(Above the Grassland American Team: Front – Left to Right: Gage Dotson, Sam Colley, Connor Patton, Steven Jarrell, Dalton Pyzer, Nathan Cisco Back – Left to Right: Mason King, Charlie Sheridan, John Conner Craig, Mario Mayorga, Brennan Sheridan, Sam Walters Coaches: Left to Right: Marc Colley, Steve Jarrell, Jason Dotson)
*Scroll down to see the Grassland National Team*
Grassland Baseball (GAA) is headed to EVANSVILLE, Indiana looking to add more Championships with the PONY League ZONE Tournament. The winner of the tournament goes to the World Series in Fullerton, California.
“Teams competing in the ZONE worked their way through a 12 State Zone to play in Evansville, so we are honored to have 2 teams that were invited to play.” Said Grassland Coach, John Craig.
Games can be followed LIVE on BallFrog APP, by following Grassland Baseball and their 13U Tournament Teams (make sure to turn on Notifications for those teams).
With a rich history in great baseball in the community of Grassland was noticing a drop off in players in the 13/14 age div. within all Williamson County Leagues.
“After some research, we felt like Travel Baseball, Competing Sports and Size of the Field increase from age 12 to 13 were the 3 main reasons that Williamson County Baseball participation was dropping off at age 13.” Said Craig. “It not only affected GAA but all surrounding Leagues within the county.”
So last Fall, Grassland decided to change some things within this age group.
1) Grassland has a “Bring Your Own Team” at most levels that allows kids that go to School together or live in the same Neighborhood to play together even if they are NOT Travel players. But this year they welcomed Travel Players to play with their friends they grew up with and play for 2 teams (Rec and Travel Team)…and they did and had a BLAST proving the 2 can co-exist.
2) Grassland works with Teams schedules…Allowing them to have weekends off to play other sports like Basketball and Soccer or even weekend BPA Tournaments.. For 13/14, they also start after Middle School ball ends so there is no conflict (We also Host a Middle School JV 80/54 League before our season starts that 5 schools participated in with great success)
3) With most Leagues jumping to MLB size fields of 90ft base at 13, Grassland felt like it was too big of a jump and kids were quitting baseball all together. Pony League plays at 80ft bases which is much better for development. So, they added to their Cal Ripken affiliation, an affiliation with PONY League. Both Leagues are NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL Leagues.
“Combining over $5,000 in field improvements and this new affiliation with 80ft bases, Grassland grew from 1 Team in 2013 to 11 Teams this Summer (5 last Fall for Fall Ball).” Said Craig.
“This is compared to most leagues having 1-2 as well, so we really had a GREAT product for Williamson County families with 13/14 yr olds.”
From that League, 2 Tournament Teams were Selected (American and National) and will go to Evansville, IN tomorrow to compete in the ZONE Championship for a chance to play in Fullerton California for the World Series.
Grassland hopes to host ZONE or World Series Tournaments for PONY as early as next year!
If you have questions about Grassland Baseball, please visit GrasslandBaseball.com or call John Craig at 615.578.0547 if you have questions about the 13/14 League.
(Front – Left to right: Andrew Ellison, Tanner Harnage, Josh Descher, Jack Joyce, Luke Wilkes Back – Left to right: Robin Wilkes (Coach), Kellen Vogelfanger, Cole Mackie, John Michael Law, Steve Schreiber (Coach), Ben Guzman, Matthew Schreiber, Paul Joyce (Coach), Jack Woods)
