Spots being filled for Pony League World Series
By Kaci Alderson
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
The Printscape Pony League World Series will be back in Washington, August 9-14, with a fresh field ready to hoist the championship trophy at Lew Hays Pony Field.
International teams have participated in the World Series since 1959, when Monterrey, Mexico, put a team into the tournament. Since then, international teams have won 24 tournaments with Chinese Taipei leading the way with 11 titles.
There will be four international teams in this year’s 10-team field.
Representing the Caribbean Zone for the second time will be Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. Guaynabo qualified in 2022 but left winless at 0-2.
In its qualifying tournament, Guaynabo went undefeated, outscoring its opponents, 43-9.
Manager Rafael Cruz is hoping the team plays to its strengths to find success in the tournament.
“The team’s greatest strength is our defense and pitching,” said Cruz. “We have two great pitchers in our bullpen who can hit the mid to upper 80s.”
Guaynabo’s first game will be against the West Zone representative at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 9.
The European Zone has a first-time participant as Gijon, Spain, which went 5-1 in the zone tournament, outscoring opponents, 59-21.
Spain’s manager, Roberto Diaz, noted how important this opportunity is for his team.
“This is a very important occasion for our academy and an opportunity that may be the only one in our lives,” said Diaz.
Spain will face the East Zone representative at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 10.
Coming out of the Asia-Pacific Zone is Chinese Taipei. Its hiatus from the World Series lasted only one year as it was bested by eventual champion, Edogawa, Japan, in zone play to miss out on last year’s world series.
Chinese Taipei finished this year’s zone tournament with a 4-1 record, losing only to Japan in the opening game. The team put up 52 runs in the tournament, but manager Tsai Ching-Chun believes defense will have to win a championship.
“I believe our pitchers’ dominance, along with our team’s defensive skills, are our greatest strengths,” Ching-Chun said.
Chinese Taipei will have a first-round bye and play at 5 p.m. Aug. 10, against either the Host Area or South Zone.
Coming out of the Mexico Zone is Tijuana, which has made one other appearance, in 2018, when it went 1-2.
“We are excited to represent our country with the possibility of being world champions and playing in one of the best tournaments that any kid can dream of,” manager Enrique Hinojosa said.
Mexico has one Pony championship, that in 1972, by Monterrey.
Tijuana’s first game will be against the North Zone Aug. 10, at noon.
The other qualified team is host Washington County, which is coming off a runner-up finish in last year’s tournament.
About 40 players tried out for the team from the 21 Founder’s League teams.
“We plan to build off last year’s success by continuing to instill a culture and work ethic that has brought the Washington County team the most success it has seen in the World Series over the past 25 years,” manager Andrew Wuenstel said.
A first-round bye puts Washington County’s first game at noon Aug. 11. It will play either the East Zone or Spain.
Zones yet to qualify are the North, South, East, West and Host Area. The Host Area tournament will take place July 25-28 in Mt. Lebanon.