PONY Baseball and Softball, the PONY South Zone, the City of Laredo, Texas and Laredo PONY League are proud to announce that the 2018 Palomino (18U) Baseball World Series will be played in Laredo, Texas, Aug. 3-6, 2018. The Laredo PONY and the City of Laredo did a sensational job hosting the 2017 South Zone Girls Softball World Series in July and return as the event’s hosts in 2018. The Girls Fast Pitch World Series Event will be held July 17 -21, 2018.
The Palomino 18(U) tournament will be held at Uni-Trade Stadium. This is the home of Laredo’s professional baseball team, The Tecolotes de Los Dos Laredos, a minor league baseball team of the Mexican League. The stadium, which has a capacity of 6,000 seats, opened in May of 2012. The venue can also hold up 16,000 for concerts and other events. This was the site of last year’s South Zone Girls Softball World Series opening ceremony and will host the opening ceremony again this July.
“PONY Baseball and Softball is very excited to relocate the Palomino League World Series to Laredo, Texas in 2018 and 2019,” stated Abraham Key, PONY President & CEO. “Laredo has hosted several high-level events for PONY in the past and always provides a first-class atmosphere, facilities and team experience. Given the hosts’ ability to stage a world-class event of its magnitude, with over 150 teams playing in over 500 games at seven locations in five days, Laredo was a natural fit as a partner for the Palomino World Series.”
“We are honored to host these prestigious tournaments,” said Vidal Rodriguez, Laredo City Council Member District 2. “Laredo is a baseball town with a rich history and a flavor all its own. We’re excited to have these great competitors come to the Gateway City and showcase their talent here.”
Laredo PONY has been a program on-the-rise since the beginning of the decade. Most notably, Laredo won the 2011 Pony League World Series title, defeating annual contender Chinese Taipei 10-9 in a championship game that was one for the ages. Among Laredo’s other World Series appearances include: Mustang-9 (2016), Bronco-11 (2013-14), Pony-13 (2010-11, 2013, 2015), Pony (2011-12, 2016) and Colt (2011-12). It will be Laredo’s first appearance in a Palomino World Series.
“Laredo PONY is proud to have such a great event come to our community,” said Richard Rosas, Laredo PONY President. “We had a great time hosting last year’s South Zone Girls Softball World Series. We look forward to highlighting the athletes from the Asia-Pacific, Caribbean and Mexico Zones, as well as the U.S. East, West, South and North Zone Champions together with our very own Laredo team. This is not only a Laredo first, but it is a Texas first.”
For more information contact PONY Laredo President Richard Rosas at 956-763-1601 or visit pony.org
About the PONY Palomino 18(U) Baseball World Series
The Palomino World Series is the pinnacle of achievement, as it is the premiere tournament for 18-year-old (and under) PONY baseball players from all over the world. Former participants in the event who are now active players in the Major Leagues include: Donnie Hart (2009 – Baltimore Orioles), Kyle Hendricks (2008 – Chicago Cubs), Austin Barnes (2007 – Los Angeles Dodgers), Daniel Hudson (2005 – Tampa Bay Rays), Paul Goldschmidt (2004 – Arizona Diamondbacks), Troy Tulowitzki (2002 – Toronto Blue Jays) and David Freese (2001 – Pittsburgh Pirates).
An eight-team tournament, the Palomino World Series will feature the Asia-Pacific Zone Champion, Mexico Zone Champion, Caribbean Zone Champion, United States Zone Champions from the East, North, South and West, as well as Host Laredo. Over four days, the eight teams will battle it out on the diamond in upwards of 16 games to determine the title for Palomino World Series champion.
The Palomino World Series comes to Laredo following an 18-year run in which the event was played across the state of California (Santa Clara 2000-04, 2016-17; Rancho Cucamonga 2007; San Jose 2008-10; and Compton 2011-14) and in Caguas, Puerto Rico for a two-year stint (2005-06). Prior to 2000, the event enjoyed a 14-year run in Greensboro, North Carolina from 1986-99. The first-ever Palomino World Series was played in San Jose, California in 1980, while also calling Covina, California (1982-83) and Cincinnati, Ohio (1984-85) home.
Follow PONY.org and SOUTH.PONY.org, as well as PONY Baseball and Softball’s social media accounts for more announcements leading up to the event.
