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Monday, December 14 Stratford Pony Baseball Forms Association Stratford Pony Baseball the largest recreational baseball organization in town has formed a new association. The new association will be known as the Stratford Baseball Association. The association will add Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth to its staple of affiliates. Adding Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth will give players from the ages of 5-15 the opportunity to play baseball in the town of Stratford. The current programs offered by Stratford Pony Baseball will not be changed. They will be enhanced by the new association. Cal Ripken will give us the opportunity to play recreational baseball against 31 other towns in CT during the regular season. In addition 15 year old players will now have a place to play under the new league. Babe Ruth is now run by the Cal Ripken Organization, which is the fastest growing baseball league in the country. The SBA will offer programs for ages 5 -15. The association will offer players the opportunity to play real baseball for all ages in our league. The instructional divisions Rookies (ages 5 and 6) and Minors (ages 7 and 8) are coach pitch, while players pitch in Major 60 (ages 9 and 10), Major 70 (ages 11 and 12), Pony (ages 13-14), and Babe Ruth (ages 14-15). The Major 60 Division features competitive play at an intermediate level, while the Major 70, Pony, and Babe Ruth divisions feature Major League Rules. All players are given the opportunity to play with minimum inning requirements for all participants. The Stratford Baseball Association is the only recreational baseball league in town to feature competition on 60, 70, 80, and 90 foot basepaths. Registrations will begin in January. Flyers are currently being distributed to all Stratford Elementary, Middle, and High Schools. They will also be available at registrations. New players to the league must supply both birth certificates and proof of residency upon registration. Stratford Baseball Association is affiliated with the Stratford Police Athletic League (PAL). Please contact association President John Kelly with any questions at the league office 203-378-9545. Please visit our web site at www.stratfordponybaseball.org.SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR STRATFORD PONY BASEBALL!
Sunday, January 11 Who Plays PONY Baseball? Take a look at the Major League Baseball Players that have played in the PONY program in their youth. Follow this link to our Handouts of Interest page. Baseball Basics: Lingo A fan's guide to commonly-used terms and phrases. ace -- A team's best starting pitcher. alley-- The section of the outfield between the outfielders. Also "gap." around the horn-- A double play going from third base to second to first. backdoor slider -- A pitch that appears to be out of the strike zone, but then breaks back over the plate. bag -- A base. Baltimore chop -- A ground ball that hits in front of home plate (or off of it) and takes a large hop over the infielder's head. bandbox-- A small ballpark that favors hitters. bang-bang play -- A play in which the baserunner hits the bag a split-second before the ball arrives or vice versa. basket catch -- When a fielder catches a ball with his glove near belt level. Bronx cheer -- When the crowd boos. brushback -- A pitch that nearly hits a batter. bush -- Also "bush league." An amateur play or behavior. can of corn -- An easy catch by a fielder. caught looking -- When a batter is called out on strikes. cellar -- Last place. Also "basement." cheese -- Also "good cheese." Refers to a good fastball. chin music -- A pitch that is high and inside. circus catch -- An outstanding catch by a fielder. closer -- A team's relief pitcher who finishes the game. cutter -- A cut fastball (one with a late break to it). cycle -- When a batter hits a single, double, triple and home run in the same game. dinger -- A home run. dish -- Home plate. fireman -- A team's closer or late-inning relief pitcher. fungo -- A ball hit to a fielder during practice. It's usually hit by a coach using a "fungo bat," which is longer and thinner than a normal bat. gap -- See "alley." A ball hit here is a "gapper." gopher ball -- A pitch hit for a home run, as in "go for." heat -- A good fastball. Also "heater." high and tight -- Referring to a pitch that's up in the strike zone and inside on a hitter. Also known as "up and in." hill -- Pitcher's mound. homer -- A home run. Other terms include: blast, dinger, dong, four-bagger, four-base knock, moon shot, tape-measure blast and tater. hot corner -- Third base. in the hole -- The batter after the on-deck hitter. jam -- When a hitter gets a pitch near his hands, he is "jammed." Also when a pitcher gets himself in trouble, he is in a "jam." leather -- Refers to how good a player plays defensively or handles the glove. Ex: "He flashed some leather on that play." meatball -- An easy pitch to hit, usually right down the middle of the plate. Mendoza line -- A batting average of around .200. moon shot -- A very long, high home run. nail down -- As in "nail down a victory." Refers to a relief pitcher finishing off the game. on the screws -- When a batter hits the ball hard. Also "on the button." painting the black -- When a pitcher throws the ball over the edge of the plate. pea -- A ball traveling at high speed, either batted or thrown. pepper -- Pepper is a common pre-game exercise where one player bunts brisk grounders and line drives to a group of fielders who are standing about 20 feet away. The fielders try to throw it back as quickly as possible. The batter hits the return throw. (Some ballparks ban pepper games because wild pitches could land in the stands and injure spectators). pick -- A good defensive play by an infielder on a ground ball. Also a shortened version of "pick-off." pickle -- A rundown. punchout -- A strikeout. rhubarb -- A fight or scuffle. ribbie -- Another way of saying RBI. Also "ribeye." rope -- A hard line drive hit by a batter. Also "frozen rope." rubber game -- The deciding game of a series. run-down -- When a baserunner gets caught between bases by the fielders. Ruthian -- With great power. seeing-eye single -- A soft ground ball that finds its way between infielders for a base hit. set-up man -- A relief pitcher who usually enters the game in the 7th or 8th inning. shoestring catch -- A running catch made just above the fielder's shoetops. southpaw -- A left-handed pitcher. sweet spot -- The part of the bat just a few inches from the barrel. table setter -- Batter whose job is to get on base for other hitters to drive him in. Usually a leadoff or No. 2 hitter. tape-measure blast -- An extremely long home run. tater -- A home run. Texas Leaguer -- A bloop hit that drops between an infielder and outfielder. tools of ignorance -- Catcher's equipment. touch 'em all -- Hitting a home run (touching all the bases). twin killing -- A double play. Uncle Charlie -- Curve ball. utility player -- A player who fills in at many positions. wheelhouse -- A hitter's power zone. Usually a pitch waist-high and over the heart of the plate. wheels -- A ballplayer's legs. whiff -- Strikeout. yakker -- Curve ball. Prepared by the Publishing Department of Major League Baseball Properties About Stratford PONY Baseball
Who can play?Any boy or girl who is a resident of Stratford and between the ages of 5 and 14 is eligible to play baseball with the Stratford PONY Baseball League. The age cutoff date is April 30. For the 2009 spring season, your child must be born after May 1, 1994 and before April 30, 2004. Back to TopHow is the league setup?The Stratford PONY League runs under a combination of "Major League Baseball", national "PONY", and local rules. We are especially proud to offer the feel of "real baseball" to even the youngest players by pitching to all batters in games. There are 5 divisions based upon a players age.
Instructional Divisions (Shetland & Pinto) are formed by school district as best as possible. Late registrations are placed on a space available basis. So register early. Mustang, Bronco and Pony Divisions are formed through the draft process. Returning players to the same division as the previous year are placed on the same team. All new players to a division must attend the scheduled evaluations to be eligible for the draft. While this process is not perfect, it is the best method that we have found to achieving balanced teams. Back to TopHow much playing time will my child receive?All divisions use a continuous batting order, meaning that all players present for the game are placed in the batting order. Our bylaws also specify that each child shall play a minimum number of innings on defense (varies by division). Exceptions are made for shortened games. Playing time rules are important. If you believe that your child has not been given their fair share of playing time, check with the manager immediately. If this doesn't work contact the Division Director. Back to TopWhen does the season start?Teams will start practice for the spring season by late March or early of April, with games starting at the end of April after opening day. The season runs through the end of June. Practice for the fall season the begins in mid August, with games starting a few weeks later. The fall season runs through the end of October. Back to TopWhat equipment does my child need?Players only need a glove, bat and a protective cup. Shoes with cleats (rubber for Shetland - Bronco Divisions) are recommended. The league supplies batting helmets, and catcher's gear. Each player receives a cap and jersey. The players get to keep the uniform. Back to TopDo I need insurance?No! The league carries liability and medical insurance. However, if your child is injured and requires medical treatment and you have medical insurance, all claims go through your insurance carrier as the primary coverage with the league insurance acting as secondary coverage. Any injuries requiring medical treatment must be reported to your team manager or the executive board within one week of the injury. Our policy will not accept claims after 12 months of the accident date. Back to TopWednesday, January 6 Baseball From Yesteryear If you have any old photos that you would like to share with our SPB family, we'll post on the website under the new "DO YOU REMEMBER?" album: http://www.eteamz.com/stratfordpony/albums/index.cfm?id=513567 Please burn them to a CD or email to crusso@snet.net. |
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Stratford PONY Baseball View Our Guestbook | Sign Our Guestbook 9 visitors have signed our guestbook. |
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