Pony Baseball changes age range

The Agoura Pony Baseball board of directors has adopted a recommendation from Pony National to change the league age determination date for its players starting in the 2006 season. Players must now be three months older to enter each division.

According to Eric Fulton, president of Agoura Pony Baseball, the league is just following a trend of other major youth baseball organizations which have already adopted the change.

For the purpose of placing the player in a particular division, the league age determination date is the age of a player as of a specific date. For many years, that date was July 31, Fulton said.

Starting this year, the date in all divisions of Agoura Pony Baseball will be April 30 of the current year.

“This was a decision that we as a board did not take lightly,” Fulton said. “We are confident this change will be in the best interest of all our players and for the long term future of our league.”

The following are the revised league ages for spring 2006:

Shetland Division for ages 5 and 6: birthday from May 1, 1999 through April 30, 2001.

Pinto Division for ages 7 and 8: birthday from May 1, 1997 through April 30, 1999.

Mustang Division for ages 9 and 10: birthday from May 1, 1995 through April 30, 1997.

Bronco Division for ages 11 and 12: birthday from May 1, 1993 through April 30, 1995.

Pony Division for ages 13 through 15: birthday from May 1, 1990 through April 30, 1993.

“Over four years of study by major youth baseball organizations, along with years of discussions with senior volunteers, has resulted in this decision,” Fulton said. “We feel it to be in the best interest of the kids.” —Stephanie Bertholdo