SNOHOMISH CO., Wash. — Local Little Leaguers have no chance of winning the Softball World Series after an opposing coach claimed the team from Snohomish County cheated.
Iowa was initially knocked out of the series on Monday when South Snohomish lost to a team from North Carolina.
The Iowa league president said the sixth and seventh graders threw the game on purpose to make sure Iowa would be eliminated.
Officials from Little League found the Iowa league president's game-fixing complaint "credible" and ordered a tie-breaker game between the two teams on Tuesday. Iowa won by a score of 2-3 and will advance. South Snohomish will come home after a consolation game on Wednesday.
The South Snohomish Little League president released a statement to KIRO 7's Amy Clancy on the scandal that cast a dark cloud over the end of a nearly undefeated season.
Statement from South Snohomish Little League
“The South Snohomish Little League would first like to thank our community and our families that have continued to provide support and encouragement to our young softball girls. They have been through a gauntlet the last 24 hours and have had a very difficult and emotional time.
“First and foremost, we want to restate that our league upholds the standards set forth in the Little League pledge, and we expect our teams, coaches and board members to do so as well.
“For all the volunteers at the South Snohomish Little League, the most troubling aspect of yesterday’s event is that it diminished the accomplishments of our fantastic softball team.
“Our coach was faced with a decision that, in the bubble of intense competition, appeared to him to be in the best interest of our team. In hindsight, it is very likely he would have made a different choice. Though the decision that Coach Miller made did not violate the letter of the rules, I can see abundant evidence that it was not in line with the spirit of the game.
“Once we have an opportunity to examine what transpired, we will be able to learn from these events in Portland. We will make sure that we are doing all that we can to provide our players with the opportunity to compete in a way that honors their commitment to fair play and open competition.
“Finally, we hope that everyone remembers that the decisions that have placed our team under scrutiny were decisions made by the coach. Our young ladies had no role in that. In fact, they have fought their hearts out to be in the World Series and nothing should take away from that accomplishment."
KIRO
