Japan Pony League brings its A Team to Clark Stadium

Photos by Steve Zaw

by Kevin Cody

“The best thing about our visits is the home stays,” Takeharu Nasu said between innings last Wednesday at Clark Stadium, in Hermosa Beach. The Okinawa A Team first baseman was one of 64 Japan Pony League players visiting the South Bay for games against the Hermosa Allstars, Redondo Sunset Allstars, Redondo High, West High frosh, Torrance Babe Ruth, and DaVinci High. The visiting players were hosted by local Little League families.

The Japan U14 A Team with Hermosa U14 Allstars (not in order) Noah Golob, Peter Nussbaum, Jonah Maycon, Mac Taw, Camden Chen, Parker Shott, Charlie Carroll, Kenji Zaw, Lleyton Hill, Josh Anger, and Theo Kimble.

The Japan A team defeated the Hermosa, no doubt inspired by attending the previous night’s Angel game when Shohei Ohtani drove in the first run, and scored the second run in the Angels’ 7-5 victory over San Francisco.

Mac Taw welcomes Japan A team’s catcher. Looking on is umpire, and former HBLL president Trent Stamp.

“Clark Field has produced millions of incredible moments for Hermosa families over the past 72 years. The Hermosa versus Japan exhibition game of 2023 has to rank very close to the top of that list, HBLL president Mark Mamber said following the game.

Parker Shott, and a Japan A Team player exchange commemorative coins.

The exchange program was founded by Chuck Ono, of 310 Baseball, in 2017, when he was the president of Redondo Sunset Pony Baseball. Since then 310 Baseball has coordinated visiting Japanese on three occasions, and sent South Bay teams to Japan on two occasions.