As I enter my 24th and final season at Hagerstown PONY League, I want to take this opportunity to thank all the players, parents and fans of PONY Baseball.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time -- for the most part (lol).

I want to tell a story to explain what PONY League has meant to my life in athletics, and to explain to parents and players today just how different the times are. We always think the grass is greener on the other side. Most of the time, it’s not.

When I played Little League at National, PONY League was the goal. You practiced hard because all the best players from all the Little Leagues were coming to PONY League.

I remember sitting in the back seat of my father’s car one day and asking:

“Hey Dad, am I throwing Opening Day?”

He took a puff of his cigarette and simply said, “No, you’re not.”

I said, “Oh, you’re saving me for Eagles?” (They were our rivals. Rod Steiner was the manager and Danny Taylor was their ace.)

He said, “No, you’re not.”

I said, “Well, when am I pitching?”

He said, “You're not. You're not a pitcher!”

I think I threw one inning in two years -- and probably needed a neck brace afterward.

I could tell a million more stories like that, but the ultimate point is this:

Back then, Hagerstown was a true community. That community included Hagerstown, Boonsboro, Sharpsburg, Smithsburg, Williamsport, Hancock and Clear Spring. Every player came to the league and played.

People always ask why we were so dominant. That’s exactly why.

Today, we’ve disavowed ourselves. Every town has its own travel teams in every sport. Competition is essential for a young player’s development — not just as an athlete, but as a person.

At National, I was a big fish in a small pond.

When I arrived at PONY League, I realized: “There are players better than me. If I want to play, I better grind.”

And I left out one of the coolest parts -- the team names: Antietam Exchange, Moose, Elks, FOP, Firefighters, Eagles, VFW, F&M Bank and many others.

We had 10 teams with 15 players each -- and they were loaded. There weren’t many easy games. Any team could beat any team on any given day.

When I was 13, we won the championship, beating the Eagles, 2–1. Jeff Miller, Danny Nigh and David “Buck” Williams were our studs.

At 14, the Eagles got revenge. Danny Taylor and Bryan Canfield beat us 2–1 in the final.

One of my fondest memories was going to Salisbury for sectionals. Players stayed with host families. The house Randy Butts stayed in gave them cantaloupe every morning for breakfast. He still says he hasn’t eaten cantaloupe since.

I went 3-for-8 in the tournament -- nothing spectacular. Chris Copenhaver and Brad Melzer had big tournaments. Danny Taylor was lights-out. Rod Eversole was exactly what my father projected when he drafted him -- the best overall 14-year-old in the league.

Then we were off to Aiken, South Carolina.

Before we left, my dad rode me hard: “Are you going to do anything in Aiken?”

I said yes — but he rode me so hard I ended up riding to Aiken with the Butts family.

We get to Aiken. My dad calls me into his room:

“Are you ready to go?”

I said, “Yes, I am.”

He says, “I’m going with you today.”

We get to the field. I’m fired up. They post the lineup. I’m looking for my name.

Not in it.

I say, “Hey Dad, I’m not in the lineup.”

He says, “I changed my mind. I’m going with Johnny Lewis. Be ready for defense.”

Johnny goes 3-for-4 with two doubles.

People have asked me over a thousand times: Who are the best kids you ever coached?

My answer: They’re ALL the best kids I’ve ever coached.

The ones who stand out aren’t always the superstars -- they’re the ones who grind, work and become better than they ever thought they could be.

My 14-Year-Old PONY League All-Star Team:

• Rod Eversole -- Best overall player in the league
• Danny Taylor -- Best pitcher in the league. Absolute stud.
• Denny Wallach -- One of the best overall players in Washington County.
• Ryan Johnston -- Fastest on the team, hit a ton, played professional baseball.
• Brian Canfield -- Second-fastest, one of our best hitters.
• Tim Miller -- Rock-solid catcher, best teammate you could ask for.
• Steve Burgan -- Best defensive catcher.
• Tim Beard -- Big, strong, could hit and run, a man amongst boys.
• Chris Copenhaver -- When you thought of power, you thought of him.
• Brad Melzer -- Big hitter and great teammate.
• Billy Flook -- Could do it all.
• John Lewis -- Great athlete, versatile.
• Larry Webster -- Only 13-year-old, dominant pitcher.
• Randy Butts -- Fantastic hitter and pitcher, played professional baseball.
• Dave Barr -- Not very good, but tried hard! Only made it because my dad was the manager.

When you talk about dominance in youth athletics in Washington County, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again:

Hagerstown PONY League is the most dominant sustainable league Washington County has ever had.

While we’ve never captured a World Series title like the Colt League (which has two and is also part of Pony Baseball), we have:

• A U.S. record 17 appearances in the 14U PONY World Series.
• Five appearances in the 13U World Series since it began in 2010.

That consistency is legacy.

In closing, my hope is that someone involved in youth baseball today reads this and decides to take over PONY League and keep it going. It would be a shame to see it fold. It’s a cornerstone for kids in this community.

If you want to challenge yourself and play against the best, go watch a PONY World Series game. Watch 14-year-olds throwing 80-plus mph from 54 feet and hitting balls 350 feet.

But it’s not just about the level of baseball.

It’s about friendships.

It’s about memories.

It’s about community.

And it’s about moments that last a lifetime.

Just like they did for me.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Dave Barr's 24-year Hagerstown PONY journey ending, legacy remains