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Washington’s Pony all-stars ready

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If the Washington All-Star Team is to have a successful run in the Pony League World Series, all the oars in this boat must move in unison.

This year’s team does not have much power on offense or a stud pitcher. What it does have is a strong defensive unit, a solid pitching staff and enough speed to cause havoc on the basepaths.

Utilizing those assets in an effective way will determine how well Washington performs.

Action in the world series kicks off Friday at Lew Hays Pony Field in Washington Park with two games: South Zone vs. Puerto Rico (5:30 p.m.) and North Zone vs. Host Area (8 p.m.). The championship game will be played at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 12, and will be televised by Pittsburgh CW. All games will be streamed live on MLB Network.

Washington opens the series Saturday at 2:30 p.m. against Vienna, Austria, which won the European Zone title. Vienna is the first Austrian team to participate in the Pony League World Series.

“We’re fast and they can definitely hit the ball when they put their minds to it,” said Washinghton manager Bill Nelson, who has coached most of these players for the past seven years. “Our main offensive threat is getting our guys on base and getting them over. We have five kids with speed and the rest are not slow, but slower.”

So what are Nelson’s expectations?

“We want to win a couple games, make a good showing and not be embarrassed,” Nelson said.

Zemar Loper, A.D. Nelson and Carson Nutter are tri-captains.

“I’m a little nervous but excited to play,” said Loper, a pitcher and infielder. “I’ve come out to every one (of the Pony World Series) since I was a kid. I hoped I had a chance to play. Winning is the ultimate goal. We need to come together as a team and just play baseball.”

The Washington All-Star Team will have five tournaments in the rearview mirror by the time the series begins: Beast of the East, a West Virginia tournament with 85 teams was the first for the newly assembled Washington team; the Washington Tournament; Plum; Scott Township and Blue Mountain in Hershey over this weekend. Blue Mountain had 94 teams competing. Washington finished second in the Plum Tournament and third in the Scott Township Tournament. The first four tournaments gave Washington 19 games together and Nelson said that was important.

“I was looking for growth as a team in these tournaments, especially since we had just gotten together two days before the Beast of the East Tournament,” Nelson said. “I’ve definitely seen that.”

Nelson will rotate four pitchers – Loper, Logan Hummell, A.D. Nelson and Clarence Pomykala, all right-handers – depending on the matchups.

“I play it by ear, by who we are facing and what they look like,” Bill Nelson said. “I don’t throw a pitcher more than three or four innings, so we use three pitchers a game. I don’t rely on one arm.

“Loper possesses a good fastball and curve but struggles with control at times; Nelson is on the smaller side but has good command of his fastball and curve. Hummell throws about four different pitches: fastball, curve, change and slider.”

The infield depends on which pitcher gets the starting assignment. Nutter is the first baseman and Matt Safin has seen action there, Jordan Palfreyman plays second base and Nelson can play there, too. Loper, when not pitching, is the shortstop with Nelson and Pomykala available. Pomykala and Hummell can play third base. Nelson and Hummell alternate at catcher.

“I came out here to watch when I was younger,” said Nutter. “My cousins were playing. Now that I’m here, it’s kind of surreal. We usually play in front of parents, not to this magnitude (of people). I think we’ll play like it’s just any other day.”

The outfield running left to right is Danny Boardley, Maks Gonzalez and Colten Fonner. Austin Beals, Chet Locy, Jack Beecham, Garrett Orr and Safin also are available.

“I think we’re a defensive team because we’re not the biggest group of kids,” said A.D. Nelson. “We have a lot of speed. It will be a successful tournament for us if we can win a couple games and play together as a team.”

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