The Guam Baseball & Softball Academy (GBA &GSA), in collaboration with PONY Baseball, proudly announces the 11th Annual GBA/GSA/PONY Summer Skills and Games Academy, a four-week celebration of baseball and softball development featuring elite-level instruction, fun activities, and international exchange.

This year’s academy includes two weeks of baseball and two weeks of softball instruction, combining Guam’s local coaching talent with experienced visiting coaches from Japan and Saipan. Week 1 (June 15–19) and Week 3 (July 6–10) will feature instruction led by local coaches and staff, while Week 2 (June 22–26) will welcome visiting Japanese baseball coaches and Week 4 (July 13–17) will feature visiting Japanese softball coaches.

Returning to Guam this summer are former Japanese professional baseball players Shōtarō Tashiro and Ryo Akiyoshi. Shōtarō Tashiro, a former Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) outfielder, previously played for the Saitama Seibu Lions and Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Ryo Akiyoshi is a former NPB pitcher who played for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, and Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks. Their return highlights the continued partnership between Guam and Japan in promoting youth sports development and cultural exchange through baseball and softball.

The full-day academy runs from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM and is designed to provide young athletes with four hours of high-quality daily on-field instruction in hitting, pitching, fielding, catching, baserunning, game awareness, and overall player development in a positive and energetic environment. In addition to on-field training, participants will enjoy afternoon team-building activities including scrimmages, hotel swimming, bowling, movies, and other fun events throughout the summer program.

The academy also offers an all-inclusive experience featuring dugout beverages, lunch, and transportation to all off-site afternoon activities. Every participant will receive an official GBA Academy shirt and a certificate of completion.

“We are excited to once again partner with PONY Baseball and welcome back Coach Shōtarō Tashiro and Coach Ryo Akiyoshi to Guam,” said representatives from the Guam Baseball Academy. “Their experience and passion for teaching continue to inspire our athletes while helping raise the level of baseball and softball on Guam.”

The Guam Baseball Academy would also like to recognize and thank its valued sponsors and community partners for their continued support of youth sports development on Guam, including Coast 360, AK, Triple J, Discovery Learning Center, GBHWC, and Guam Guam Style Consulting LLC. Special appreciation is extended to PIC Guam for hosting the visiting coaches from Japan and helping make this international exchange experience possible.

Over the past decade, the GBA/PONY Summer Skills and Games Academy has become one of Guam’s premier youth sports development programs, attracting players from across the island while creating opportunities for athletes to learn from international coaches and instructors in a fun and competitive environment.

Program details, registration information, and schedules are available now through the Guam Baseball Academy and Guam Amateur Baseball Association social media platforms. Registration is online through Guam Time.

For additional information, please contact:

Guam Baseball Academy (GBA) Representative Mike Soderquist

Email: islandigest@gmail.com or 671-858-1238