Whitehorse will welcome the U.S and Canadian women's fastball teams for two exhibition games in mid-July.

The games are part of building the excitement to the International Softball Federation XIII Women's World Championship that will take place in Whitehorse in 2012.

"This is sort of part of that,” said George Arcand, executive director for Softball Yukon. "We're really pleased to bring people to Whitehorse to experience our ballpark.”

Both teams will have a chance to see the fields they will play on in 2010. Arcand said it is a good opportunity for Team Canada to get a taste of the home field.

"It's important for Team Canada,” he said. "This is going to be their home field.”

Both teams will be in Vancouver following the 2010 World Championships, and Arcand said they decided it would be a great opportunity to try to bring them up.

"It's great,” he said. "It's part of the world experience that we're going to see in 2012.”

The experience will include a faster style of game than the Yukon is used to seeing.

"There is no women's fast-pitch of this calibre in this town,” Arcand said.

"It's something (the fans) won't see very often.”

The cost will be $5 per game at the gate. There will be no advance ticket sales.

Arcand said they are keeping to price low to encourage fans to come out and watch.

"We want to see people come to the park,” he said.

The two exhibition games will be July 13 and 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Pepsi Softball Centre, and both teams will have practices that Softball Yukon hopes will be open to the public.

"Most of the women coming to Whitehorse this summer will be here in 2012 for the World Championships,” Arcand said. "These two teams will have just returned from the World Championships in Caracas, Venezuela, so their competition levels will still be in high gear.”

"Hopefully it will give the fans a taste of it,” Arcand added, referring to the style of game the 2012 world championships will feature.

Softball Yukon hopes to host another set of exhibition games in 2011 as well.

Arcand said he is still unsure of all the teams that will be participating in the world championships in 2012.