Nationals Park to host 2021 Battle of the Bases championship game on Sept. 18

The Washington Nationals are excited to host the return of the Battle of the Bases Championship softball game at Nationals Park on Saturday, September 18. The championship game will take place after the conclusion of the Nationals 4:05 p.m. game against the Colorado Rockies. The Battle of the Bases Championship is free for fans to attend.

The championship game will feature Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling and Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall squaring off in a seven-inning game for the title. In addition, all bases that participated in the preliminary tournament will be honored during an on-field recognition before the Nationals-Rockies game on Saturday.

The Battle of the Bases softball tournament serves as an extension of the intramural season at each of the military bases in the National Capital Region, which featured 20 teams. The preliminary rounds of the tournament were held on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling on August 28 and 29, and each base was invited to enter two teams to compete in the double-elimination tournament.

Teams of active duty service members from all six branches, playing across all National Capital Region installations, participated in the tournament. Participating bases included:

* Joint Base Andrews
* Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling
* Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall
* Fort Belvoir
* Fort McNair
* Marine Corps Base Quantico
* Marine Barracks Washington
* NSA Bethesda
* NSF Dahlgren
* Fort Meade
* USCG Base National Capital Region

The Battle of the Bases Championship will begin 30 minutes after the last out of the 4:05 p.m. Nationals vs. Rockies game. Fans attending both games will be permitted to remain in the ballpark between games, and no matter where fans sit for the baseball game, they can move down to the lower level for the softball game. Fans attending only the softball game will not need a ticket and will be able to enter the ballpark through the Third Base Gate 10 minutes after the last out of the Nationals vs. Rockies game.

"The Nationals are proud to partner with National Capital Region military bases through our Nats on Base program," said Gregory McCarthy, Washington Nationals Senior Vice President of Community Engagement. "We were impressed with the athleticism and enthusiasm on display throughout the 2019 tournament, and we are pleased to return to hosting the Battle of the Bases in 2021 and beyond."

Through the Nats on Base initiative, the Nationals aim to provide year-round experiences that contribute to the quality of life for service members and their families in the Washington D.C. region, reaching them where they live and work, as well as in-park. The team works with regional and base leadership to develop programming and identify outreach opportunities at local installations.

In addition to Battle of the Bases, the Nationals support military intramural programs by providing, at no cost to the service branches, a Nationals-branded jersey and cap to each man or woman participating in the base-affiliated intramural softball league. Teams are differentiated through the use of a variety of styles and colors of jerseys and caps.

For more information, please visit nationals.com/BattleoftheBases.