Further detailed description of
Arcadia
Pony;
Arcadia
Pony Baseball has two levels or Divisions of baseball. The goal is to create talent based divisions where
the older and more advanced players can benefit from playing with players of equal or better abilities and players who are
younger and whose skills are not yet as developed can play with a matching level of skilled players. The upper level is our
National League and is modeled after Pony’s 14u division. The lower level division is our American
League and is a 13 Pony Division model, except 14 year old boys are allowed to play down and in the 13 Pony Division.
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All
players who sign up at Arcadia Pony must enter the draft and “try-out”. All players are rated
on hitting, throwing, fielding, catching and running speed.
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The
National League at Arcadia Pony is typically made up of 3 teams and 33 players and the National League managers draft first.
All players are drafting by talent and ability, even the manger’s and coach’s sons are slotted in the draft
order based on ability. The best 33 players are the first selected and make up the National League’s
teams. Teams who lose players for any reason, throughout the season must play with the players remaining
on their team, and borrow players if needed.
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The players drafted number 34 and lower are selected for an American League team. An
American League player may play up in the National League as “borrowed Players” only and cannot replace a National
League player on a team permanently.
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Being
our premier division, the National League players will also have more asked of them. There maybe several
reasons players are not selected for the National League. For several reasons many players and parents
request that they not be drafted into the National League. The player may not be able to participate in
the extra practices, may have physical limitations, they may feel they are not ready for the demands of the National League.
Sometimes players may feel they will benefit from the extra playing time or playing a more skilled position which is
more likely for them in the American League.
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National League managers, like the players, are also
selected based on coaching skill, abilities and are able to commit more time to the team’s practices. A
National League manager may not treat your player as his Little League manager did. The main goal of the
National League managers is to teach good baseball skills and have their players ready for High School Baseball.
No player or parent should allow their son to be drafted into the National League unless confident that he is ready
for the demands of that level of baseball. Many American League players have successful High School Baseball
careers coming directly from our American League.
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While
the National League is the premier level, the American League also has good baseball. We try our best to
select good managers and teaching fundamental baseball skills is the goal there too. It is not unusual
for a former American League player to make a JV team as a freshman. In no way should American League players
feel they are not playing good baseball. Even those players who are able to play at the National League
level may not be selected just because of the limited number of players who can be selected.
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Typically players who are 13 years old play in the American League one
year and move up to the National League the following year when they are 14. However, some 13 year old
boys turn 14 the year they become High School freshmen and are not able to enjoy their National League year. This
is not a good reason to ask to skip the American League and go directly from Little League to the National League.
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In
2009 Arcadia Pony had its first High School Freshmen team. Because some players are Pony league age 14
and are High School Freshmen, they typically chose to play at their High School and miss their National League season.
Now, after the conclusion of the High School CIF season and before the High School summer program, league age 14 year
old High School boys can sign up for our Freshman team. It is a shortened 8 game season in our National
League. Because High School boys often have numerous outside activities they frequently miss a few of the
games. The games against our regular National League teams count in the standings, however the Freshman
team cannot win the division.
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The Freshman play in their High School uniforms, like an All-Star team,
because they play more than a third of our regular season, they are also eligible to participate in the Pony All-Star Tournament,
if living within the required Pony Boundaries.
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American League players will have several changes to play in the National
League, should they wish. We have a Mid-Season Tournament for both divisions that all willing players can
be selected for a team. The Tournaments are mid-season and during one weekend. The Tournaments
are outside the regular season and play with players outside their regular season team. During the National
League Mid-Season Tournament, one team will consist of only American League players. Additionally, American
League players make up the balance of the Freshman team for the 8 game season starting mid-May. The American
League players who choose to play on these teams benefit greatly. Because the National League cannot replace
players, often they borrow from the American League. Players wishing to play up in Tournaments and as “Borrowed
Players” should make it known to National League managers and the League President.
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We have a 20 game regular season which is split into halves, where the winners of the first half play the winner
of the second half for 1st place. Practices are up to 2 nights a week and some Sundays.
Games are Mondays at 6pm though
Saturday. There are no games on Sundays except for optional Tournaments and rain make-up games that cannot
be made up during the week.
