Report: Eligibility of Oklahoma Little League softball players called into question

TULSA, Oklahoma (KWTX) - The eligibility of Little League softball players on Team Oklahoma is being called into question following their Southwest Region Tournament win and third place finish at the Little League Softball World Series.

In an extensive report by KTUL in Tulsa, a coach, and other current and former Little League administrators voiced their concerns about the eligibility of the some players on the team from the Tulsa National Little League.

In NewsChannel8’s reporting, Kelsey Looman, a public relations board member for Deer Creek Little League in Edmond, Oklahoma, was asked by a parent if their daughter could play for Deer Creek Little League. That request was denied due to boundary rules.

“Even if they joined another Little League, they’d have to redshirt their first year. But then we saw that same girl playing for Team Oklahoma in the Southwest Regionals,” Looman explained to KTUL.

Looman says she made reports on possible rule infractions by the Tulsa National Little League.

“Our district administrator, who also happens to be the person who runs Tulsa Little League, loads the team,” Looman said.

Kenneth Crawford, a former assistant district administrator for Oklahoma Little League tells NewsChannel8 that in a phone call he recorded last year, Mindy Abbott, the current district administrator for Oklahoma Little League, admitted to recruiting from club teams in the area.

According to Little League rules, players must play a minimum of eight regular season games to be eligible for tournament play.

Kevin Zappe the head coach of Texas East out of Hallettsville, Texas also voiced his concerns about the legitimacy of Team Oklahoma to KTUL.

“They have a manager’s meeting, and that’s where we found out that Oklahoma had shown up and never played a game before. So, there’s red flags going off everywhere because in Little League that’s illegal,” Zappe said.

Texas East fell to Oklahoma 6-2 in an elimination game one game prior to the Southwest Region Tournament Championship game.

NewsChannel 8 reached out to the Southwest Regional Little League, which issued the following statement:

“Upon the review of a protest filed against the Tulsa National Little League in the Little League Softball division, the Little League International Tournament Committee, in conjunction with the Southwest Region Office, has determined that Tulsa National Little League has provided supporting documentation consistent with what is required to meet Little League Regulations regarding tournament team and player eligibility. If it is later determined that the facts presented by any tournament team are inaccurate, the Little League International Tournament Committee reserves the right to impose additional penalties, including suspension or revocation of tournament privileges for the entire league, team, manager, and/or players involved.”

As it pertains to the Waco area, Midway Little League who represented Texas West in the tournament lost to Oklahoma 5-2 in an elimination game during the tournament.

Rebecca Smith, coach of the Midway Little League Softball team released the following statement to KWTX on Wednesday (8/13):

“I’ve been involved with Little League a very long time and I know first-hand how strict the rules are in regard to player eligibility for All-Star teams. I also know that the heart and intent behind these rules is an effort to uphold the true community aspect Little league has always been known to represent, which in my opinion makes it special and set-apart from other sports models. If the allegations in regard to team Oklahoma are true, I would certainly be disappointed and disheartened by the lack of consistent application of clear rules, which ultimately reflects the integrity (or lack thereof) of the organization and the people who lead it.”

Oklahoma would go on to beat Louisiana 7-0 in the Southwest Region Tournament championship game to advance to the Little League Softball World Series, where they would finish in third place beating North Carolina 3-2 in the consolation game.