Baseball Divisions

Determining Baseball League Age

The PONY national age cut off date for baseball is April 30.

Baseball Division Summary

Baseball Division Descriptions

T-Ball Ages 4-5	T-Ball Division Director - Tony Hall at 815/558-2690 or thall@t6wireless.com For players with no prior baseball experience and returning players who prefer to continue with a highly introductory level of play. Players learn the fundamentals of baseball. Players use a softer than usual baseball and start the season by hitting from a Batting-Tee. The diamond is 50 feet, and flexible rules expedite play. Play consists of two innings in which all team members bat and play the field each inning. No game score or standings are kept. When possible, players are assigned to teams with their schoolmates. The regular season includes games with teams from within the same division. Each player receives a baseball jersey, hat, and a trophy.
Coach Pitch I Age 5-6	Coach Pitch I Division Director - Paul Forbes at 815/624-7180 or sebrofp@msn.com For players with T-Ball equivalent experience, players age 5 and above with minimal experience, and returning players who prefer to continue with a more introductory level of play. Players continue to learn the basic fundamentals of baseball. Machine pitch with a softer-than-usual baseball. The diamond is 50 feet, and the pitching mound is 35 feet.  Play consists of four innings or 90 minutes, whichever comes first.  Score is kept in the interest of teaching sportsmanship in winning and losing situations.  Players are assigned to teams with their schoolmates. The regular season includes games with teams from within the same division. No standings are kept. Each player receives a baseball jersey, hat, and a trophy.
Coach Pitch II Age 7-8	Coach Pitch II Division Director - Dan Rusch at 815/624-2317 or drusch@charter.net For players age 7 and 8 with little or no experience in T-Ball or Coach Pitch and players with up to three years of experience.  Players continue to learn the basic fundamentals of baseball. Machine pitch with a softer-than-usual baseball. The diamond is 50 feet, and the pitching mound is 35 feet.  Play consists of four innings or 90 minutes, whichever comes first.  Score is kept in the interest of teaching sportsmanship in winning and losing situations.  Players are assigned to teams with their schoolmates. The regular season includes games with teams from within the same division. No standings are kept. Each player receives a baseball jersey, hat, and a trophy.
Age 9-10	Mustang Division Director - Craig Zernechel at 815/636-0623 or zernechel@prodigy.net Begins the players' training in the complete game of baseball. Players pitch with a regulation baseball. The diamond is 60 feet and the pitching mound is 44 feet. Leadoffs are not permitted, but base stealing is introduced. To form balanced teams, players participate in a Skills Assessment to evaluate batting, fielding, throwing, and running skills. Team coaches subsequently "draft" players based on Skills Assessment results. The regular season includes games with teams from within the same division. Each player receives a full baseball uniform.
Ages 11-12	Bronco Division Director - John Fay at 815/543-3270 or jmjmpfay@charter.net Introduces the developing young players to the full game of baseball. Players pitch with a regulation baseball. The diamond is extended to 70 feet and the pitching mound is 48 feet. Leadoffs are permitted and stealing is allowed. Team coaches draft first year Bronco players based on Skills Assessment results. The regular season includes games with teams from within the same division. Each player receives a full baseball uniform.
Ages 13-14	Pony Division Director - Jim Rosplock at 815/230-9343 or jrospl@charter.net Continues to introduce the maturing players to the complete game of baseball. The diamond is extended to 80 feet and the pitching mound is 54 feet (distances which are better suited to the players' developing arms). Team Coaches draft first year Pony players based on Skills Assessment results.  The regular season includes games with teams from within the same division.  Each player receives a full baseball uniform.
Ages 15-16	Colt Division Director - Mark Nelson at 815/389-8489 or Mark.A.Nelson@jci.com Provides players an opportunity to play full regulation baseball. The diamond and pitching distance is the same size as high school, college and professional baseball.  The existence of this division will be determined by the level of interest.  The season will begin after the high school season has finished.  Each player receives a full baseball uniform.