Four repeat entrants in 10-team PLWS field
The 10-team field for the Printscape Pony League World Series has been determined and there are plenty of familiar names among the entrants.
In addition to the host team, Washington County, Host Area winner South Hills is returning for second consecutive year. Also back is defending champion and Asia-Pacific Zone winner Chinese Taipei (Taichung City), along with North Zone champion Bay County, Mich., which will be making its 14th consecutive appearance in Washington. Bay County is still seeking its first Pony League World Series championship, though it has played in the title game.
Paderborn, Germany will be making its fifth trip appearance in Washington as the European Zone champion.
West Covina, Calif., was the final team to play its way into the world series field, winning the West Zone tournament on Sunday night. West Covina has won three Pony League World Series championships and will be making its first PLWS appearance since 2000.
The other teams in the field are East Zone champion Hagerstown, Md., South Zone winner Hidalgo, Texas, and Mexico Zone champ Navoja, Mexico, and Caribbean Zone winner Guaynabo, Puerto Rico.
Play begins Friday at Lew Hays Pony Field. Hidalgo will play Paderborn in the opening game at 4:30 p.m. The second game of the doubleheader will match Bay County against Guaynabo.
Play continues Saturday with three games, beginning at noon, with West Covina having an early wakeup call to face Hagerstown. South Hills makes its debut at 2:30 p.m. against Navoja, and Washington County will take to the diamond at 5 p.m. against the Hildago-Paderborn winner.
As the defending champion, Chinese Taipei does not play until Sunday when it faces either South Hills or Navojoa.