Historic Lew Hays PONY Field in Washington, Pennsylvania, is set to host the 2026 Printscape PONY League World Series from Aug. 7 to 12, right as PONY Baseball & Softball marks its 75th anniversary. Ten teams of 13- and 14-year-olds from across the United States and around the world will roll into town for six days of tournament play, with the Printscape championship game scheduled for 7 p.m. on Aug. 12. For Washington County, the week has become a civic ritual, as volunteers, visiting families and sponsors turn the park into a small but genuinely world-class baseball festival.
Schedule, fan fest and skills competitions
The Series opens with a DICK'S Sporting Goods Fan Fest on Aug. 6 and then shifts into on-field play on Aug. 7, when a morning skills competition presented by Washington & Jefferson College will take over the diamond. The week packs in mascot and theme nights, the Champions Game and a slate of other family attractions, all leading up to the Printscape championship on Aug. 12 at 7 p.m., as listed on the PLWS schedule.
75th anniversary and local meaning
PONY officials are treating this year's tournament as the centerpiece of a yearlong 75th-anniversary celebration, a nod to the association’s roots in Washington County and a chance to spotlight youth baseball on an international stage. "This is a very monumental occasion," PONY President Abe Key told TribLIVE, and organizers say the Series injects roughly $6.5 million into the local economy and supports thousands of tourism jobs. PONY’s North Zone has posted advance anniversary plans and background on the milestone, outlining how the organization will mark the year on the North Zone site.
Broadcast, streaming and regional reach
Every game will be available online via PLWS.TV so families and scouts can watch from afar, and select matchups will air on regional TV platforms that push the Series’ reach well beyond the ballpark. That broadcast lift, combined with sponsorships and streaming, has been a major factor in the tournament’s growth and its ability to attract international entries. The Observer-Reporter has a full rundown of the media plans and the role streaming now plays in the event.
Teams to watch and international flavor
The field mixes familiar programs and newcomers: long-time entrants from Michigan and Puerto Rico return, while international contenders arrive from Asia, Europe and Mexico. Navojoa, Mexico, will make its first trip to Washington after winning the Mexico Zone, and Paderborn, Germany, earned its berth with a dominant European run. Local and national outlets note that several games have exclusive broadcast windows, including the Bay County vs. Guaynabo matchup, and the tournament site and local reporting have the team-by-team details. See the Navojoa announcement on PLWS and the local coverage in TribLIVE.
How to follow the action
Tickets and fan information are available through the tournament’s official channels, and every game will be streamed for out-of-town relatives and recruiters who cannot make the trip. Local tourism officials and the Chamber say the Series week brings measurable business to area hotels and restaurants, and the county visitor site lists anniversary programming, travel tips and resources for fans planning a visit. Visit Washington County has a visitors' guide and more on what to expect during the week.
