EVENT DETAILs

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.

• 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