WASHINGTON, PA (July 11, 2024) - Washington County, Pa., will be the host team in the 2024 Printscape PONY League World Series.
After last year’s electric runner-up finish, expectations certainly are high for the home squad.
The team’s manager, Andrew Wuenstel, who was an assistant coach on last year’s team under his brother, Anthony Wuenstel, believes this year’s Washington County team is poised for a similar, if not better, run.
“We plan to build off last year’s success by continuing to instill a culture and work ethic that has brought the Washington County team the most success it has seen in the World Series over the past 25 years,” Wuenstel said.
This year’s team is certainly putting in the work needed for a championship run.
“We are practicing almost every day and playing in some very competitive tournaments leading up to the World Series,” Wuenstel stated. “Included in one of these is a wood bat tournament with some of the best travel teams from the Pittsburgh area.”
Almost 40 players from the Founder’s League’s 21 teams tried out this year, allowing the coaches to put together a team of the league’s best players, as well as those with specialized skill sets, helping to contribute to the team’s depth, which Wuenstel believes is the team’s greatest strength.
“The depth of our roster and our team culture are our greatest strengths,” Wuenstel said.
With the Mon Valley leagues of Charleroi, California, and Donora joining the Founder’s League in 2024, the Founder’s League now includes every PONY-registered league in the County, with the exception of Peters Township. After the one-year probationary period required for all new leagues, the Mon Valley leagues will be eligible for next-year’s team.
The 2024 team includes seven players from Trinity, five players from Canon McMillan, and one player from Washington, Fort Cherry and Avella school districts.
Due to a first-round bye for this year’s World Series, Washington County will play its first game at 12 PM/ET on Sunday, Aug. 11, at Lew Hays PONY Field against the winner of the East Zone vs. Spain.
Printscape PONY League World Series
The Printscape PONY League World Series is an international youth baseball tournament played annually at Lew Hays PONY Field in Washington, PA. The World Series annually attracts over 30,000 fans and contributes over $6 million to the regional economy, with all games livestreamed domestically and internationally. The tournament represents PONY Baseball's 13- and 14-year-old age division. PONY has over 500,000 players ages 3-23 in more than 50 countries. More information is available at plws.org.