Team forfeits championship rather than play against a girl

Paige Sultzbach plays second base for the Mesa (Ariz.) Preparatory Academy baseball team. Her school does not have a softball team. So, she tried out for and made the baseball team. Mesa made it to the Arizona Charter Athletic Association championship earlier this month. They were scheduled to play Our Lady of Sorrows of Phoenix. The game never materialized. Our Lady of Sorrows decided to forfeit the championship to Mesa. Why? Well, check out the ABC 15 story below - unbelievable (email subscribers click here).


That's right. Our Lady of Sorrows forfeited the state championship because they didn't want to play a team with a girl on the field. Now, the two teams played each other twice during the regular season. In those games, Mesa agreed to sit Sultzbach out of respect for Our Lady of Sorrows' beliefs. However, Mesa would not deny her the opportunity to play for the state title. They really should have never held her out of the other two contests.

How blatantly sexist is such a rule? It's fine for Our Lady of Sorrows to have whatever policies its school community is comfortable with, but those policies should not be inflicted on others. Just because your team won't allow girls to play doesn't mean you can kick the girls off my team. Besides, Paige Sultzbach is good enough to play. Her team made it to the championship with an undefeated record. And while the national conversation has focused on Sultzbach, it should also be noted the kids at Our Lady of Sorrows were denied an opportunity as well.

Those boys missed out on a third shot at an undefeated team. As an athlete, you can live with a defeat on the field. You win some and you lose some, but Our Lady of Sorrows' school officials just handed over the trophy. It's the ultimate show of disrespect to your opponent, your players and the game. A refusal to take the field is bush league and has no place under reasonable conditions. Maybe Our Lady of Sorrows was scared of losing to a team with a girl playing.

It happens. I coached a girl in wrestling named Michelle some years ago and there was a big tournament in town. She wrestled six times in one day. Her last match was against a kid who beat her in an earlier round, but it was a brutal match. Both Michelle and the boy she wrestled had huge welts and bruises on them. When she stepped on the mat, he turned and walked away. Michelle started to cry, She thought he was snubbing her for being a girl. His mom walked over to us an said, "My son doesn't want to wrestle her again. He said she's too tough." I'm just saying. Maybe Mesa's too tough. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol

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