Divisions Summary

South Bay PONY Baseball Divisions (for Fall 2020 & Spring 2021)

Players are placed into the appropriate Division based upon their age on August 31 following the end of the Spring Season. This rule is in accordance with PONY National guidelines and is intended to be synchronized with the school year calendar. PONY Divisions are intentionally designed as narrow one to two year windows to allow youth to complete and develop with other children their own age.

Division	Ages	Born After	Born Before	Pitching Style	Games per Week	Practices per Week	Playoffs	Post Season
Shetland American	4-5	Sep 1, 2015	May 1, 2017*	Tee-Ball & Coach Pitch	1	1	No	No
Shetland National	5-6	Sep 1, 2014	Aug 31, 2016	Blue Flame Machine	1	1	No	All Stars
Pinto American	7	Sep 1, 2013	Aug 31, 2014	Jugs Machine	1-2	Pre-Season: 2 Reg. Season: 1	No	All Stars or Tournaments
Pinto National	8	Sep 1, 2012	Aug 31, 2013	Kid Pitch	1-2	Pre-Season: 2 Reg. Season: 1	Yes	All Stars
Mustang	9-10	Sep 1, 2010	Aug 31, 2012	Kid Pitch	1-2	Pre-Season: 2 Reg. Season: 1	Yes	All Stars
Bronco	11-12	Sep 1, 2008	Aug 31, 2010	Kid Pitch	1-2	Pre-Season: 2 Reg. Season: 1	Yes	All Stars

* The Shetland American Division is open to very young players. We will technically allow players born as late as Aug 31, 2017 to participate, with some caveats. Some kids, who are 3 turning 4, are really into baseball, physically able to play the sport, ready to listen to a coach, and emotionally ready for 75 minute games. We're happy to welcome them into the sport. Many kids in that age range are just not ready yet, and that's OK too! There is plenty of time for them to start next season. They will not be behind.

The Shetland American division is great fun, but the kids need to be ready to play and the parents need to be involved. It typically takes 4-6 coaches/parents to effectively run a Shetland American practice or game. We'll show you how to do it. You don't need experience. But we need the kids to be ready and the parents to be involved. PONY Baseball is not a drop-off activity camp. A parent or guardian must be present at every Shetland practice and game.

If you have any questions about your child playing, or would like to register a child born between May 1, 2015 and Aug 31, 2015, please contact us at [email protected].

More details about each Division are listed below.

There is also additional information about the Spring Season on the Spring Season Summary Page.

Divisions

SHETLAND AMERICAN (4-5 YEARS OLD)

SHETLAND AMERICAN is an instructional league to teach four and five-year-old players the fundamentals of baseball by the simplest method possible - letting them play the game. It is intended for all four-year-olds and five-year-olds who have not played previously.

Emphasis is on instruction and fun, not competition. Shetland Coaches are allowed on the field to offer instruction during the game. Every player will be given the opportunity to try different positions and every player plays the entire game in the field. On offense, every player gets an at bat every inning and there are no outs.

Players can either hit from a Tee or Coach Pitch, depending on their comfort level. The goal is to advance everyone to Coach Pitch by the end of the season. We use a 50-foot diamond and do not keep score. We focus on the excitement of the game and fundamentals of teamwork and sportsmanship.

The Shetland American division is great fun, but the kids need to be ready to play and the parents need to be involved. It typically takes 4-6 coaches/parents to effectively run a Shetland American practice or game. Shetland American baseball is a team sport, and not a child care drop off activity.

Shetland American Players are allowed to request Coaches and Teammates. We cannot guarantee requests, but we will do our best to honor as many requests as possible. Encourage your friends to come play with you and see how much fun baseball can be!

SHETLAND NATIONAL (5-6 YEARS OLD)

SHETLAND NATIONAL is an instructional league to teach five and six-year-old players the fundamentals of baseball by the simplest method possible - letting them play the game. It is intended for all six-year-olds and for five-year-olds who have previously played baseball..

Emphasis is on instruction and fun, not competition. Every player is given the opportunity to try different positions and every player plays the entire game. Every player is in the batting order, but Shetland National limits innings to 3 outs (or 5 runs). Coaches use the Blue Flame Pitching Machine during games. The field is a 50-foot diamond.

For the five-year-olds who are considering playing Shetland National, it is important to point out that there is no hitting off a tee at this level. The season starts with Blue Flame and Coach Pitch, and by the end of the season we only use the Blue Flame pitching machine. If young players are not ready for the Blue Flame, they will strike out. Kids learn quickly, but both parents and players should be ready for the rapid progression.

If a five-year-old is still learning the basics, he or she should be in Shetland American, even if friends are playing in Shetland National.

Shetland National Players are allowed to request Coaches and Teammates. We cannot guarantee requests, but we will do our best to honor as many requests as possible. Encourage your friends to come play with you and see how much fun baseball can be!

PINTO AMERICAN (7 YEARS OLD)

PINTO AMERICAN is an instructional league to teach seven-year-old players the fundamentals of baseball. Emphasis is on instruction and fun. Every player will be given the opportunity to try different positions and every player is in the batting order. Innings are limited to 3 outs (or 5 runs). This level uses the jugs pitching machine and a 60-foot diamond.

Starting at Pinto American, we require all players to participate in the pre-season player evaluations. We want all of the kids to have fun and develop as players. While we recognize that kids this age want to play with their friends and have fun, however it is not fun to have stacked teams and numerous blowouts. At the end of the season, it is a lot more fun, and better for everyone's development, to have a division with balanced teams and competitive games. And we know that your kids will make some incredible new friends on the diamond this season.

PINTO NATIONAL (8 YEARS OLD)

PINTO NATIONAL is an instructional league to teach eight-year-old players the fundamentals of baseball.

Emphasis is on instruction and fun. Every player plays every game and cannot sit out more than 2 consecutive defensive innings. Every player is in the batting order. Kids begin pitching at this level on a 60-foot diamond, with a 40-foot pitching distance. Innings are limited to 3 outs or 5 runs (except the last inning).

We require all Pinto National players to participate in pre-season player evaluations. We want all of the kids to have fun and develop as players. While we recognize that kids this age want to play with their friends and have fun, it is not fun to have stacked teams and numerous blowouts. At the end of the season, it is a lot more fun, and better for everyone's development, to have a division with balanced teams and competitive games. And we know that your kids will make some incredible new friends on the diamond this season.

MUSTANG (9-10 YEARS OLD)

MUSTANG is an instructional league to teach nine and ten-year-old players the fundamentals of baseball. Beginning with Mustang League, the players are playing real baseball in accordance with the rules of Major League Baseball, with a few specific PONY rules where appropriate for this age group. This is a kid pitch division with a 60-foot diamond (46 feet to pitchers mound).

All Mustang Players are required to complete a pre-season Player Evaluation to help us place kids on teams. Our goal is to create balanced teams that will have competitive games. We find that it is a lot more fun for everyone, and much better for each player's development, if we create balanced teams.

BRONCO (11-12 YEARS OLD)

BRONCO is an instructional league to teach eleven and twelve-year-old players the fundamentals of baseball. The players are playing real baseball in accordance with the rules of Major League Baseball, with a few specific PONY rules where appropriate for this age group. This is a kid pitch division with a 70-foot diamond (50 feet to pitchers mound).