FAQs
Q: What does PONY stand for?
A: PONY is an acronym for Protect Our Nation's Youth. The concept for the name originally came from boys at the local YMCA in Washington, Pennsylvania and stood for "Protect Our Neighborhood Youth," but when PONY became an international program in the early 1950's "Neighborhood" was switched to "Nation's."
 
Q: How is PONY different than Little League?
A: The primary features that distinguish PONY baseball from Little League baseball are those of a two year age bracket system and scaled diamonds. Additionally, Pony teaches lead offs and base stealing starting at age 9 (Mustang Division), or earlier while pitchers learn pick off moves and holding runners on base to counter the potential steal.
 
Q: What are the ages division's names in PONY Baseball?
A: The names are the corporate and marketing names to distinguish between our programs for different age groups. They are the developmental names of a horse as it ages.
 
Q: What exactly are the age group ranges?
A: PONY Baseball and Softball has 7 regular and 2 specialized age groupings for teams. While the minimum age for these varies slightly from the PONY Traditional Baseball, PONY “And Under” Baseball and PONY Girls Softball, the maximum ages are the same. The specialized age groups are Bronco-11 and Pony-13, both of which were created to give players of age 11 and 13 more chances to play tournament baseball. Several areas of the country may also hold specialized age groups events for Pinto-7, Mustang-9 and Colt-15, but Bronco-11 and Pony-13 are the only two that have tournament structures that lead to a World Series event.
Foal Division (ages 4-5) - For players with no prior baseball experience. Instructional Division to teach fundamentals of baseball by letting players play the game. In this age group emphasis is on instruction, game score or standings are kept.
Shetland Division (ages 6) - For players with no prior baseball experience and returning players who prefer to continue with a highly introductory level of play. Players learn the fundamentals of baseball. Players use a softer than usual baseball and start the season by hitting from a batting tee and end the season with coach pitch. The diamond is 50 feet, and flexible rules expedite play. Play consists of three innings in which all team members bat and play the field each inning. No game score or standings are kept.
Pinto Division (ages 7 and 8) - This division is a continuation of the development of baseball fundamentals and putting them to use. This division plays with – 60-foot bases, 40-foot pitching distances, 6-inning games that are timed, where no new inning can begin after 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Mustang Division (ages 9 and 10) - This division is a continuation of the development of basic baseball fundamentals, while beginning to transition to more advanced baseball specifics and putting them to use. Specifically, this division will use the balk rule, leading off each base, and the dropped 3rd strike rule, will continue to bat the whole batting order, and rotate defensive positions. There is no bat size restriction and metal cleats are NOT allowed. This division plays on a 60-foot baseline, 46-foot pitching distance, 6-inning games that are timed, where no new inning can begin after 2 hours.
Bronco Division (ages 11 and 12) - This division is a continuation of the development of advanced baseball fundamentals. We play the “real” game of baseball, including base stealing and dropped third strikes. The distance between bases is 70 feet, with a pitching distance of 50 feet. Metal cleats are allowed. 7-inning games that are timed, where no new inning can begin after 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Pony Division (ages 13 and 14) - This division is a continuation of the development of more advanced baseball fundamentals, as with the Pinto and Mustang divisions, the Pony division is a transition league. Players are typically transitioning to high school baseball. This division will continue to use all of the major league baseball rules with the exception of the designated hitter rule, and will begin to use high school rules, such as must slide into 2nd base on double plays, must avoid contact, 2 trips to the mound before taking the pitcher out, the high school balk rule(s), etc. 7-inning games that are timed, where no new inning can begin after 2 hours and 15 minutes.
 
Q. Where are Roseville PONY Baseball games played?
A. Roseville PONY Baseball (RPB), along with all other sports leagues that use City of Roseville fields, receive field allocations at the beginning of each season. Although there are no guarantees to receive the same fields in the future, RPB played the 2022 Season at Robert "Bob" P. Mahan Park, Buljan Park, Nichols Park, and Saugstad Park.
 
Q. Is Rosville PONY Baseball coed?
A. Yes, the league is coed and welcomes both girls and boys.
 
Q. I'd like for my son/daughter to NOT move up a division and play another year in the division (s)he played in last year. Is this possible?
A. According to Roseville PONY Baseball by-laws, "only players that are considered a safety risk on a team may "play down" (into a younger age group division)." Please email the League Player Agent (LPA), lpa@rosevilleponybaseball.com, with additional questions.
 
Q. Does Roseville PONY Baseball have a Jr. Umpire program?
A. Yes, for details please email the Director of Umpires at umpires@rosevilleponybaseball.com.
 
Q. Does my son/daughter need to attend both evaluations and what equipment is required?
A. No, your son/daughter is only required to attend one of the two evaluations but may attend both. In order to participate in the evaluation(s) your son/daughter must have a completed registration. Registration can be completed online or in person the day of evaluations. It is best if the player has his/her own glove. Personal gear like bat and helmet should also be brought but can be borrowed at the evaluation if needed.
 
Q. What equipment will my son/daughter need for the regular season?
A. At minimum all players should plan to have their own glove and males will need to wear an athletic cup at all times. Additional equipment that most players purchase include bat, helmet (with cage/c-flap), gear bag, etc. Coaches will also instruct teams what color baseball pants, belt, and socks the team will wear for the season. Registration costs include the team hat and jersey. All teams will have bats and helmets that can be shared if needed.
 
What is the difference between RailCats Select and RailCats Sunday Select?
Select players play only for the competitive team and do not play in the recreational league. Sunday Select players participate in the recreational league and also practice on Sundays during the recreational season. Sunday Select players only participate in 1-2 tournaments a year, and they disband during the PONY Nationals post-season which runs from June through July.