Baseball

LCYO REAL BASEBALL. REAL FUN.

LCYO plays PONY baseball.  PONY started as an organization to provide baseball for boys who had "graduated" from Little League at the age of 12. This covered players from ages 13 up to 18. Over time, PONY (Protect Our Nation's Youth) branched out into softball and baseball for players younger than 13. PONY implemented a graduated system of fields, making them proportional to the players' size. Just as no one would expect a seven year-old to put on a uniform made for a 12 year-old, neither should we expect kids of various ages to play on one size of diamond. It is far more logical to tailor a diamond to match the physical capability of the children as they develop. Hence, T-Ball )5-6) and Pinto (7-8) players use 50-foot base paths, Mustang (9-10) 60 foot, Bronco (11-12) 70 foot, Pony (13-14) 80 foot, and Colt (15-16) and Palomino (17-18) 90 foot. Note that for Little League, the players need to jump directly from 60 feet to 80 feet in one season when they switch to Pony baseball. Pitching distances are also graduated according to field size.

Another enhancement that PONY offers is the introduction of real baseball rules earlier in the child's playing career. For example, starting at age 11 in Bronco, players can lead off and steal bases at any time, pitchers learn the rules regarding balks, and batters can advance to first on a dropped third strike. Introducing these key rules of real baseball make the game more fun for both players and spectators.

Not permitting the runner to lead-off and steal bases, according to real baseball, means that the youngsters are playing, being taught, and learning only a part of the game of baseball. Base stealing, even the threat of base stealing, is a major part of the game of baseball. The by-play between the runner and the pitcher, between the runner and the shortstop and second baseman, are being omitted.

Base stealing means the infielder must adjust for the runner, covering his bag as well as his normal fielding position. It means the pitcher must concentrate on the runner as well as the batter. It means the catcher must hold the ball, learn to throw better and in essence, really learn to catch. It means a runner must think, bluff, challenge the pitcher and catcher, and learn to slide. The pitcher who is a good pitcher only because of the ability to throw hard will no longer overwhelm the opposition with brute power alone.

The pitcher can no longer ignore any player who gets a walk, but must split concentration between batter and runner. With base stealing permitted, the runner becomes a threat, and the batter has a chance against the pitcher. The player who pitches must become a pitcher, not just a thrower. The fast player who does not hit big has a far greater chance to make the team. As a runner who can become a threat by stealing and threatening to steal bases, such a player may be as much help to a ball club as a bigger player. Special talents, at last, can be put to use.

The players themselves are better equipped to play in older age leagues, having had the experience of playing the complete game of baseball.