Lincoln East was ruled as the American Legion champion in Nebraska after a bizarre disqualification involving an ineligible baseball player led its opponent to forfeit. The second-place finisher will now be replaced by the fourth-place finisher at the regional tournament.
The American Legion’s outdated rules on eligibility created this unique situation.
It is choosing to punish one of its top baseball programs because one of its top players tried to get recruited. The disqualified coaching staff remains upset with the decision.
American Legion rules forbid outside baseball competition.
Founded in 1925, the American Legion is open to players aged 13 through 19. The youth baseball league is split into two divisions, Junior and Senior. Junior is for ages 13-16. Senior is for ages 16-19.
This specific controversy relates to the latter.
League rules prevent its players from competing at outside showcases, camps and/or tournaments during ongoing competition. For example, a high school baseball player cannot participate at a recruiting showcase in the middle of an American Legion tournament.
Therein lies the issue with Nebraska!
Lincoln Southwest was disqualified.
Lincoln Southwest played its way through the Nebraska state tournament to face Lincoln East in the championship game. However, the national American Legion committee removed Lincoln Southwest from the tournament just hours before first pitch due to an eligibility issue.
The ineligible athlete supposedly pitched at a Perfect Game camp during the American Legion tournament. That is against the rules. He was not eligible to play in the semifinal game.
Lincoln Southwest, whether knowingly or not, played him anyway.
The decision to play an ineligible athlete proved costly. They were disqualified.
As a result of the ban, Lincoln Southwest is not allowed to compete at the Central Plains Regional tournament. Both the first- and second-place finishers in Nebraska advance to the next round.
Lincoln East will do so. Lincoln Southwest will not.
Elkhorn North replaces Papio South.
As soon as Lincoln Southwest was disqualified, American Legion selected Papio South as the replacement. Papio South previously lost to Lincoln Southwest in the semifinal.
There was only one problem.
Papio South was not prepared to play the Nebraska state championship on such short notice. It chose to forfeit.
The decision to forfeit, in addition to the disqualification, led Lincoln East to be named as the champion. Papio South was crowned as the default runner-up and, in turn, advanced to the regional tournament.
That won’t be happening either!
Upon further reflection, Papio South realized it does not have enough players to compete at the regional tournament. Too many of the kids (and their families) are on vacation.
With Lincoln Southwest and Papio South both out, American Legion tapped Elkhorn North.
Elkhorn North lost to Lincoln East in the semifinal. It technically finished third at the Nebraska state tournament after the controversial disqualification was announced. Lincoln Southwest is not happy!
Assistant baseball coach Joe Fagler expressed his frustration through sarcasm.
“Can’t wait to see the pictures on Facebook of all these vacations,” he quipped.
I think Fagler is questioning the validity of these vacations. It seems to me like he is not convinced that Lincoln East’s players and their parents are actually unable to play in the regional tournament but I cannot say for certain. He is obviously displeased with the decision either way. American Legion chose to rob his kids of an opportunity because they tried to get recruited.
Regional play begins later this week. Lincoln East and Elkhorn North will represent Nebraska.