On Wednesday, McAllen Veterans Memorial Stadium hosted the opening ceremony that will kick off the PONY International World Series 2024. This World Series softball tournament will take place in locations all over McAllen, Edinburg, and San Juan with over 150 unique teams and 400 games being played all in one short four-day period. This tournament brought in teams from the Rio Grande Valley, North Texas, New Mexico, California, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Philippines, and the Bahamas together to compete for the several championships.
PONY is an acronym that means Protect Our Nations Youth. The acronym, derived from the YMCA statement, “Protect Our Neighborhoods Youth” in Washington, Pennsylvania, was changed from ‘neighbors’ to ‘nation’s’ when PONY went international.
The mission statement follows this by saying, PONY Baseball and Softball is designed to “Protect Our Nation’s Youth” by providing experiences in youth baseball and softball that will help young people grow into healthier and happier adults.
PONY has been able to complete many of their goals. They’ve developed ways to bring down the costs of tournaments for participating teams, seeked partnerships with organizations that help enable their purpose, and have expanded youth baseball and softball programs all around the world.
PONY has expanded in many ways, but nothing could have prepared the massive wave of players, teams, and fans that will take the stands from July 18th to July 21st.
Before it was time to start the ceremony, all the teams were organized on the stadium’s track into their age groups. Teams from age 6 and under all the way to 18 and under were lined up so they could walk the stadium’s track.
The opening ceremony began as the audience were greeted by a local mariachi group that performed three songs. Once that wrapped up, the Boys and Girls Club McAllen Executive Director, Dalinda Alcantar, took the stage and thanked those who were in attendance.
Alcantar told the audience, “It’s my honor to welcome each and every one of you to our beautiful home in the Rio Grande Valley. First and foremost, I would like to extend my heart-most thanks to the city of McAllen, Edinburg, and San Juan for their partnership.” All three cities would be providing fields for the softball tournament. She went on to thank Jim and Debbie Falcon, the softball region director and softball division director for PONY, who were in attendance.
Alcantar asked for the women in the audience to applaud themselves as she said in her closing statements in the opening speech. “We’re here today to celebrate strong girls that become strong women. Strong women are raised by strong moms,” which led to a roar of applause.
From there the ceremony got started as the 6 and under groups began walking the track. They were introduced by their team’s name and by their home location.
Teams representing Shetland 6U teams include the Monterrey-Cardenales, Mexico City-Olmeca, RGV Mayhem Elite, and 6U the reigning champions Edinburg Lady Wildcats.
Following 6U were the Pinto 8U teams including Eagle Pass Prodigy, San Antonio Unicorns 2K16, Monterrey-Express 19, and the 8U reigning champion Wildcats 2K14.
The Mustang 10U teams were up next and represented by teams such as Tijuana Municipal, RGV Black Widows, Laredo Hotshots, and the Cornerstone Warriors. There are no reigning Mustang 10U champions.
Following them were the Bronco 12U teams that include the Austin Tejanas, STX Elite, Uvalde Pride, and Sagay City out of the Philippines. The Texas Flame Ignite are the 12U reigning champions.
The Pony 14U teams were introduced after Bronco 12U, as teams from Culiacan MLS, RGV Huskies, California Redlands Strong, and Tanauan City out of the Philippines. The reigning 14U champions were IntenCity.
Representing the Colt 16U teams were the DFW Cougars, Los Mochis-Ahome, Sagay City-Philippines, and the reigning Colt 16U champions RGV Mayhem.
To close the walking ceremony, the Palomino 18U teams took the track and were represented by Texas Klutch, Laredo Dynamite, Nassau Bahamas, and the reigning Palomino 18U champions Manila City from the Philippines.
More than 150 teams from all over the United States and all over the world were brought together on Wednesday to celebrate themselves, their fans, and their countries all thanks to PONY with the help of the cities of McAllen, Edinburg, and San Juan.
Before the ceremony concluded, a prayer was said blessing those who were participating in the tournament and for yet another great year of PONY softball. A firework show closed out the ceremony as all the teams watched in the middle of the field and over 5000 fans watched from the stands.
Tournament play will have started on Thursday, July 18th and will finish up on Sunday, July 21st as they will crown champions for each age division.
You can visit PONYWorldSeries.org to find the locations of the games being played if you wish to join in the fun of the multitudes of talented teams.
Progress Times wishes the best of luck to all the girls participating in the tournaments and safe travels to all teams, near and far.
UPDATE:
SHETLAND 6U CHAMPIONS: RGV MAYHEM ELITE, RU: LADY FLYING CHANCLITAS
PINTO 8U CHAMPIONS: NOT ANNOUNCED YET
MUSTANG 10U CHAMPIONS: PROSPECT ELITE, RU: TEXAS FLAMES 2K13
BRONCO 12U CHAMPIONS: NOT ANNOUNCED YET
MUSTANG 10U CHAMPIONS: NOT ANNOUNCED YET
PONY 14U CHAMPIONS: NOT ANNOUNCED YET
COLT 16U CHAMPIONS: NOT ANNOUNCED YET
PALOMINO 18U CHAMPIONS: MANILA CITY – PHILIPPINES, RU: TEXAS FUTURES