Alabang Pony baseball, softball tourneys start

Over 40 teams representing schools, clubs, and municipalities in central and southern Luzon vie for top honors in 2004 Alabang Pony Summer Classic baseball and softball tournaments beginning today at the Alabang Country Club.

Boys and girls from as far as Morong, Bataan; Nueva Ecija; and San Antonio, Zambales will compete against their counterparts from Alabang, Makati, and Marikina in five age-group divisions: Pinto (boys, 8 and under), Mustang (boys, 10 and under), Bronco (boys, 12 and under), Pony (boys and girls, 14 and under), and Palomino (boys and girls, 18 and under).

Teams from Tanauan, including the defending Palomino boys division champions, and Pampanga are also seeing action in the event, the country’s largest and most prestigious Pony tournament ending May 22.

As a result of the success of last year’s Summer Classic, this year’s tournament will be the country’s biggest ever Pony competition with the Philippine Tot Baseball Foundation, Inc., the Junior Baseball-Softball Foundation of the Philippines, Inc., and the Alabang Baseball-Softball Club once again teaming up to ensure the successful staging of the event. The main sponsors are Swift, The STAR, Selecta, Sunkist, Philtown Inc. and Continental Airlines.

The Alabang Baseball and Softball Club, which is associated with the Junior Baseball-Softball Foundation of the Philippines, is a nonprofit organization that promotes the sports of baseball and softball in the Muntinlupa area.

Aside from organizing tournaments, the Alabang Baseball and Softball Club conducts baseball and softball clinics for players, parents, coaches, and umpires; develops outreach programs that introduce public school children to baseball and softball; initiates and participates in foreign exchange programs; enters overseas tournaments; and develops coaches and players under the Major League Baseball International Coach Envoy Program.

Schools, organizations, and individuals interested in starting or advancing baseball and softball programs may contact the Alabang Baseball and Softball Club via phone (0918-314-6078) or e-mail ([email protected]).