NBCDFW5 By Wayne Carter 7/5/2024
President says a representative at Little League International threatened to remove four teams from the tournament if Fossil Creek wasn't removed There was always one big goal for a group of North Texas boys who love baseball.
"It was all of our dreams to play in the Little League World Series," said Cooper Neumann, a player.
"We didn't even lose game all season. And we just got kicked out," said Paul Peluso, a player.
NBC 5 first reported how other teams complained when this particular team was beating everyone. Parents of other players told us it was unfair how skilled this team was compared to their kids. Almost every game was a shutout.
One other team was so mad that they took their second-place trophy and threw it in the trash, convinced that this first-place team shouldn't be allowed to play and that they were the real first-place winners.
However, no one could cite a rule the undefeated team broke, and they met all qualification requirements.
"It was the first time they'd ever been (played) together. They were all stars. And everything that was brought up was put in front of a committee at what at Williamsport and voted to clear our team," said Cyle Brossman, the team's assistant coach.
NBC 5 was provided with documents showing Little League International found no wrongdoings, but days later, the local league president, Derek Rush, received a phone call from Little League International.
"I was told that they received more information that again questioned our qualifications," said Rush.
He was never told what that information was or what rules were in question, but he said he was given an ultimatum.
"Voluntarily remove the team from the tournament or risk the other four teams removal as well," Rush shared with us. "In fact, they specifically told me to use the term 'voluntary' when I sent email. "
"They were too good. A team didn't want to lose. They had been in the league for a long time. They've got a lot more money than Fossil Creek does, their leagues do," said Greg Harper, the team's coach.
More:
https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/sports/little-league-texas-team-removed-update-fossil-creek/3584834/
