For many years Meadows Place Baseball has operated as an independent baseball league. Beginning this fall, the Meadows Place Baseball board made the decision to affiliate with the Pony League national organization and will now operate as Meadows Place Pony Baseball (MPPB).
The new league will be run by many of the same people as Meadows Place Baseball, and most aspects of the game will be the same. However, the MPB board made the decision to switch to a Pony League charter after some emotional deliberations about how to keep kids engaged in our national pastime.
“Our focus and concerns are still on the kids,” said board president Scott Holland. “Many season ago MPB adopted rules that were already similar to Pony Baseball, such as change in distance of base paths, base stealing, lead offs, pick offs, third strike drop, and balks for the older players.” Since the style of play was already similar, the decision was made to go ahead and join the National organization and enjoy some of its benefits, such as scholarship programs, coach’s certification, corporate sponsorships, post season all-star play, and opportunity for our young boys and girls to make it to the Pony World Series.
The move will also make it an easier transition for players who wish to continue on and play high school baseball. We believe baseball and sports in general give our youth the opportunity to not just learn the skills need to play the game, but more importantly life skills that will help them to develop into mature and caring young adults.
“We want Meadows Place Pony Baseball to be Ft. Bend’s new home for baseball, for both the recreational player, as well as the more advance player.” “Competition will always be part of the game, but what we make a priority is the total development of the youth player, mentally, socially and physically”, said board president Scott Holland.
Meadows Place Pony Baseball will be having its registration for players starting this month, on Aug. 13th, Aug. 20th, Aug 24th, and Aug. 27th at the Meadows Place Community Center, located at 11975 Dorrance, Meadows Place, Tx. Boys and girls ages 4 thru 12 of all skill levels are welcomed to play. MPPB has no restriction on boundaries for their fall program; however, for the spring only players with in the boundaries may register to play. For further details and registration times, visit MPPB web site at www.MPPONY.com.