Back about 10 years ago, my DD's 11U team was playing in the NSA "B" State Tournament. We had watched the team (Team A) that we were scheduled to play next the day before. When game time came, they had a pitcher that was throwing BB's that was not with the team the day before. We were thinking how could this team be in the loser's bracket with this kid pitching. The girl looked familiar, like we had seen her before. We got her name from the line-up and started looking through our score book and there she was. She had pitched against us for a different organization. When she took the mound, we noticed that the coach calling the pitches was wearing a shirt from the original organization (Team B), not the team that we were playing. When the kid came to bat, she was wearing a batting helmet from the original organization. Our coaches had a quick huddle and we decided to play the game and hold off on reporting the illegal player.
She was an awesome pitcher through the first 4 innings. Then our batters started getting hits. We came back to win the game 5-4. The last out of the game was that girl getting tagged out in a rundown between third and home. Justice!!!
After the game, we went to the state director and presented what we had found. He looked on the roster and that girl was not part of their team. That girl was on a roster for a team that was playing in the NSA "A" State tournament being held about 20 miles away. The coach for Team A and the coach from the girl's real team (Team B) were friends and Team A "borrowed" her so she could get some pitching time and also help Team A. Then the girl would go back and pitch for Team B in the NSA "A" tournament.
The State director immediately disqualified Team B from the State "A" tournament and he reported the coaches from Team A and B to the national office for further sanctions.
Was the desire to win an NSA "B" game worth the sanctions??? What about having to tell the girls on Team B that they were disqualified from the tournament because an adult, their coach, was involved in cheating? I'll bet that was an interesting meeting. Also, if you are going to illegally play for another team, don't wear equipment/uniforms from your official team.
The sad part is that the girl didn't know that she was doing anything wrong. She was just wanting to play ball. However, her Dad (also her pitching coach) knew of the rules and he decided to violate the rules. Her coach for Teams A and B knew the rules and decided to violate them.
Things that make you shake your head.
