Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include comments from West Valley Athletic Director Kol Zuppan and West Valley High School principal Justin Byxbe.
The West Valley softball team forfeited its 14-5 win over Escalon due to an ineligible player and will no longer be playing in the NorCal regional championship game.
“West Valley played an ineligible player and thus had to forfeit the game,” Rebecca Brutlag, CIF media relations officer, confirmed to the Redding Record Searchlight. CIF was made aware of the ineligible player on Friday, June 5.
According to West Valley Athletic Director Kol Zuppan, one of the team’s players competed in a travel softball game before the June 4 matchup. This action violated CIF Bylaw 600, which states, “a student on a high school team becomes ineligible if the student competes in a contest on an ‘outside’ team in the same sport during the student’s high school season of sport.”
“I don’t think there’s an easy way to go about it, but we’re just really proud of our team. (This season) was special, and nothing can take that away from the girls,” Zuppan said. “It’s an unceremonious ending, but we earned the win on the field yesterday and the girls earned a league championship and section championship, and nothing can take that away.”
Escalon will take on No. 2 Alisal in the NorCal regional championship game at 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 6.
“Our players, coaches, families, and community invested tremendous time, effort, and heart into what has been an incredible season,” a statement from West Valley High School, signed by principal Justin Byxbe, reads. “While we are deeply saddened by this decision and the circumstances surrounding it, we remain immensely proud of our student-athletes and all the accomplishments this year. …
“While this chapter did not end as we had hoped, we know the future of our softball program remains bright. … we look forward to what lies ahead.”
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: West Valley softball forfeits regional semifinals, misses out on championship
Reporting by Lauren Jennings and Brett Abrams, Visalia Times-Delta / Redding Record Searchlight
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Lauren Jennings and Brett Abrams, Visalia Times-Delta | USA TODAY Network
