WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — The 2024 Pony League World Series is right around the corner bringing in around 30,000 people from around the world to Washington County.
Friday through Aug. 14, the 72nd event will take place at Lew Hays Pony Field. There will be 10 teams competing from different zones throughout the U.S.
“The majority of the players are 14,” Stephen Rydzak, marketing strategist with JMS Advisors, said. “We do have a 10-team field. We have six U.S. teams. Washington County, it gets an automatic entry. Then, we have our host area team, which is a 75-mile radius around Washington. This year that’s Mon Valley. The South Zone winner is Pone View, Texas. The North is Bay County, Mich., and the East Zone is Bronx, N.Y.
There will also be some international competition, including countries like Spain and Chinese Taipei.
The event has about a $5.8 million economic impact to the area.
“You know, this event has grown significantly since I’ve been involved in 2015,” Rydzak said. “We had a couple of rough years there in 2011 and 2012. If Washington County tourism steps up, they said this event is important to the county and we are going to keep it here and grow it here.”
Officials say the event helps showcase Washington County to people from all over the world. But they’d also like to see folks from places like Ohio and West Virginia come out to see some games.
“First of all, its great baseball,” Washington County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism President Jeff Kotula said. “I mean, you have some of the best young players from across the world to compete. Secondly, Washington County is a growing county, so there’s not only great baseball, but a lot of great things to do afterwords, like restaurants or shopping. Thirdly, it helps us focus on our economic development efforts.”
Volunteers help prepare the field all year long and are putting the last touches on it before Friday. With the storied history in the area, officials hope to see this World Series happening in Washington County for many years to come.
“It’s a homegrown event,” Kotula said. “It’s something we want to support and it’s something we want to be in this county, basically, forever as long as it’s in existence.”
