Francisco Cervelli’s Baseball Academy highlights field for 2025 PONY League World Series in Washington

The PONY League World series is set to return to Washington as organizers have unveiled plans for the 2025 rendition of the tournament.

The 10-team double elimination tournament will take place Aug. 8-13 at Lew Hays PONY Field in Washington.

Among the list of teams in this year’s field is Francisco Cervelli’s Baseball Academy team that hails from Rosetta, Italy.

Cervelli was a catcher for the Pirates from 2015-19, becoming a fan favorite during his time donning the black and gold.

A new team will represent this year from the Caribbean zone. The team from Barranquilia, Venezuela will make its way to Washington County for its first appearance in the tournament.

Monterrey, Mexico, will be coming back to Washington, representing the Mexico Zone. The last international team competing will be Chinese Taipei, hailing from the Asia-Pacific region.

The U.S. will have four teams from different areas of the country in addition to host Washington. They will come from the West, South, East and North zones after their respective regional tournaments, which begin July 27.

Printscape, a Southpointe-­based printing and graphics company, is back again as official sponsor.

PONY League World Series games will be televised on SportsNet Pittsburgh and NESN National. Ten games will appear be broadcast live, working around the schedule of Pirates games on the network.

Lanny Frattere will return as the lead play-by-play voice of the PONY League World Series on Sportsnet Pittsburgh.

Results, including box scores and recaps, will also be available on the GameChanger app.

World Series weekend will kick off Thursday, Aug. 7 with a new event this year, Fan Fest at the Dick’s Sporting Goods store on Washington Road.

The following day on Friday will be a variety of skills competitions, including the home run derby and other skills challenges. Opening ceremonies will take place between the first two games Friday.

Saturday will be military and first responders appreciation night. Mascot night will take place Sunday. Pirates night will be Monday. Pathways Youth night will take place Tuesday.

PONY League baseball is for 13- and 14-year-old boys. The league has 80-foot base distances and a 54-foot pitching distance. It was founded in 1951 by Hays. PONY is an acronym for Protect Our Nation’s Youth.