Los Altos-Mountain View Pony Baseball

The regular season is the core of LA-MV PONY Baseball. All of the other programs we offer — Training, Club Team, and Post Season — serve to supplement and enhance regular season play.
 

For our youngest divisions, Shetland (ages 5-6) and Pinto (ages 7-8), the Regular Season begins in early March. Coaches receive their rosters from their Division Director, and start practice as soon as they can get everyone together. Teams practice twice a week, once on the weekend and once midweek. Practices last 60 to 90 minutes, as determined by the team's head coach.

Opening Day is the last or second-to-last Saturday in March. Initially, each team plays one game a week on Saturday. After the switch to Daylight Savings Time, each team plays two games a week, one on Saturday and one mid-week. Most teams will also continue weekly practices, at the coach's discretion. Coaches in Pinto-2 may also hold additional practices or clinics to work on specific skills, especially pitching.

Shetland and Pinto-1 teams play about 13 games, ending their season before the Memorial Day weekend. Pinto-2 teams play 15 games, ending their season just after the Memorial Day weekend.

Pinto-2 players are eligible for selection to post season “All Star” teams that play in tournaments over the Memorial Day weekend and/or after the conclusion of the Regular Season. See the Post Season Programs page for more information.

Players in Mustang (ages 9-10), Bronco (ages 11-12), and Pony (ages 13-14) are encouraged to warm up to the regular season at our free Back to Baseball Camps, held the first weekend of January. These camps focus on baseball fundamentals, and are equally appropriate for the kids who played through the summer and fall as those who haven't picked up a baseball since the preceding June.

Tryouts are held the second or third weekend in January, and are mandatory for all players. Coaches select their teams in a player draft in late February, and can start practices in early March. Teams practice twice a week, once on the weekend and once mid-week. Practices may last 90 to 120 minutes, at the discretion of the team's head coach.

Opening Day is usually the same as for Shetland and Pinto, the last or second to last Saturday in March. Mustang and Bronco teams play two games per week, one on Saturday and one mid-week. Pony Division teams will often play two midweek games plus a Saturday game. Teams continue to practice at least once a week, with additional practices at the coach's discretion.

The season is split into two phases, divisional games and playoffs. During the divisional phase, every team plays every other team at least once, and some teams twice. Mustang and Bronco teams play about 13 to 16 divisional games; Pony teams about 20 games. All teams then enter a double-elimination playoff: a team keeps playing until they lose two games. The length of a team's season thus depends on their success in the playoffs. The championship playoff game is usually held in the 2nd week of June. Trophies are awarded to the top two teams in the playoffs.

Mustang, Bronco, and Pony players are eligible for selection to post season “All Star” teams that play in tournaments after the Regular Season. See the Post Season Programs page for more information.

Colt (ages 16U) and Palomino Division (ages 19U) are intended for competitive high school players who want to keep playing after the high school season ends. Tryouts (if necessary) are held the first weekend in May. Play begins in mid May, and ends in early July.

Colt and Palomino players are eligible for selection to post season “All Star” teams that play in tournaments after the Regular Season. See the Post Season Programs page for more information.