Orangevale Pony Baseball

My experience with Orangevale PONY Baseball as a league was good, but the highlight was the plethora of exemplary coaches in the Pinto division.This was my son's first year playing and his is ADHD and his coaches handled him amazingly well. Not only did they manage to teach him the fundamentals of the game despite his short attention span, but they also successfully modeled what it takes and means to be a team.There were a handful of special-needs kids throughout the Pinto division and every coach handled them extremely well. The coaches did not just babysit the kids or shove them into a corner; they actively played in the games - most importantly they learned the game and had fun. There were at least 2 autistic kids, one of which started the season scared of everything and progressed to actually taking his at-bats. Every child, regardless of their abilities or handicap, played every position that was safe for them to play.I'm not saying that Orangevale PONY Baseball is a little league that specializes in special-needs children but it is obviously full of coaches with stellar character.

We have loved OVPB. In fact we drive all the way from Antelope to be apart of this league. It's well organized and it's a high level of baseball even in their recreational divisions. There is place for everyone at OVPB, from kids who are just learning to All-Stars and select players. I have 4 boys, all have in the league. 3 are still in the league and will be until high school. Proud to be apart of this organization.

I have been a part of this league for a very long time, and have been so incredibly happy with it. I have made some incredible friends and love the camaraderie that is created within the league.

My son has played in Orangevale Pony Ball for 6 years, going on 7, and has absolutely loved it. Each year he learns new skills and makes new friends. The coaches have been great and the parents and kids are helpful and supportive to one another. The league has really become part of our extended family. We can't wait for the next season to start!

Like most youth recreational ball, it's DaddyBall. Not much is learned and wrong kids go to All Stars. The concept is admirable, but execution falls short with most parents doing little. I would agree that Rachele P. post is accurate. There are a few good coaches, but most are daddies that like to play dress-up and get their jollies off of it, like fantasy leagues. Ho-hum.....when will it ever end?

Would give 0 stars if that was an option. This league should not be open to all players because they only cater to the top all star players. The board consists of the coaches of these all star players and so the rule changes mid season are purely to benefit them and their hopes to have a good all star team! The president acted like he was behind the parents but went ahead with the changes later on. The focus should be on development and knowledge of the game for every level player but instead it's on developing the top few. The coaches get to pick their top players every year so some teams have been together for 4 or more years. They do not divide the teams fairly even though they had all the kids do a "tryout" at the beginning of the season in the rain. I thought the tryout would divide the kids based on skill so the teams were evenly matched but apparently the coaches that sit on the board pick their all star players and the rest of the coaches picked their players out of a hat! I will never be supporting this league again! Not to mention how expensive it is to sign up and then you have to fundraiser and also pay for your own uniform, banner and party AND each tam has to get their own sponsors! I am sure all the money goes to their 1 all star team at the end of the season! So outraged by the morals of this league! Do not support this league! Sign your child up somewhere else where they will actually be taught something!

The league is very dedicated on creating equal opportunity for all the players at all talent levels. Just like every league out there they rely on volunteer coaches (dads and moms) to provide a positive experience and represent their brand. In all volunteer organizations you don't really know what you are getting until you work with people. This at time produces relationships that leave a negative impact, but Orangevale Pony has always stood by their rules and enforced them when necessary to provide a more positive experience for the players. They work hard in the off season to modified their rules to help create a more positive and accepting atmosphere for the coming seasons. This league has also worked and continues to work diligently to provide baseball for kids of all talent levels, and implements programs to help kids achieve the level of baseball skill they desire to achieve. They have a very dedicated group of volunteers that have a heart for the players and families that call this league home during the baseball season.