Editor’s Note: This is part of a series celebrating the 75th anniversary of PONY Baseball and Softball, leading up to the Pony League World Series that begins Friday.
The pursuit of playing in the Pony League World Series at Lew Hays Pony Field in Washington Park is a motivating force for many who have played in the local program.
It is meaningful. It can be a player’s desired destination. It can be a steppingstone to greater accomplishments. It is home.
“I think as, as a young kid growing up in Washington, and having an older brother, and just being around Lew Hays Pony Field, makes it special,” said Mike Deegan, former Washington Pony World Series team player and coach of the Denison University 2026 NCAA Division III World Series national champions. “As a kid, you walk around the park while games are being played, and you watch some. You hang out with friends. It's just such a great event. Then, of course, you dream about being a part of it. I still remember as a kid coming down the hill, in the back of a truck and chanting Washington and playing in front of a big crowd, probably a bigger crowd than we’d ever played in front of. For most people, that'll be the biggest crowd they play in front of. It was just a special time and one that I'll always cherish.”
Shane Elzer was the starting centerfielder for the1998 Washington Pony League World Series team that went 3-0 in its pod to advance to the championship game – the first Washington team to play to win the title since 1955. While the locals lost to Chinese Taipei in the championship, Elzer’s youth baseball journey was complete and fulfilling.
“It was always a dream of mine to play in the Pony World Series,” Elzer said. “It was the thing to do as a youth baseball player in August in Washington – watch the older kids play, try to get autographs and whatever else."
“I saw myself out there on the field in front of everybody, playing in those Pony League World Series games. It is absolutely something I thought about."
“As I got older and it became more realistic, it felt pretty good. Having made some of the all-star teams in the past, I kind of thought I had a good shot at making the team. I thought I had a good year in the 1998 regular season as well. So, yes, I was confident. I was certainly thankful I was able to make the team and be a part of that part of that group – a great group of guys and baseball players.”
Elzer went on to leave his baseball mark at Trinity High School and then had an outstanding career at Penn State Behrend in Erie. He is an inductee in the school’s athletic Hall of Fame.
The enormity of the Pony League World Series and its personal meaning take a little time to fully embrace and cherish.
“Probably when you're older, it really hits you how special the Pony League Baseball World Series is,” Deegan said. “When you're young, you just know that you're playing, you're competing and that Washington has had great teams. My 10-year-old team went to Puerto Rico, and I was a part of the Bronco League World Series, playing in California. So, you do know how cool that was, but I think the history and just what Pony Baseball is probably takes a little longer to form that true appreciation. You're almost spoiled by it -- just the history and the lineage and just how special it is and the fact that it started in Washington.”
For Elzer, the 1997 post-season established the quality of the group he was playing with.
Washington’s 13-year-old Pony team went 13-0 and virtually unchallenged in rolling to the East Zone championship at East Liverpool, Ohio, the furthest the team could advance at the time.
“I think that gave us the confidence to know we had a chance to be successful in 1998. I think we knew we had a special group before we entered. We had a lot of successful runs. We had some talented athletes, some good ball players. I think we were just biding our time waiting for that 1998 season to roll around so we could all kind of be together and play for one common goal. That entire week playing those games, in front of those crowds and the atmosphere was pretty special.”
Washington’s Firsts
Washington, PA’s only Pony League World Series championship came in 1955.
“As far as overall memories of the World Series go, my fondest memory was the camaraderie with my teammates,” said Joe Kern, the team’s third baseman. “Playing on the 1955 World Series team is a proud part of my athletic legacy. I’m also proud to have been on the All-Navy softball team, and the world champion Sol Mintz softball team.”
“To get into the World Series, we had to beat Butler (PA) in a best-of-three series,” Kern said. “It came down to game three. Our coach, Art Sandusky, thought we would be intimidated by some of the Butler players -- especially the catcher who was over 6-feet tall and had a beard. Before (that) game, Art gathered us up, with tears in his eyes and said, ‘No matter what happens, I’m proud of all of you.’ We ended up beating Butler, 15-0."
“The memory that really stands out the happened after the World Series. The team was sent on a bus trip to New York. They took us to see West Point. We had a six-course meal at the famous Mama Leone’s restaurant. None of the boys liked it. We would have been happier with a burger and fries."
“We got to go to a Brooklyn Dodgers game at Ebbets Field, where they played the St. Louis Cardinals. We met (major leaguer Hall of Famers) Stan Musial, Duke Snider and Jackie Robinson. We had three black players on our team, and Jackie Robinson gave each of them one of his baseball bats. That was really special. We went to Grossinger resort in upstate New York where heavyweight boxing champion, Rocky Marciano was training. We got to meet him, and we all sang happy birthday to him.”
“The Pony League World Series (Washington) team used to be comprised of kids only from the city of Washington,” Kern said. “Now it is kids from all of Washington County. The international teams give the series a different feel, but I honestly think our team could have beaten some of these international teams; we had really good players.
“I’m honestly, a little surprised that Pony League Baseball has lasted this long and continues to be headquartered in Washington, Pennsylvania. We have good leadership in Abe Key.”
As for Washington’s first Pony League World Series team, in 1952, Buck Adams, who played infield and was a pitcher recalled some special thoughts and moments.
“I really realize at my age now, how hard our coaches fought for us kids and the time they spent with us,” Adams said. “When I look back, they had to put all their other life to the side to take care of us kids. I really appreciate it.”
As for playing in the Pony League World Series, Adam said the rules were tough.
“It was a one game-elimination,” he said. “We lost one game and that was it. Massachusetts looked like a minor-league ball team when they came on the field. They had warm up jackets on, they looked sharp as heck, and there we were with our regular team uniforms on, which we didn't look too good.
“It was a great honor to be chosen to play. I didn't realize it then, but now as I get older, I realize it more. I'm 88 years old. It just felt good. There were quite a few kids to pick from and I was one.”
Labor of Love
Two men who are not exactly visible at the Pony League World Series but have become staples of the event are still going strong – Lanny Frattare and Dan “Moose” Brown.
Frattare, longtime voice of the Pittsburgh Pirates, is synonymous with Pony Baseball’s television coverage and Brown is the long-time treasurer for Tournaments Inc. a financial component of the PLWS.
Their shared love of baseball and their tasks at hand keep then engaged and motivated.
“When I left the Pirates, I still had a strong desire to announce baseball,” Frattare said. “When I talked to my dear friend Bob Gregg about it, he ask me about working Pony World Series games. I was thrilled to do it."
Frattare, who broadcast Pirates games for 33 years, said the relationship Pony created with Pikewood, now WVRC Media, has provided a telecasted formant with the ability to send word in a positive way. The strong commitment to excellence in broadcast TV coverage provides many positives outcomes for Pony League Baseball and the Pony League World Series.
Frattare’s identifiable voice, broadcasting legacy and enthusiasm to provide quality broadcasts also is an integral part of overall success.
“What amazes me every year is that by the third day of the tournament, I have forgotten I’m watching 13 and 14-year-old players,” Frattare said. “It’s quality baseball in its purest sense a – this moment in their lives. I work to provide the same commitment to a quality broadcast by using the type of and preparation as I did with major league baseball games. These young people have families, and I want to tell their stories.”
Brown said the Pony World Series is a busy time for him.
“I'm pretty much locked, chained to my desk for, six days – almost the whole, the entire, World Series. There's just so much to do there. I also help with the hospitality for volunteers and for the TV crew in my room. Plus, I do all the money counting and all that sort of stuff, paying all the bills and things like that."
“But it's a good thing. I enjoy it or I wouldn't do it."
"I'm getting older and it's getting harder. We were shaky there for a year or so, but all this came about when this became a Washington County team – through the Founders League. Obviously, it was important to get a more competitive (host) team in, and (for that team to) play longer in the Series helps. With the TV side coming about, that really helped everything.”
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You can view the ninth installment in the series here
John Sacco is a Washington, Pennsylvania native and 2025 Dow Carnahan Award recipient with a distinguished career in sports journalism and athletics. A graduate of Washington High School and West Liberty University, he has spent decades with the Observer-Reporter covering high school sports, W&J football, Pitt basketball, and the Pittsburgh Pirates, earning multiple Keystone Press and Golden Quill awards.
Deeply connected to PONY Baseball and Softball, Sacco coached for more than 30 years, including serving as an assistant on the 1994 Washington Mustangs championship team, the 1997 Pony League East Zone champions, and the 1998 Washington PONY team that advanced to the championship game.
His connection runs even deeper through his father, Dominic, an original Pony League player in 1951 who was a home run champion and a member of the league’s first All-Star team. He continues to contribute as a freelance writer and radio color analyst, remaining an active and respected voice in the Washington County sports community.