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Tulsa National's Oklahoma baseball team is involved with yet another eligibility protest at the Little League World Series.
The Tulsa National Little League team’s eligibility scandal has put a black eye on the upcoming World Series. A new report details widespread cheating that extended throughout the Oklahoma state tournament.
It appears that only one participant was actually eligible to compete in the event. Neither team playing for the Little League World Series bid should’ve been in the finals.
Maren Angus of Sports Illustrated posted an update amid a seemingly endless controversy. What she uncovered further muddied the waters for the Southwest Region.
Tulsa National cheated.
The scandal first erupted on the softball side of the World Series with Tulsa National being disqualified from the tournament. Complaints were raised due to player eligibility. Tulsa was accused of violating eligibility regulations to stack its roster for the postseason.
Incriminating evidence was initially ignored by Little League regarding the residence of six players.
Tulsa National is being accused of “violating Little League rules regarding residence and boundary compliance, tournament eligibility and minimum games scheduled…”
The filing also accused Tulsa of entering the regional tournament as a nearly intact travel team, in direct violation of League Regulation V(d).
After a long and drawn-out mess, Tulsa National softball was DQ’d. A few weeks later, the issues surfaced on the baseball side of things.
The Oklahoma baseball team was accused of using Little League’s disability program to falsify player documents. A protest followed:
“Not only are there multiple sources that have confirmed that Tulsa National Little League did not play a Challenger game this year, there are questions regarding whether the player would even qualify for the Challenger program. Using a special needs program in this manner is so egregious that anyone involved with this should be banned for life from Little League.”
Founded in 1989, the Challenger division is Little League’s adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges. One Tulsa National player qualified through an exemption that was based entirely on his younger sibling being seven years old or younger and participating in the Challenger Division.
As it would turn out, the player’s sibling was actually 10 years old and never practiced or played in the required Challenger Division. It was a farce!
Tulsa National was granted a temporary restraining order by Judge Ryan Luna of the 414th District Court in Waco. It allowed the team to continue competition but ultimately would not stand.
On Wednesday, the decision was dissolved. Tulsa National was disqualified, much to the dismay of player parents, who blamed Little League administrators.
Oklahoma has an eligibility issue.
Maren Angus provided another update to the chaotic situation this week. She found evidence of widespread cheating throughout the state tournament.
It turns out neither Tulsa National nor Washington County was eligible to play for a chance to go to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa…
Washington County also played with a fully intact travel team known as the 11U Bartlesville Bombers, a Double-A program out of Bartlesville, Okla.
Washington County, the team that faced Tulsa National for the Little League World Series opportunity, is accused of cheating the system.
A statement was provided by Little League Oklahoma official following a vote of no confidence.
BREAKING: Oklahoma Little League officials have issued a vote of no confidence in the administration, a revocation of Tulsa National’s Charter, and a vacating of all 2025 and 2026 Oklahoma State and Southwest Regional tournament titles.
Here’s the full statement: pic.twitter.com/pfFcYgIpVk
— Maren Angus (@Maren_Angus) August 13, 2026
Oklahoma has five Little League charters. They are Tulsa National, Washington County, Oklahoma City Parks & Rec, Deer Creek Little League, and Pottawatomie County Little League. Three played in the state tournament. Two were technically ineligible. They happened to be the two that advanced furthest in the event.
As a result of the scandal, no Oklahoma team will represent the Southwest Region in the Little League World Series. It’s yet another bizarre turn in an ugly youth baseball controversy.