| Spokane Pony Baseball P.O. Box 9875 Spokane, WA 99209 509-483-4653 |
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Why Play Spokane Pony Baseball
Following are the top reasons why players and parents choose to play Spokane Pony Baseball (ages 5-14):
1. Real Baseball – Starting at age 11, Pony allows for full baseball rules. This means leadoff and steals, and pitchers pitching from the
stretch with runners on base. When asked, almost unanimously players’ answer they prefer to leadoff and steal bases. Why? Because it
is more fun! Our players are also more prepared to play school ball, starting in 7th grade because they have played “real baseball” for a
couple of years.
a. Shetland/Pinto (ages 5-8) – T-ball/Coach/Player pitch and 50’ bases.
b. Mustang (ages 9-10) – 44’ pitching distance and 60’ bases.
c. Bronco (ages 11-12) – 48’ pitching distance and 70’ bases.
d. Pony (age 13) – 54’ pitching distance and 80’ bases
e. Pony (age 14) – 60’-6” pitching distance and 90’ bases
f. Major league distance 60’-6” pitching and 90’ bases after age 14.
From a player development viewpoint, this 2-year graduation program is as critical to development as keeping pitchers from throwing
breaking balls. Competing leagues in town play 46’ pitching and 60’ bases through age 12. This size field becomes too small for 12-year
olds. Then at age 13, they are asked to advance to 60’ 6” pitching distance, and 90’ bases. This extreme field size graduation is very
difficult for players to adapt to. In addition, graduating from 46’ pitching to 60’ 6” is difficult for both the batters and the pitchers. Imagine, as
12-year old you may be throwing the ball past hitters from 46’, and then turn around as a 13-year old and all of a sudden it appears you are
lobbing the ball from 60’ 6”. Spokane Pony’s field graduation allows for consistent development among all age groups.
3 Age Specific – Spokane Pony Baseball’s league is large enough for each division to play within it’s own age group. Typically each year
there are 10-15 teams in each age group starting with 9u:
A 9u and 10u (Mustang)
B. 11u and 12u (Bronco)
C. 13u and 14u (Pony)
This age specific rule helps to keep team equality throughout the league. Spokane Pony baseball does not have 12-year olds playing with
10-year olds.
4. Pony teams in Spokane are organized by School District. Coaches can keep the same kids together year after year. Or looking at it from
a different perspective, the players pick the coach and friends they want to play with, and stay with them as long as the player chooses. Age
specific leagues combined with specific school district boundaries supports equality within our leagues.
a. As opposed to a Draft – This is how some leagues form teams. The Player cannot choose his coach, nor is he guaranteed to play with
any of his friends. Changing teams is a possibility every year or two. In addition, the draft assumes that all coaches can evaluate talent
equally, and we know this is not the case. Another team formation issue is some leagues allow 10-year olds to play with 12-year olds. We
have found that most 10-year olds are not mature enough to “play up two age levels”, which causes inequalities among players on each
team in addition to the league.
5. Pitching – Pony Baseball implemented a “No Breaking Ball” philosophy a few years ago. We do not want our pitchers throwing breaking
balls before age 15. This is an integral part of our coaches’ handbook. We do no allow any pitches thrown that require the wrist and elbow
to twist. This includes curve balls and sliders. Other leagues state they do not allow curve balls, but they do allow sliders. Sliders are more
stressful and can cause more harm to a young pitchers arm than a curve ball.
6. Finally, Some parents choose Spokane Pony baseball because the season starts in the middle of April (Mustang & Bronco), and is
completed by the middle of June. They can still enjoy the summer together as a family, or continue playing ball with tournament teams.
Following are the top reasons why players and parents choose to play Spokane Pony Baseball (ages 5-14):
1. Real Baseball – Starting at age 11, Pony allows for full baseball rules. This means leadoff and steals, and pitchers pitching from the
stretch with runners on base. When asked, almost unanimously players’ answer they prefer to leadoff and steal bases. Why? Because it
is more fun! Our players are also more prepared to play school ball, starting in 7th grade because they have played “real baseball” for a
couple of years.
a. Shetland/Pinto (ages 5-8) – T-ball/Coach/Player pitch and 50’ bases.
b. Mustang (ages 9-10) – 44’ pitching distance and 60’ bases.
c. Bronco (ages 11-12) – 48’ pitching distance and 70’ bases.
d. Pony (age 13) – 54’ pitching distance and 80’ bases
e. Pony (age 14) – 60’-6” pitching distance and 90’ bases
f. Major league distance 60’-6” pitching and 90’ bases after age 14.
From a player development viewpoint, this 2-year graduation program is as critical to development as keeping pitchers from throwing
breaking balls. Competing leagues in town play 46’ pitching and 60’ bases through age 12. This size field becomes too small for 12-year
olds. Then at age 13, they are asked to advance to 60’ 6” pitching distance, and 90’ bases. This extreme field size graduation is very
difficult for players to adapt to. In addition, graduating from 46’ pitching to 60’ 6” is difficult for both the batters and the pitchers. Imagine, as
12-year old you may be throwing the ball past hitters from 46’, and then turn around as a 13-year old and all of a sudden it appears you are
lobbing the ball from 60’ 6”. Spokane Pony’s field graduation allows for consistent development among all age groups.
3 Age Specific – Spokane Pony Baseball’s league is large enough for each division to play within it’s own age group. Typically each year
there are 10-15 teams in each age group starting with 9u:
A 9u and 10u (Mustang)
B. 11u and 12u (Bronco)
C. 13u and 14u (Pony)
This age specific rule helps to keep team equality throughout the league. Spokane Pony baseball does not have 12-year olds playing with
10-year olds.
4. Pony teams in Spokane are organized by School District. Coaches can keep the same kids together year after year. Or looking at it from
a different perspective, the players pick the coach and friends they want to play with, and stay with them as long as the player chooses. Age
specific leagues combined with specific school district boundaries supports equality within our leagues.
a. As opposed to a Draft – This is how some leagues form teams. The Player cannot choose his coach, nor is he guaranteed to play with
any of his friends. Changing teams is a possibility every year or two. In addition, the draft assumes that all coaches can evaluate talent
equally, and we know this is not the case. Another team formation issue is some leagues allow 10-year olds to play with 12-year olds. We
have found that most 10-year olds are not mature enough to “play up two age levels”, which causes inequalities among players on each
team in addition to the league.
5. Pitching – Pony Baseball implemented a “No Breaking Ball” philosophy a few years ago. We do not want our pitchers throwing breaking
balls before age 15. This is an integral part of our coaches’ handbook. We do no allow any pitches thrown that require the wrist and elbow
to twist. This includes curve balls and sliders. Other leagues state they do not allow curve balls, but they do allow sliders. Sliders are more
stressful and can cause more harm to a young pitchers arm than a curve ball.
6. Finally, Some parents choose Spokane Pony baseball because the season starts in the middle of April (Mustang & Bronco), and is
completed by the middle of June. They can still enjoy the summer together as a family, or continue playing ball with tournament teams.
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