CRANBERRY TWP — Butler County’s southwestern-most township is developing quite a reputation when it comes to PONY baseball.

The Cranberry Township Federation 14 team recently won the East Zone/West Region title by sweeping its three opponents in Westmoreland County.

The performance sends the squad to the PONY World Series in Washington, Pa. Cranberry’s first game in the 10-team, double-elimination tournament is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday against host Washington.

Ten of the 11 players on this year’s team competed for Cranberry’s 13-year old team that made the World Series in California in 2010.

“I can’t say that we expected to get back here,” said Cranberry coach Ron Bondo. “We knew we had to get better and lady luck has to be on your side.”

Cranberry (30-2) competes in the North Hills Federation League with 14 other teams, including Butler, Shaler, Brad-Mar-Pine and West View-Ross.

“There are some very good teams in our league,” said Bondo. “Three of the final four teams in our zone were us, Butler and West View-Ross. It was very good baseball and it prepared us well.”

To make the World Series, a team has to be strong all over the field and that is the case with Cranberry.

“Our top four pitchers from last year are back,” said Bondo. “We seldom give up more than two runs in a game.

“We’re batting over .500 as a team and our fielding is fantastic,” he added. “We’re solid in all areas and the best part is it’s an even nicer group of kids. They’ve worked very hard.”

Cranberry’s Federation team includes players who not only play at a high level, but also make a year-round commitment to the sport.

“We had only 13 players at our tryouts,” said Bondo. “There are some really good baseball players in Cranberry Township, but a lot of them do other things. We hold offseason workouts and some kids decide it’s just not for them.”

Last year’s 13-year-old team went 0-2 in California, but Bondo is hoping for improved play this time.

“Last year, my goal was just for the kids to have fun, to enjoy themselves,” said Bondo. “We won our zone on a Tuesday and flew to California on Thursday. The kids got very little sleep, but we’re treating it a lot differently this time.

“We’re going to be sleeping in our own beds. We’re one of the home teams and we want to represent the area well.”