The 73rd PONY League World Series is underway at Lew Hays PONY Field. First round action Friday included Simi Valley, CA and South Hills, PA scoring come-from-behind wins to advance in the winners’ bracket. For South Hills, the 4-2 win over Bronx, NY is the first-ever for the program. The Host Area champions return to action Saturday (5:00 pm) against Monterrey, Mexico. Eliminations begin mid-afternoon Sunday. Division Finals are scheduled for Tuesday evening with the 73rd PONY League World Series Championship Game set for Wednesday night. Hear all of the action on WJPA-AM (1450) and online LISTEN HERE!
Friday, Aug. 8 — Bracket
Game 1: Simi Valley CA 6, Chinese Taipei 5 Tristan Theobald singled in two runs, then scored the game-winner as Simi Valley rallied past Chinese Taipei, 6-5. The West Zone scored three times in the sixth inning, with all the action in the inning coming with two out. Ean Devine and Braedon Halverson singled, putting runners at the corners. Theobald lofted a bloop single to shallow center, plating Devine and Halverson, and ended up at third on a throwing error. Riely Loggins doubled to give Simi Valley the lead. Halverson pitched a scoreless seventh inning to save the win for Kade Monica. Yi-Le Li took the loss, charged with all three runs after retiring the first eight batters he faced. En Chen had three hits, including a home run for Chinese Taipei. Halverson had three singles for Simi Valley.
Game 2: South Hills, PA 4, Bronx, NY 2 Johnny Parris stroked a two-run double to the wall in right, lifting South Hills past Bronx Friday night. Trailing 1-0, Brody Cole doubled and moved to third on Gavin Stock’s base hit. One out later, Parris gave the Host Area champions a lead they’d not give up. Two batters later, Parris scored on an infield throwing error. In the sixth, Parris grounded softly to short with the bases loaded to drive in South Hills’ final run. Jonah Koontz pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief to get the win. Stock worked the final 1.1 innings to earn the save.
Saturday, Aug. 9
12:00 noon Washington County vs. Grosseto, Italy
2:30 pm Corpus Christi, TX vs. Bay County, MI
5:00pm South Hills vs. Monterrey, Mexico
Sunday, Aug. 10
12:00 noon Barranquilla, Colombia vs. Corpus Christi/Bay County winner
2:30 pm Elimination: Chinese Taipei vs. Bronx
6:00 pm Elimination: Washington County/Grosseto vs. Corpus Christi/Bay County