U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army Softball Teams to compete at Nationals Park during MLB All-Star Week – Friday July 13

Championship Game of the First-Ever “All-Star Armed Services Classic presented by T-Mobile” Will Be First Major Ballpark Event of 2018 Midsummer Classic in Nation’s Capital

Special Contest Will Feature Pregame Ceremonial Elements and a Home Run Challenge Between Active Service Members Representing All Five U.S. Military Branches

Free Event is Open to the Public, with Tickets Available at Nationals.com/ASG & AllStarGame.com  ; Championship Game Will Stream LIVE on MLB.com

WHAT

About the All-Star Armed Services Classic

Co-ed softball teams from the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force will make history as they compete in the Championship Game of the first-ever All-Star Armed Services Classic presented by T-Mobile. The special contest, which will be played among active service members from each branch at Nationals Park on Friday, July 13th, represents the first major ballpark event of 2018 MLB All-Star Week in Washington D.C. Major League Baseball and the Washington Nationals designed the event to support and honor the general military community as well as the many service members and families stationed in the National Capital Region.

To earn a berth in the Championship Game, co-ed teams of active service members stationed in the National Capital Region from all five U.S. Military Branches (U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Coast Guard) competed in a round-robin preliminary round, with the top two teams advancing. The U.S. Army team finished the preliminary round with a record of 3-1, while the U.S. Air Force team also finished 3-1 and was awarded the tie-breaker to claim home field advantage. *Attached are the rosters for each team.*

How to Watch/Attend

The All-Star Armed Services Classic presented by T-Mobile will be a free, ticketed event at Nationals Park. Major League Baseball and the Washington Nationals have distributed tickets to each military branch for service members and families. Fans can also get free tickets online at Nationals.com/ASG & AllStarGame.com or at Nationals Park ticket windows on the day of the game (Friday, July 13th).

Tickets Available at Nationals.com/ASG & AllStarGame.com  ; Championship Game Will Stream LIVE on MLB.com

Additionally, the All-Star Armed Services Classic will be streamed LIVE on MLB.com, made possible by the support of T-Mobile.

Pregame & Ceremonial First Pitch

Following are the pregame and ceremonial elements of the All-Star Armed Services Classic presented by T-Mobile:

1. Introductions & Recognition – Prior to individual U.S Army & U.S. Air Force player introductions, MLB and the Nationals will recognize the teams from the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Coast Guard who competed in the preliminary round.

2. National Anthem – The U.S. National Anthem will be performed by the U.S. Army Brass Quintet and will be accompanied by the Armed Forces Color Guard.

3. Ceremonial First Pitch – The ceremonial first pitch will be thrown by Ed Bearss, 95, a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran of World War II and military historian who attended the first MLB All-Star Game in 1933 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Ill. Bearss, an Arlington, Va., resident and Georgetown University alumnus, is also an author known for his work on the American Civil War and World War II eras. He served as chief historian of the National Park Service from 1981 to 1994 and is now the service’s chief historian emeritus.

Home Run Challenge presented by T-Mobile & Charitable Donation

Following the Championship Game, one pre-selected member of each military branch will compete in a special “Armed Services Classic Home Run Challenge presented by T-Mobile” at Nationals Park. The five active service members will be vying for the opportunity to hit home runs in between Major Leaguers during the T-Mobile Home Run Derby, airing on ESPN on Monday, July 16th from Nationals Park. In honor of the service by the Home Run Challenge participants, T-Mobile will make a charitable contribution to nonprofit relief societies dedicated to helping members of each branch.

Following are the active service members competing in the “Armed Services Classic Home Run Challenge” on Friday, July 13th:

1. U.S. Army – Jacob Hensal, SSG/Staff Sergeant, Fort Belvoir (Nine Years of Service)

2. U.S. Marine Corps – Chris Maddox, 1st SGT/First Sergeant, Quantico (19 Years of Service)

3. U.S. Navy – Russ Newbern, CTR/Cryptologic Technician Collection, Fort Meade (Six Years of Service)

4. U.S. Air Force – Matthew Campbell, MSGT/Master Sergeant, Pentagon (17 Years of Service)

5. U.S. Coast Guard – Ken Glover, W-S/ENG2/Engineman Second Class, Surface Forces Logistics Center in Baltimore (21 Years of Service)

WHERE/WHEN

Nationals Park – 1500 S Capitol St SE, Washington, DC 20003

Gates Open – 5:00 p.m.

First Pitch – Approximately 7:00 p.m.

SPECIAL PARKING INSTRUCTIONS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL

Personnel with appropriate (DoD or other Federal Agencies) ID may park on Fort McNair or NSA Washington on a space-available basis and walk to Nationals Park.