Taylor North has been disqualified from the 2024 Little League Baseball
According to a report from MLive, Taylor North has been booted from the Little League Baseball state tournament.
After exiting the Little League Major Baseball state tournament with a 5-1 loss to Taylor North in Monday’s quarterfinals, Bay City Southwest was informed that its title hopes were not over. Taylor North was disqualified for the use of an ineligible player, altering the course of the tournament dramatically.
Disqualification Changes the Game
The disqualification of Taylor North sends Southwest into Wednesday’s state semifinals, which were pushed back a day while the disqualification matter and rescheduling issues were ironed out. The semifinals will see Tecumseh facing Georgetown at 11 a.m. and Southwest meeting Richmond at 1 p.m. at Grosse Pointe Farms/City’s Kerby Field. The state title game is now set for noon on Thursday.
“The kids had turned the page and were ready to go play football,” Southwest coach Mike Dore said. “I asked one of our coaches to go get the kids off the football field and explain it to Coach (Joe) Willey. I’m sure he’ll understand we need them for at least one more day.”
Taylor North’s Disqualification
Taylor North, a tradition-rich program known for its frequent appearances in state finals, faced a sudden end to their tournament run. Bill Crandall, the tournament coordinator, stated that Little League was preparing a statement regarding Taylor North’s disqualification but did not elaborate further. Coach Dore mentioned he was informed it was an issue with an ineligible player, granting his team another chance at the title.
“The reaction from the parents has been shock,” Dore said. “Most of them said they thought I was messing with them. I said ‘Nope. This is happening. Get those uniforms washed and make sure the kids have their gloves and cleats ready.’”
Preparing for Another Shot
Despite the unusual circumstances, Dore and his team are focused on making the most of their unexpected opportunity. “We’ll have a light hitting practice tonight then come out and try to take advantage of a break. And I hate to call it a break because I feel terrible for those Taylor kids.”
Before each postseason tournament, teams must submit an affidavit book to the tournament host, verifying the age and residency of each player. If a player doesn’t meet these requirements, they are deemed ineligible. Taylor North had captured the District 5 championship and swept through state tournament pool play, defeating West Portage, Grosse Pointe Farms/City, and Mount Pleasant Union Township. However, their tournament run ended abruptly with Tuesday’s ruling.
You put a 11 year old thru the ringer, while grown adults and announcers run there mouths and bad mouthed the kids in a foul way…yet nothing was done to them! Are we not here for the kids anymore? In this world f hard times,divorces people being forced to move, yet you run a kid thru the ringer! After all things were turned over(documentation) you still continued to run this kid thru the mill shouting accusations to a 11 year old. Is this the politics taking over listening to an administrator who supposably serves as a leader of said team in gross point. Its a shame that Little League and the administration has gone this way,letting grown adults and said adults get away with runming there mouths tokens and nothing is being done, not even slap on the wrists. There’s a announcement on tape and video of a grown adult making comments at the end of a game, mentioning said kid infant of the teams city,Whats being done about the poor sportsmanship from adults from gross pointe. I will follow this toes how fair LittleLeague is on condoning this behavior! The said Coach of Taylor is my Son a fine Coach and mentor! How do I know this you might ask! Imentored him and hehasCoached with me for many years at the school level and travel and little league. He and his team shouldn’t have to listen to grown adults acting like kids! What are they teaching in Gross point? Little League needs to step in and and hold someone responsible for there comments to the team and the kids it effected! Im not just the run of the mill father standing up for his kid, but I will stand up for his Integrity ! I have 50 plus years of Coaching and raised to fine sons to do what is right! But they sure as hell. shouldn’t have to put up with the ridicule and lies from grown adults from Gross Point. D16 administrator Larry Fix will vouch for my integrity and my sons as they came from D16 Chuck Stubbe
Wasn’t it a kid that wasn’t on team all year til tournament?If it was that’s on both player and coach they knew what they were doing
A great mentor you say, great mentors don’t break rules to try and cheat children. He knew what he did was wrong and still did it. Not only in the State tournament but at the District tournament as well. His actions have left a sour taste in everyone’s mouth. Little League is also to blame to allow them to play in the District and State tournament this team should have been DQd from the start nothing has changed from start to finish the paperwork is still the same.