Wednesday, February 4th was National Girls and Women in Sports Day. It is an annual celebration honoring the achievements of girls and women in athletics and recognizing the importance of equal opportunity in sports. It was first observed in 1987 and has only grown bigger since then.
This week, we highlighted the women who serve on PONY Baseball and Softball’s International Board of Directors, Eva Arambula, Stephanie Allen, and Debbie Falcon.
Eva Arambula is the West Zone Softball Director and serves on the International Board of Directors.
Eva has always been deeply involved in sports and has had a lifelong passion for softball and athletics of all kinds. With 28 years of volunteer service and 23 years active in the softball world, she has built extensive experience both on and off the field. A parent of three children and proud grandparent of twins, she balances family life with leadership in youth athletics. In addition to helping run a nonprofit organization, she is committed to growing and strengthening PONY Softball in the West Zone by increasing participation, expanding opportunities, and deepening community engagement.
To Eva, National Girls and Women in Sports Day is about girls and women of all ages having fun, lifting each other up, and embracing empowerment.
Stephanie Allen serves PONY Baseball and Softball in many roles, including on the International Board of Directors, 
CorporateSecretary, Chairman of the PONY Softball Committee, and North Zone Softball Director. She also made history as the first woman to serve on the Executive Committee.
She began her career as an elementary teacher in her hometown of Herrin, Illinois, serving the local school district for more than 25 years before transitioning into her current role as Athletic Director and Assistant Principal at Herrin High School. As the first female Athletic Director in the school’s history, she considers it both a privilege and a responsibility to advocate for women’s sports alongside all athletic programs.
“National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebrates women athletes across all sports. It means the world to me to witness the progress and opportunities made possible through Title IX. As a lifelong athlete, these opportunities have enriched my life and the lives of countless girls and women.”
She takes pride in contributing to a respected international organization and is grateful for National Girls and Women in Sports Day, which celebrates the milestones that continue to create meaningful opportunities for girls and women nationwide.
Debbie Falcon’s journey with PONY Baseball and Softball began in 2002 as a Field Director, followed by
roles as Section Director and 
Region Director. She currently serves as South Zone Softball Division Director and is on the PONY Baseball and Softball International Board of Directors
Debbie brings the same passion to her professional life that she brings to sports. She has been with her current employer, a prominent law firm, since 1986, beginning her career in the early 1980s as a single mother attending community college while working part time. With the support of family and friends, she steadily advanced from part-time file closer to legal assistant and paralegal, a role she continues to enjoy nearly four decades later.
Now happily married, Debbie is the mother of four, grandmother of 22, and great-grandmother of six. Her large family is deeply involved in athletics, including basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, football, swimming, track, and jiu-jitsu.
Sports have been a constant in her life. She began playing at age 10, continued through high school, and competed in co-ed softball until age 40. She later stayed involved as a parent, coach, league officer, and league president.
For Debbie, nothing compares to seeing young athletes grow in confidence and celebrate their success. The most rewarding moments come from watching young athletes grow, whether it’s a 6-year-old finally connecting bat to ball or a teenager hitting a grand slam. The joy on their faces, she says, makes every effort worthwhile. Her message to athletes is simple: be smart, play hard, and always remember to have fun.