President of local North Texas Little League says he was pressured to drop his undefeated team; investigation needed – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

For a group of baseball-loving boys from North Texas, there was always one big goal.

“It was our dream to play in the Little League World Series,” said player Cooper Neumann.

“We didn’t lose a single game all season. And we just got knocked out,” said player Paul Peluso.

NBC 5 first reported how other teams complained when this particular team beat everyone. Parents of other players told us it was unfair how good this team was compared to their kids. Almost every game ended in a 0-0 victory.

Another team was so angry that they took the second place trophy and threw it in the trash, convinced that the first place team should not be allowed to play and that they were the real first place team.

However, no one could point to a rule that the undefeated team had broken, and it met all qualification requirements.

“It was the first time they played together. They were all stars. And everything that was brought up was presented to a committee in Williamsport and a vote was taken to release our team,” said Cyle Brossman, the team’s assistant coach.

NBC 5 was provided with documents showing that no wrongdoing was found at Little League International. However, days later, local league president Derek Rush received a call from Little League International.

“I was told they had received further information that again called our qualifications into question,” Rush said.

He was never told what the information was or what the rules were, but he said he was given an ultimatum.

“Pull the team out of the tournament voluntarily, or risk the other four teams being eliminated as well,” Rush told us. “In fact, they specifically told me to use the term ‘voluntarily’ in my emails.”

“They were too good. A team that didn’t want to lose. They had been in the league for a long time. They have a lot more money than Fossil Creek and their leagues,” said Greg Harper, the team’s coach.

We contacted Little League International again about this and they sent us the following statement.

While the Little League International Tournament Committee filed a protest, numerous complaints were also received from both within Fossil Creek Little League and from other leagues in the district. While the Tournament Committee reviewed the information contained in the protest, the Little League International Regional and Operations team had discussions with the Fossil Creek Little League Board of Directors, and ultimately the Fossil Creek Little League Board of Directors voluntarily withdrew the team from the tournament. Little League International remains committed to working with the district and local authorities to provide a positive, equitable experience for all players and considers this issue resolved as the state tournament continues to move forward..

When asked what specific rules the team had broken, they told us, “Little League International’s policy is not to disclose specific details of cases brought before the Little League International Tournament Committee in these matters.”

Rush, president of the Fossil Creek League, did not know what new allegation sparked this development or why. He also told us, “The Little League needs to do further investigation.”

“We want to be able to say something to our 12-year-old kids. ‘Hey, you guys played great. You’ve never lost a game. But we can’t tell you why you’re not playing anymore.’ We have nothing to say to a bunch of disappointed 12-year-olds,” Brossman said.

Unfortunately, it’s too late for the boys who watched the games without them. But all over the country, fans of the team are showing up and demanding the answers they believe the team deserves.