Accused of throwing game, Snohomish team says it simply lost

  • By David Krueger Herald Writer
  • Tuesday, August 18, 2015 11:03am
  • SportsSports

New development: Central Iowa defeats South Snohomish 3-2 in Pool B play-in game Tuesday to advance to Little League Softball World Series semifinals. South Snohomish plays in fifth-place game on Wednesday.


PORTLAND, Ore. — A complicated playoff scenario at the Little League Softball World Series became even more confusing Monday amid an accusation that the South Snohomish team purposefully lost its final game in pool play.

The South Snohomish president denied the accusation, explaining that some regular starters were rested during the game and the other team hit well.

But in a statement issued Monday, Little League International officials gave the accusation credence, noting that its Tournament Committee “recently received credible reports that some teams did not play with the effort and spirit appropriate for any Little League game.”

Little League officials said they were requiring a playoff game Tuesday morning between South Snohomish and Slater, Iowa — whose coach accused South Snohomish of failing to play its game against another team in earnest.

South Snohomish, representing the West Region, lost to the Southeast champion — Salisbury, North Carolina — 8-0 Monday to finish pool play with a 3-1 record and in a three-way tie for first place in Pool B. The top two teams in the pool advance to Tuesday’s semifinals based on a predetermined tiebreaker.

According to WHO-TV in Des Moines, Iowa, South Snohomish’s loss denied a semifinal berth to Slater, Iowa, the Central regional champion which also had a 3-1 record. South Snohomish beat the Iowa team 4-3 in pool play on Sunday.

If South Snohomish had scored at least three runs Monday, the tiebreaker — based on a runs-allowed-per-inning ratio — would have allowed the Iowa team (3-1) to advance to the semifinals, according to WHO.

“It was very evident when they did the starting lineups that their four best players were on the bench and they were going to be the reserves,” Central head coach Charlie Husak told WHO. “It was very evident right away what was going on. They weren’t striving to win. We saw that and (our) girls — you could see — it took about a half an inning for them to catch on. We were trying to keep it from them, but you could see when they caught on that the tears started to pile up and it was pretty emotional.”

According to the WHO report, the South Snohomish players “were bunting with two strikes, trying to get out on purpose and swinging at balls in the dirt on purpose to record outs intentionally.” South Snohomish failed to record a hit in the game.

South Snohomish Little League president Jeff Taylor denied any wrongdoing, saying South Snohomish head coach Fred Miller opted to rest some starters who had been playing in tournaments for more than three months.

“The only thing I would say is that Fred fielded a lineup playing some girls that hadn’t gotten to have much playing time,” Taylor said. “It wasn’t a game that we absolutely had to win and the Central Iowa team took exception to that because the outcome was that they got knocked out. So they called foul, because they said we didn’t play our best players. Because of that, they protested to the tournament director and felt that that was unfair.

“It came down to they hit our pitcher,” Taylor said. “We made a lot of good plays. We didn’t go up there trying to strike out, like they’re trying to imply. We made a lineup that rested some of our players that had been playing for three months. To try to downplay the accomplishments of these girls is unfair.”

South Snohomish could have advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals with a win over the Southeast team or a loss — as long asSouth Snohomish scored two runs or less. Had South Snohomish scored three runs or more, Central Iowa would have gotten Pool B’s second semifinal berth.

In response to the uproar, Little League officials decided Monday that South Snohomish and Slater, Iowa, must participate in a one-game playoff at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning to determine the No. 2 seed from Pool B into the semifinals.

Miller did not return several phone calls Monday night. Taylor said the West coach was protesting Little League’s decision to institute a play-in game.

“At this point we’re trying to get across the point that we didn’t break any rules,” Taylor said. “Coach (Miller) has the right to put up any lineup that he feels has the chance to benefit our girls the most. He did the lineup that he felt did that.

“It was to give starters some rest. That’s purely the situation there. It wasn’t about trying to knock Central Iowa out,” Taylor said. “… So they opted to set up a play-in game for us to play Central Iowa again. The team we beat (Monday) night. … And that’s why it’s under protest.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

X
Prep roundup for Monday, March 18

Prep roundup for Monday, March 18: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.