WASHINGTON, PA (August 5, 2026) — West Covina, CA, has won PONY Baseball's West Zone to qualify for the 2026 Printscape PONY League World Series. West Covina returns to the international stage for the first time in over two decades, marking its eighth all-time appearance and first since a runner-up finish in 2000.



A program rich in tradition, West Covina brings a storied history into the tournament, highlighted by three PLWS championships (1974, 1981, 1982), along with runner-up finishes in 1960 and 2000 and a Final Four appearance in 1961. The team holds an impressive 22–10 all-time record in World Series play.

West Covina’s path back to the PLWS was anything but easy. After dropping its opening game of the West Zone Tournament to Mission Bay, CA (6–3), the team responded with resilience, battling through the double-elimination bracket with five consecutive victories to claim the championship. The run included wins over San Francisco, CA (12–0), Covina, CA (17–2), and back-to-back victories over Mission Bay, CA (6–5, 6–4) before securing the title with a 9–7 win over West Hills, CA in the championship.

“That first game was a wake-up call,” said Coach Brian Partida. “It showed us that nothing is going to be handed to us. From that point on, the message was simple—play and coach like it’s your last game.”

That mindset has become a defining trait of this year’s team. Built on toughness and the ability to respond to adversity, West Covina has leaned on its resilience throughout the postseason. “Our strength is our resilience,” Partida added. “We’ve stayed committed to what got us here while continuing to look for ways to improve each day.”

As the team prepares for its return to Washington, Pennsylvania, the focus remains steady and grounded. “We want the players to have fun and play team baseball,” the staff said. “If we do that, everything else will take care of itself.”

With a championship history and a battle-tested roster, West Covina enters the 2026 Printscape PONY League World Series ready to add another chapter to its historic program. West Covina will open tournament play against the East Zone champions, Hagerstown, MD, on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 12:00 PM/ET at Historic Lew Hays PONY Field in Washington, PA.