Marikina to host regional pony baseball tourney

MANILA, Philippines - Four teams will see action in the Asia-Pacific Pony Baseball Championship firing off July 18 at the Sto. Niño baseball field in Marikina City.

The kick-off ceremony will be graced by newly elected local officials led by Mayor Del de Guzman, Vice Mayor Fabian Cadiz, and Second District Rep. Miro Quimbo.

Two baseball division championships are at stake – the Asian and Southeast Asian titles. Chinese Taipei will defend its Asian crown, while Indonesia will face off with the Philippines in the Southeast Asian division.

Open to players 13-14 years old, the four-day event offers the Asian champion a berth in the Pony Baseball World Series slated July 31-Aug. 3 in Washington, Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Asian champion will compete in the Pony 13 World Series to be held next year in Fullerton, California.

“The local government’s baseball program for the youth is really impressive,” said Philippine Tot Baseball Foundation president Rodolfo Tingzon Jr., explaining the choice of Marikina as the venue of the tournament for the third time in five years.

The Pony Baseball/Softball Championship was earlier held in Marikina in July 2005 and Aug. 2006.

This year’s Asia-Pacific Pony Baseball Championship is supported by the Philippine Amateur Baseball Association and the city government of Marikina.