by MOSES LEOS III
Earlier this week, Hays CISD Public Information Officer Tim Savoy acknowledged that the Hays Rebel softball team had forfeited a previously won district contest due to an ineligible athlete.
During the first Hays/Lehman softball game on Feb. 26, the Rebels had an ineligible player on their roster. The Rebels would go on to win the contest 11-0.
In the University Interscholastic League (UIL) rulebook, Section 1207 (c): “In the event an ineligible contestant is used in any League game or contest, knowingly or unknowingly, the minimum penalty shall be forfeiture of the game, contest or event.”
“The player was not academically ineligible,” said Savoy in an emailed response. “The player’s previous athletic participation form was not on file at the time of the game. It was a paperwork filing error, but it still resulted in forfeiting the game. “
Savoy said the penalties Hays would incur only extended to the Lehman-Hays softball game. No other forfeitures or penalties will be assessed against the team.
Prior to the incident, the Rebel softball program was in the midst of a 15-game winning streak, with a 7-0 mark in District 27-4A play. Additionally, the Rebels had been ranked second in the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) 4A State softball poll.
In the record books, Hays record now stands at 21-2-1 overall, 6-1 in district.
