Nov 3, 2017 2 min read

I am a father of the “vocal minority” baseball players affected by the Pony League age change. My son first stepped on the baseball field when he was four years old to play for Washington Youth Baseball, where he developed a love for the game.

He has formed many lasting bonds with his teammates throughout the past 10 years as they grew and worked toward one goal. That goal being, a part of a team that takes on the best baseball players from around the world in the Pony League World Series, in front of their hometown fans. That dream was taken away from these boys, by the same people who are supposed to be Protecting Our Nation’s Youth.

What the decision-makers failed to realize is, their vote impacted more than 38 percent of the players currently in Washington Youth Baseball leagues, not just those of Pony age. I commend Washington Youth Baseball, as it took the initiative to grandfather these players so they do not lose a year of developmental skills, as well as the camaraderie with their teammates that they have developed in the past years. However, these 14-year-old baseball players will not have the opportunity to play in the Pony League World Series because of the age change that PONY made without considering the repercussions on these boys.

Although these boys are in the minority, they deserve the chance they worked so hard for.

Dan Sikora

Washington