Aug 2, 2022 4 min read

If Tyler Rubasky has a problem to solve, he certainly has the time to resolve it.

For each practice session and game day, Rubasky, the manager of the Washington County Pony All-Stars, makes a little more than two-hour drive from Elkins, W.Va., to reach the fields.

So every new wrinkle, every position change, and every other little problem that can crop up with 13- and 14-year-olds gets a thorough going over in Rubasky’s mind to prepare his players for the Pony League World Series, which gets underway Friday at Lew Hays Pony Field.

“I live in Elkins, W.Va., so it’s about a two-hour-and-15 minute trip,” Rubasky said. “What do I do for two hours and 15 minutes? I think how we can get better. I thought about the ride but I thought this would be an awesome experience. The drive is a lot sometimes, but the people I’ve been around have been very supportive.”

Rubasky is a graduate of Hazelton High School and Waynesburg University. The past two years, Rubasky has coached at Davis & Elkins.

“We’re pretty well balanced,” said Rubasky. “I think we’re really starting to come together.”

The players on this team are flexible and multi-talented. Everyone can pitch, the team has three strong catching candidates and there is more than enough speed to pressure the opposing defense.

“We’re ultimately trying to play team baseball,” said Rubasky. “How do you manufacture runs? How are we going to execute? What are the things we have to work on to get the job done? But at the end of the day, we’re going to win the Pony World Series, then these guys are going on with their careers. I don’t want an immediate fix. I want it to be something they can carry with them the rest of their careers.”

All the players are from the Founders League.

Power is at the root of the Washington County All-Stars lineup, none better than Anthony Giorgi. And none taller, either.

“I joke all the time with Anthony Giorgi,” Rubasky said. “He’s like 6-4 but I swear he grows a couple inches every time I see him.”

L.J. Zidek is another player who puts the barrel of the bat on the ball. He can play all outfield positions but mainly starts in center field.

Zidek comes out of the Beaver Valley baseball organization and played on the Washington Rebels travel team.

“It’s a great organization,” said Zidek, who is in the Trinity School District. “They have great coaches and great training. They have a good history.”

Zidek played played on Turturice and Associates in the Founders League.

Nico Patragas, who came up through the Canonsburg youth leagues, said he knows the secret to winning games in the world series.

“Pitching wins games,” he said. “Not hitting.”

Sam Stout plays catcher and first base. He is interchangeable with Patragas. He is the lone player who came up through the McGuffey youth leagues on the roster.

“I’m more a contact guy, just trying to put the ball into play,” Stout said. “I see a lot of speed on this team. That puts pressure on the defense. You gotta make plays.”

In the infield, Ian Miigyanko and Zach Shrader have played mostly third base and four players – M.J. Marushak, Hayden Stack, Ben Taczak and Cayden Laskosky – are mixed and matched at shortstop and second base.

Three players – Giorgi, Stout and Patragas – can handle first base. And the outfield spots are filled by either Matt Kocan, Dominick Canali, A.J. Andronis, Sam Wade or Sebastian Shulsky.

“They all pitch,” said Rubasky. “You never know what’s going to happen. Your starter could walk the first four guys. You have to go out and get him and someone else needs to be ready.”

For Rubasky, the emphasis is on team.

“I think it takes a total team effort to win games,” he said. “You have to have the right attitude and the belief you’re going to win it all.”