A marquee summer baseball tournament returns to Washington in August, as organizers unveiled plans for the 72nd annual PONY League World Series.
The 10-team double-elimination tournament will take place from Aug. 9-14, at Lew Hays PONY Field in Washington, Pa.
Last season, the team from Edogawa, Japan was victorious after defeating the host team from Washington.
If Edogawa makes it out the Asia-Pacific Zone qualifier, it will attempt to defend its title.
Other international teams will include Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, Tijuana, Mexico and Spain.
Puerto Rico will be representing the Caribbean zone this summer. Mexico will compete out of the Mexican zone and Spain out of the European zone.
The U.S. will have four teams from different areas of the country in addition to host Washington. They will come from the West, South, East and North zones after their respective regional tournaments, which begin July 24.
Printscape, a Southpointe-based printing and graphics company, is the new official sponsor of the PONY League World Series, replacing Dick’s Sporting Goods, which had sponsored the event since 2015.
Printscape also holds naming rights on Printscape Arena at Southpointe.
PONY League World Series games will be televised on both SportsNet Pittsburgh and the SportsNet Pittsburgh + streaming platform. Seven games will appear on live TV, working around the schedule of the Pirates who also play on the network.
There will also be an additional three games broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh +.
WJPA Radio will also have coverage with an audio only listening experience. Long time voice of the World Series Mark Uriah and veteran Pittsburgh Pirates broadcaster Lanny Frattare will anchor the coverage for WJPA, along with Randy Gore.
Ernie Galusky and Joe Barcato will join Frattare for the SportsNet Pittsburgh coverage of the event.
A skills competition featuring a home run derby and fastest runner contest will kick things off Aug. 9. Opening ceremonies will be held at 7 p.m. Aug. 10 will be mascot night. Military and first responders will be recognized on Aug. 11. PathWays youth night is set for Aug. 12, and Pittsburgh Pirates night is Aug. 13.
The championship game is set for 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14.
PONY League baseball is a sport for 13- and 14-year-old boys. The league has 80-foot base distances and a 54-foot pitching distance. It was founded in 1951 by Hays. PONY is an acronym for Protect Our Nation’s Youth.
Tickets are available at plws.org.
Giustino Racchini is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Giustino at gracchini@triblive.com.
