Washington County’s goal: 1 more win than last year
With the Pony League World Series less than a week away, the Washington County team believes it can make another run deep into the tournament.
Washington County is coming off of an impressive 2023 tournament that ended in the championship game, where it fell to Japan, 8-2.
Manager Andrew Wuenstel, an assistant on last year’s team under his brother, Anthony Wuenstel, noted how last year’s run inspired this year’s squad and himself.
“It has given them the confidence knowing that Washington County can compete with the best teams in the world,” said Wuenstel. “It was incredible to see the 2023 team come together and perform the way they did. It showed me the key to success in a tournament like the Pony League World Series is hustle, preparation, and attention to detail.”
Players are selected to the Washington County team are from school districts in the Founder’s League. This year’s team features seven players from Trinity, five players from Canon-McMillan and one player each from Washington, Fort Cherry, and Avella.
PONY-registered players from Charleroi, California, and Donora will be eligible to join next year’s team after the one-year probationary period. The ever-expanding Founder’s League now includes every PONY-registered league in Washington County except Peters Township.
While last year’s Washington County run was one of the longer ones for the host team in recent history, Wuenstel believes this year’s team has all the makings of another special group.
“What makes this group special is the way they have been able to come together as a team and as a family in such a short period of time,” stated Wuenstel. “The key to another deep run in this tournament is all 15 guys buying in.”
The only time Washington brought home a Pony League World Series title was in 1955 when it defeated Youngstown, Ohio, 4-0, in the championship game. This is a motivator every year for the Washington County team, but with the bittersweet ending last year, it is all the more reason to be motivated to win.
“Last year’s run has lit a fire for us to want to bring back the first championship for Washington County since 1955,” said Wuenstel. “We are most excited to have the privilege and honor to represent Washington County, like the many teams and players who have come before us, and look forward to keeping the tradition of Pony baseball alive.”
Washington County’s only other world series championship was won by Monongahela in 1954. Mon Valley won this year’s Host Area tournament, giving the county a second entry in the world series.
The world series begins Friday with a doubleheader but Washington County, because of last year’s finish, will not make its debut until Sunday, Aug. 11 (noon). The host team will play either the East Zone winner or Gijon, Spain.