divided into age groups (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14).  The State with the most team wins will win the age group. States can win up to 6 age groups.  The State that wins the majority of the age groups will be awarded the Battle of the Border NIT traveling trophy.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS:  The Iowa USSSA State Office will invite the 2023 top teams from each Major age groups to represent TEAM IOWA.  Iowa and Nebraska will offer invitations to teams using the end of the 2023 season classifications for each team.  Teams will not be penalized for being moved to a higher classification to start the 2024 season. Team selections were based on the team’s dedication with playing USSSA Baseball and finish at the 2023 USSSA State Tournament.

AWARDS:  Each player will receive a 2024 Battle of the Border Ring for representing TEAM IOWA.  The traveling trophy will be awarded to the State that wins the most age groups.

 

Hotel

Rules

  • This Tournament will follow the USSSA Baseball rulebook with the following exceptions:

  • Time limit of 1 hour 40 minutes for all age groups.

  • A new inning will not start after the time limit has expired.

  • In the case of rain the tournament director has the discretion to change any rule that will allow the tournament to be completed.

  • Individual awards for all teams representing their State.

  • Protest fee: $100 cash (on rule interpretation only)

  • Game Time: Starting time is forfeit time.

  • Iowa will be home team Saturday.

  • Nebraska will be home team on Sunday.

  • Home team is the official book. Make sure to compare books after each inning.

  • We will count ties.

  • All teams are encouraged to warm-up as much as possible before game time.

  • NO pre-game infield!

  • Ground balls may be taken in foul territory IF ground crew is not on the field.

  • IF ground crew is on the field, teams must move their players to the outfield grass until they are finished.

  • Refund policy: If a team does not give a 30 day notice in writing, they will forfeit the entire entry fee.

    • Refund schedule:

      • No games played = Entry minus $150

      • 1 game started = Entry minus $250

      • 2nd game started = No Refund

  • All rules and game guarantees are subject to change at the discretion of tournament officials.

  • Forfeits count as a game played.

  • Teams can bat the lineup, bat 9 or bat 9 plus a EH.

  • Teams must declare which order they are going to use before the game starts and once the game starts they must continue that for the game.

  • USSSA Bat Rules will be enforced.

  • Order of Finish will be determined by: (1) Head to Head, (2) Runs allowed (vs all teams played), (3) Run Differential (Max +/- 8), (4) USSSA Points, (5) Coin Flip.

  • Once advanced to next tie breaking criteria, do not return to a previous criteria.

  • Battle of the Borders tournament strategy. Each age group will have a State winner. The State winner will be determined by which State has the most wins per age group and then by the State that wins the most age groups.

  • Pitching will be tracked. No team will be allowed to start their next game until their pitching record from previous game has been turned into site director

Event Updates

Good morning. Nebraska Major teams had an outstanding day at the park on Saturday. Nebraska Majors take a commanding lead of 39 wins with 18 losses along with 4 ties against the Iowa Majors. Can Iowa Major make a strong comeback on Sunday?? Thanks for playing and thanks for supporting Iowa and Nebraska USSSA. Go Lady Hawkeyes!!
April 07, 2024 - 06:54am
The City of Grimes has let us know that they will continue to do the best they can with keeping the portable fences upright. There will be some fields that the fences will just lay flat for periods of time. Thanks for hanging in there today. Weather hotline will be updated at 6:30am Sunday morning for Sunday play.
April 06, 2024 - 06:05pm
Good morning!! IA vs NE Battle of the Border......who will bring home the 2024 State Title? Good luck today and thanks for playing CIS and USSSA Baseball
April 06, 2024 - 10:01am

Leaderboard

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