Sports

'Hat Drop' Fundraiser in South Tampa for PONY Baseball Team

The 13- and 14-year-old boys are excited to advance to a national tournament.

By Ashley Reams

Casey Moore used one word to sum up how he felt when the Temple Terrace Pony Baseball team won the Southeast Regional All-Star Tournament July 13.

“Overjoyed,” he said.

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After a 30-1 season, Casey and the 13 other players on the team are now advancing to the Zone Tournament in Burleson, Texas, which runs Aug. 1-5. There, they’ll compete against PONY (Protect Our Nation’s Youth) teams from around the country.

If they win, they’ll move on to the World Series in Washington, Pa.

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“These boys are phenomenal players,” said Michelle Edelmann, president of Temple Terrace Youth Sports (PONY Baseball).

PONY Baseball is played around the world and is designed to maximize player development, Edelmann said. Kids start as young as 3 years old and play high school rules by the time they’re 9. Introducing young players to advanced rules challenges them with traditional baseball concepts.

“Everybody plays,” Edelmann said. “No one just rides the bench.”

Kids are separated into divisions by age: Shetland division for 3- to 6-year-olds; Pinto division for 7- and 8-year-olds; Mustang division for 9- and 10-year-olds; Bronco division for 11- and 12-year-olds; Pony division from 13- to 14-year-olds; Colt division for 15- and 16-year-olds; and Palomino division for 17- to 19-year-olds.

The Temple Terrace Pony team that will play in Texas is made up of 13- to 14-year-olds from all over the Tampa Bay area.

“We got a great group of kids,” said Les Thompson, team manager. “They gelled together very well. They have fun playing the game. It’s not a job to them.”

The team started working in January this year, practicing several times a week.

“We come four nights a week—sometimes even on Saturdays,” said Jermaine White, 13, of Clair-Mel.

“We’ve tried so hard, and we’ve been at this for three or four years now,” said Casey, 14, of Seffner.

Some members of the team have been playing PONY Baseball since they were 4 years old. They almost made it to the Zone Tournament once before.

“We were a couple games away from going there last year,” Thompson said, so they really appreciate the opportunity to go this year. “It was a huge burden being lifted off their shoulders.”

Now, the team is trying to raise $7,000 to get to Texas. They have the following fundraisers scheduled.

  • Carwash at Shamrocks Ale House: Thursday, July 25, 4:30-8 p.m., at 7805 Temple Terrace Highway. Any customer can donate by giving his or her receipt to team manager Les Thompson, who will be overseeing the carwash. Shamrocks will donate a portion of the proceeds from these receipts to the team.
  • Hat Drop: Friday, July 26, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at Sam’s Club, 2021 W. Brandon Blvd. Donate any amount in the players’ hats outside the store.
  • Hat Drop: Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at Publix, 243 Bayshore Blvd. Donate any amount in the players’ hats outside the store.

Then, they’ll leave July 29 to make the 23-hour drive to the tournament.

“We’re ready to go over to Texas and try our hardest,” Jermaine said.

Can’t make it to the fundraisers? If you’d like to donate directly to the team, contact Edelmann at 813-270-2860 or shell8500@hotmail.com.


Temple Terrace Pony Baseball Team Members

Greg Barone, King High School
Jerris Davis, Young Middle Magnet School
James Erickson, King High School
Steven Jenkins, Terrace Community Middle School
James Lawrence, Benito Middle School
Joshua Mendoza, Seffner Christian Academy
Casey Moore, Seffner Christian Academy
Jon-Jon Moore, Strawberry Crest High School
Jarid Salisbury, Tampa Bay Tech High School
Garrett Thompson, Tampa Bay Tech High School
Steven Tumbleson, Pepin Academy
Angel Vargas, Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School
Jake West, Armwood High School
Jermaine White, Dowdell Middle Magnet School


Temple Terrace Pony Baseball Coaches

John Mendoza, business manager
Bill Rice, head coach
Les Thompson, manager
Jimmy (Snap) White, coach

PONY Baseball Fun Fact

More than 375 Major League Baseball players are graduates of PONY baseball, including Alex Rodriquez, Tony Gwynn, Mark McGwire, TJ Snow and Kevin Appier.


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