Local leaders gathered Tuesdays for a press conference to promote the upcoming PONY League World Series to be held in Washington. Some international teams from the Caribbean, Italy and Mexico have already qualified for the prestigious baseball tournament to be played at Lew Hays PONY Field. Officials say some $6.3 million will be injected into the local economy come August. Abe Key, President and CEO of PONY Baseball and Softball, said the organization was founded in 1951 with six original teams of 13- and 14-year-old boys. In 1952, PONY League World Series games were originally played at Washington High School’s football stadium, then in 1953 they moved to what is now the Historic Lew Hays PONY Field. PONY League, which now includes softball teams, has been built to 30,000 teams in 56 countries worldwide. The league boasts some 300,000 players. John Dziak of Printscape, one of the primary sponsors of this year’s event, said the PONY League World Series is about much more than baseball. “It’s about our hometown. It’s where we live, work, raise our families. It’s where we most importantly invest our time, our treasure and talent in our communities and young people.” Jeff Kotula, President of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce, noted that while many people thing of region and its oil reserves, coal, manufacturing and healthcare, but tourism is also a key to Washington County’s success. World Series Tournaments, Inc. Board Member Bob Gregg touted television and streaming services of the tournament games, as well as WJPA’s coverage. “WJPA has carried nearly every game for more than 70 years,” he said. County Commissioner Larry Maggi said “this is important to the fabric of Washington County” and an “end of summer ritual. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to Washington County.”