In true PONY style, CSA boys and girls who play in the league from ages 3-12 will progress from coach pitch to nearly full baseball rules (steals, leadoffs, balks, etc.). Here are the highlights of gameplay for our divisions:
(Note: In the spring season, a child's baseball age is the age the child is on August 31 -- i.e., if child turns 9 on August 31, the child's baseball age is 9, and child is considered a Mustang player; if child turns 9 on September 1, the child's baseball age is 8, and child is considered a Pinto player. In the fall season, a child's baseball age is the age the child will be on August 31 of the next year.)
FOAL (Ages 3-4)
Coach pitch/tee ball
Teams determined by Division Commissioner
One weekday practice, one Saturday game
1-hour, drop-dead game-time limit
All players play entire game defensively
Continuous batting order (all players bat)
No strikeouts
No walks
Players who don't put ball into play after 3 coach pitches hit from tee
5-run max per half-inning
50-foot baselines
Foal All-Star Game at midseason; participants elected by player and coach vote
SHETLAND (Ages 5-6)
Machine pitch/tee ball
Teams determined by Division Commissioner
One weekday practice, one weekday game, one Saturday game
1-hour-15-minute, drop-dead game-time limit
All players play entire game defensively
Continuous batting order (all players bat)
No strikeouts
No walks
Players who don't put ball into play after 4 machine pitches hit from tee
5-run max per half-inning
50-foot baselines
Shetland All-Star Game at midseason; participants elected by player and coach vote
End-of-season Shetland playoffs; trophies to division champs and runners-up
Opportunity to try out for Crescenta Valley Shetland PONY tournament team(s)
PINTO (Ages 7-8)
Kid Pitch (Coach pitch in the event of a walk).
Teams determined by coach draft
One weekday practice, one weekday game, one Saturday game
1-hour-30-minute, no new inning.
10-player field (all players play minimum of every other inning)
