About Pony Baseball

For the 2020 season, the WAA Pony league teams will again play in the Crosstown League with Naperville Pony Baseball teams.  Each team will play approximately 18 league games and participate in an end of season, double elimination tournament in late June (scheduling weather dependent).  A Pony All-Star game is also scheduled.  Fields will be in Aurora and Naperville. WAA teams will practice on local fields.  Games begin in mid-April (weather permitting) and are scheduled to end in late June. 

Pony Baseball is a competitive baseball program for 13  and 14 year old players (age as of May 1, 2020) who are looking for increased competition over what recreational baseball provides, but without the increased commitment that travel baseball requires.  Highly competitive players are encouraged to play up one year but must both meet the age requirement within 12 months of May 1st (ie. 12 years old by May 1, 2019) of the upcoming year and score within the top 50% of tryout participants to be considered for the draft pool. 

WAA Competitive Baseball strives to provide programming that meets the appropriate needs of it participants while taking into account a player’s overall skill level. All players – including returning players – will be required to tryout and must meet a minimum draft score to be eligible to be drafted or return to the same team. This change has been made to insure the integrity of the draft process and ensure the right skilled players are in the league.  Any participants requesting to play up one year must both meet the age requirement within 12 months of May 1st of the upcoming year and score within the top 50% of tryout participants to be considered for the draft pool.   

Teams are organized using a tryout and draft process. All players MUST be registered prior to tryouts.  Drafted players and returning players will have 48 hours to complete payment and program registration once they are notified.  Players not drafted will be notified and have the opportunity to register, without a late fee for a limited time, for the recreational baseball league if they meet the age requirement. 

Although the league is competitive, a continued emphasis is placed on the fundamentals of the game as players are instructed on the basics of hitting, throwing, catching and base running within a framework of teamwork and sportsmanship. Players pitch the entire game and regulation baseballs are used.  

Players must provide their own glove, cleats (no metal) and white pants. WAA will provide  balls, batting helmets, catcher gear, and bases for each team. MLB Shirt, MLB hat and socks are included with the registration fee.

 For further details, please reference the  ponies rules  (pending updates per Cross-Town league agreement).

All participants must register and participate in tryouts.
Notification of scheduled tryout time will be sent by email the week of tryouts. 

Pony Tryout Information

Tryouts are scheduled for March 8, 2020 at Waubonsie Valley High School Fieldhouse.  Players will be evaluated at pitching, fielding, running and hitting using a blind tryout (no names are given to evaluators).  All players, including returning players, MUST be registered prior to March tryout.  Your child's scheduled tryout time will be emailed to you a week prior to tryouts. 

Tryout Registration will CLOSE at 10am on Saturday, March 7th!   Scroll down to register.  We DO NOT encourage walk in's, but we will do our best to accommodate your participant.  Pony tryout will begin at 4:00pm and end at 6:00pm.  

Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time to allow for registration check in
Enter through the school Athletics entrance
Each tryout will last approximately 20 minutes. 
Pony tryouts tentatively will begin late afternoon/early evening.
A registration/check-in table will be set up outside the indoor entrance to the Waubonsie fieldhouse.
Parents are asked to remain in the hallway outside the gym due to a mandatory regulation of WVHS.

Players should we gym shoes (NO CLEATS ARE ALLOWED) and a shirt without their name on it.  They should bring their baseball glove, a bat (please review bat specifications below and in the WAA Pony rules), and their helmet.  If necessary, helmets will be available, first come first serve, upon request.

Drafted and Returning Players
Following the draft, emails will be sent to all drafted and returning players. Parents MUST ACCEPT the position AND complete the program registration and payment within 48 hours of notice. If the registration is not completed by the stated date, a late fee will apply and/or the roster spot will be offered to another player. 

All players – including returning players – will be required to tryout and must meet a minimum draft score to be eligible to be drafted or return to the same team. This  insure the integrity of the draft process and ensure the right skilled players are in the league. 

Non-drafted players:
Players may register for recreational baseball without a late fee for a limited time.

Thank you and good luck!