McALLEN — Teams from across the nation are set to flock to McAllen this summer, with the city, in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of McAllen, selected to host the inaugural PONY Softball International World Series.
The tournament, which will feature teams from Aruba, Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States, is slated to take place July 20-24 at the McAllen Youth Softball Complex.
“We do sports really well (at the Boys and Girls Club),” Boys and Girls Club of McAllen CEO Dalinda Gonzalez-Alcantar said during a news conference Wednesday. “In fact, I’d dare to say that we do sports better than anyone across the country. Today, I believe that this is one of the examples as to how we know that we do it better than anybody else. … It’s an exciting time for hospitality. It’s an exciting time for small businesses in McAllen.”
The four-day tournament will feature seven divisions (Shetland 6U, Pinto 8U, Mustang 10U, Bronco 12U, Pony 14U, Colt 16U, Palomino 18U-High School), each competing in a double-elimination bracket.
Banners and rings will be awarded to each division’s champion and runner-up, with medallions given to the first-, second- and third-place teams.
The event also features a showcase conducted by college coaches to spotlight the abilities of some of the tournament’s players. The showcase will consist of batting, fielding, pitching and catching events, followed by a Q&A session with college coaches.
“We are so happy to be in this town,” PONY Softball Coast Region Director Debbie Falcon said. “For a long time, PONY baseball and softball supporters, the chamber and the Boys and Girls Club have demonstrated a commitment to the youth in this area that aligns with PONY’s philosophy of protecting our nation’s youth. … We’re all looking forward to a great tournament and are excited to be working with McAllen.”