Coming Attraction?
Pony World Series Deserving Of Attention
By John E. Sacco

While the television cameras and production trucks roll into Williamsport, Pa., each August to televise the Little League World Series, giving it the ultimate media exposure, the games at Washington Park's Lew Hays Pony Field in Washington, Pa. have ended earlier in the month.

Perhaps one of the best-kept secrets among media circles in western Pennsylvania is done for the year.

While the Pony World Series, played 39 times in Washington out of 50 World Series', has never been able to muster the attention given to the Little League World Series, there are those who will argue that the level of play is better, the competition is greater and the intensity of the participants is equal to that of its counterpart Series.

Somehow, as good as the Pony World Series is for Washington and the surrounding community, it just hasn't capture the fancy of those in the Pittsburgh media market.

"I think being close to a large market like Pittsburgh with so many activities going on at that time of the year makes it difficult," said Abe Key, president of Pony Baseball. "The Pirates are in the midst of their season, however good or bad it's going, and it's the opening of Steelers' training camp and there's a lot of focus on that.

"While the Pony World Series is a popular event, it is underrated. The quality of baseball is exceptional for that age group. But with everything else going on, we sort of get lost." On The Air

The Pony World Series features some of the top 13- and 14-year-old players in the world. The host team, along with a host area team, vie against six other teams in two, four-team double-elimination brackets. The one-game championship playoff features the winners of each bracket.

Despite teams from Washington, Canonsburg, North Allegheny, Moon Township, Plum Borough, Monongahela, Bethel Park, Vesta and Monessen, among others, the World Series just can't seem to win over the Pittsburgh market in terms of attention.

Previously, the Pony World Series was an eight-team double-elimination tournament. That caused TV a problem, which needed to be assured of a true championship game. In a double-elimination tournament, the championship round features one undefeated team and a once-beaten team. If the once-beaten team would win, that necessitated another game. Television demanded a one-game playoff for the title.

Pony obliged several years ago and made it onto TV a handful of times.

The Pony World Series has been televised four times, twice live and twice on tape delay.

In recent years, Pony Baseball hasn't been able to strike a deal to carry the games on TV.

As much as Key would like for it to be on a live TV broadcast, it's not an absolute must.

"Television is like the cherry on top of a hot-fudge sundae," Key said. "It doesn't replace being at the game, but it does create an opportunity to showcase and market our product to a national and regional audience. Of course, it brings a lot of credibility not only to the organization, but to the people within the organization." Special Meaning

Bob Gregg, sports director for WJPA Radio and World Series Tournaments Inc. chairman, has a deep involvement with the World Series. In addition to serving as chairman for many years, he also has broadcast numerous World Series games.

Being a member of the media, he understands the importance of exposure. But he also believes, the Pony World Series and the way it is operated, the level of competition and the excitement it creates speaks for itself.

"There are several meanings," Gregg said. "It's a personal meaning. People all over the country and all over the world talk about coming to our town, talk about their team coming to Washington, Pa. to play in the Pony World Series. One of my favorite stories is the year the Olympics were in Seoul, Korea. All the world was thinking about going to Seoul for the Olympics. The kids on the Seoul team wanted very badly to come to Washington for the World Series.

"Washington is known across the country in baseball circles because of the Pony World Series. There's certainly a tremendous economic impact from those seven days. The financial support is generated locally through advertising, sponsorships, parking, concession stands and program sales. People are coming from out of town staying at hotels and eating at our restaurants. There's a huge economic impact."

L. Anthony "Sonny" Spossey has served as president of World Series Tournaments Inc. – the sponsoring organization of the Pony World Series that includes volunteers who take care of the field, security, concession and souvenir stands, admissions, and press box -- for some 20 years. He has long been involved with youth baseball in Washington and is the former mayor of the city.

He said he has to chuckle when he hears folks talking about what festivals some communities are known for or what parade another community or town is known for and that Washington has nothing.

"The Pony World Series is an annual, international event that goes on for a week," Spossey said. "It's an international function that goes on in our city every August. Nothing, except maybe the fair, brings more people to the area and community than the Pony World Series does. A lot of people are buying food, shopping and all sorts of things. There are so many positives about it. It's positive publicity."

It's estimated that the Pony World Series draws between 2,500 to 3,000 people per night. Spossey estimated that between 250 to 300 people volunteer their time to ensure the World Series is operated and staffed properly.

The intention is to keep it in Washington as long as Tournaments Inc. has the desire to operate it and ability and wherewithal to raise the $90,000 per year necessary to financially support the event.

"It takes an entire community to do this," Spossey said. "Within the community, it takes a core group of people who are willing to work year-round to make sure we improve on the prior year and make sure we meet the needs of the World Series. There are a lot of different facets that need to be addressed. Our group is a combination of individuals who work well together, respect one another and divide the duties equally."

While the Pony World Series is a success on many levels, it also has produced some players whose names are recognizable, including former big-league pitchers Alex Fernandez and Joel Horlen – who both went on to play on World Series winning teams in the major leagues.

Those involved are eagerly anticipating next month's World Series at Washington Park, even if the Pittsburgh media market is not.

"We've tried a lot of things," Key said. "I've done the dog and pony show, talking with the various newspapers and radio stations. It's an old story. There are only so many column inches and only so much time for sports allotted on newscasts. There are other things going on that in their opinions are more important.

"We get our recognition. Do we get as much as we deserve or we would like? No. But they certainly know about our event. Some years are better than others in terms of coverage."