Advice, re: West Seattle Little League or West Seattle Pony League.

[sam-c]

I meant to post this earlier as I know registration is open now/ opening soon.

I do not have experience with either of these leagues, but we would like to make the switch from YMCA to one of these. However, I don’t know much of anything about either. Can anyone provide any pros/ cons about these 2 leagues?

ie, your experience with costs (including fund-raising commitments/ requirements), schedules, where games are played, sportsmanship of the coaches and teams, any other obvious question I am not asking… Any comment (about this subject, not off-leash dogs or politics) is helpful as I don’t really know much about it. Thanks!

I did confirm we are in the WSLL boundary but don’t know if the other league has boundaries.

I also just realized that WSLL (just this year) changed the age requirements which frustrates me a little for our specific situation, but oh well.

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[valvashon]

West Seattle Little League is an official charter league of “Little League Baseball”, the organization that plays a World Series each year in Williamsport. Pony is a rogue league that poaches players from both of the chartered Little League chapters in our area (WSLL and SWLL). They also regularly take down the WSLL and SWLL yard signs you see popping up starting right about now.

Val

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[edawgg69]

Hi Sam,

Perhaps I can provide some constructive information. West Seattle Baseball is hardly a rogue program. It has been in existence since 1957. West Seattle Baseball is a PONY Baseball program. PONY is an acronym for Protect Our Nation’s Youth. And I can assure you that there are as many WSB signs that go missing as LL. They are taken by people who don’t like the roadside signs.

At the younger ages, 10 and under, there is very little difference between WSB and WSLL. Games are played on a 60’ diamond, basic baseball rules. It is at the 11-12 year old divisions where the baseball rules begin to differ. In LL, the Majors division plays on a 60’ diamond and pitch from 46’. There are no lead offs. In PONY, the Bronco division has a 70’ diamond, and leading off and dropped third strikes are introduced. The real game of baseball is played. At 13, LL has a new Intermediate division where they play on a 70’ diamond. Then at age 14 a big jump is made up to the 90’ diamond. At 13-14, PONY players move up to the Pony division and play on 80’ diamonds. Then in the Colt division, at age 15 they move up to a 90’ diamond. Having talked to several local high school coaches, they all agree that the PONY progression is the superior of the two leagues. PONY players come into high school with a higher baseball acumen than those who come through LL.

I’d say that the costs for each league are pretty comparable. WSB has no required fund raising commitments, however, there are some programs that are encouraged.

Little League plays on the beautiful Bar-S Fields through age 12. West Seattle Baseball plays at the Pee Wee Fields adjacent to the Riverview Fields until age 10, then the upper Riverview Fields at age 11-12, then Delridge at age 13 and 14.

In my opinion, WSB has rules in place that promote more playing time for all of its players. For instance, at the 11-12 year old level, all teams bat the entire line up every game, and there are rules that require coaches to play all of their kids in the field for a minimum of 4 innings. LL rules require that each player get 1 at bat per game and play two innings in the field. And I know many coaches use the minimum requirements leaving some kids and parents upset.

Finally, the all-star experience is much different for PONY and LL. The 12U Little League All Stars have the opportunity to compete to qualify for the LLWS in Williamsport, PA. Once they are knocked out of the tournament, their all-star season is over. There are also 11U and 10U teams that compete at the district and maybe state level. While PONY lacks the ESPN contract, their all-star programs start at the 8U level. These all-star programs start playing tournaments as early as Memorial Day and can play tournaments into August if the team wants. There is a sanctioned PONY progression from regionals, to West Zone, to the World Series. We have had recent success in the PONY sanctioned tournaments, including last summer, when our 8U and 9U teams won the privilege of playing in the 8U World Series and the 9U West Zone tournaments in California.

I hope this helps Sam.

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[sam-c]

Thanks for the helpful information and typing all that out edawgg69. It is helpful.

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[SJoy]

My kids have played in both Pony and Little League. The biggest difference I found, in my experience, between the leagues is how competitive the leagues were. My oldest son played Pony. At about age 10, things seemed to get very competitive. This was good for my oldest as he was a good baseball player and took playing baseball very serious. My youngest son was not as competitive and lacked some of the skills of a great baseball player. We put him in Little League. This was a great experience for him as it wasn’t as competitive so he was able to just play and have fun.

My oldest played to high school, coming from Pony and my youngest quit baseball at the age of 12. Again, this is just our experience.

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[I Wonder]

The post from e69 is pretty spot on. It was the National LL charter that moved the age ranges, and as I understood it, it was remove 13 years olds from dominating play. But conversely, I question having 8 year olds in kid pitch if they are not prepared. I believe both baseball leagues will try to place players in the best skill level closest to age in the younger divisions. I like the LL environment as it is a more comfortable place to play and watch baseball. Location of the fields may also play in your choice since its on either side of the peninsula. That said, I’d say the teams, parents and coaches all share the same pluses and minuses.

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[BKRD]

We are switching our 10 yr old from WSLL to PONY because we don’t want his games to be on Sunday.

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[structos]

To clarify BKRD comment – 10yo’s play in the Minors. The Minors and Majors games are NOT played on Sundays, that is generally a practice day.

Talk to as many parents as you can! Both leagues have been around for well over 50 years and offer pros and cons. You will not get unbiased input via the Blog.

(former WSLL Board member)

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[EAS4440]

I think that Baseball is a good thing for kids. I have close to 10 years experience with little league baseball as an umpire. My officiating also encompasses all levels of select baseball, high school baseball, and collegiate level baseball. Defending one league, or another in our West Seattle community should be a mute point. Sportsmanship, citizenship, and sense of community are all lessons that can be taught to young people through the vehicle of baseball. Regardless of the development of the athletes, the length of the base path, the length of the pitcher’s rubber, or if stealing is allowed, involvement is a positive. Involvement should be a positive experience for the kids. Everyone who participates should have that as one of, if not the highest, of priorities.

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[sam-c]

Thanks all for the additional feedback, and clarification on your opinions. I guess I asked the question to help figure this out. And guessed that one organization may do things differently than the other and that’s why there were 2 leagues that served the same area…? (and re: post 8- I don’t really know any parents that have kids in either league, at least I don’t think so)

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[Pamtza]

Can anyone tell who plays at the Southwest Athletic Complex?
at Trenton next to Westwood Village

• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by Pamtza. Reason: Trenton instead of tren

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