The PONY program provides flexible rules and incremental levels of competitive play, which are specifically designed for the physical development and safety requirements of each age group. This page describes our divisions and helps you find the most appropriate division for your child. If you have further questions after reading through this, please contact the appropriate Division Director.
Start by determining your player’s League Age. This is their chronological age on May 1st as of the 2023 season. For example, if a player turns 10 on April 20th, he would be considered league age 10, since he is 10 on May 1st. If he turns 10 on June 15th, he would be considered league age 9, since he is 9 on May 1st. The look in the row labeled “Age on May 1st” to find the correct division.
Pony, Colt, and Palomino are “Age and Under” divisions: Pony is 14 and under; Colt is 16 and under; and Palomino is 19 and under. This is to accommodate younger High School Fresh/Soph players who would like to “play up” to Colt Division, and younger High School Varsity players who would like to “play up” to Palomino. It is expected that no 12 year old will qualify to “play up” to Pony Division, as the tryout requirements are much more demanding than for Bronco.
Shetland | Pinto 1 | Pinto 2 | Mustang 1 | Mustang 2 | Bronco | Pony | Colt | Palomino | |
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Age on August 31 | 5-6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11-12 | 13-14 | 16U | 19U |
Basepath | 50ft | 50ft | 50ft | 60ft | 60ft | 70ft | 80ft | 90ft | 90ft |
Pitching mound | 38ft | 38ft | 38ft | 46ft | 46ft | 50ft | 54ft | 60.5ft | 60.5ft |
Start of season | Tee | Coach Pitch | Coach Pitch | Player Pitch | Player Pitch | Player Pitch | Player Pitch | Player Pitch | Player Pitch |
End of season | Coach Pitch | Coach Pitch | Player Pitch | Player Pitch | Player Pitch | Player Pitch | Player Pitch | Player Pitch | Player Pitch |
Teams formed by | Director | Director | Director | Draft | Draft | Draft | Draft | Director | Director |
Base stealing | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Leadoffs | No | No | No | No | 1st/2nd | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Balk | No | No | No | No | Warn | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Dropped 3rd strike | N/A | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Breaking pitches | N/A | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Season begins | March | March | March | March | March | March | March | May | May |