Little League President On Chicago Team Stripped Of Title: 'Heartbreaking Decision'
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- The Chicago-based Little League World Series team that eliminated Philadelphia's Taney Dragons has been stripped of their 2014 U.S. Championship.
The team, Jackie Robinson West, has vacated their wins for using ineligible players.
"For more than 75 years, Little League has been an organization where fair play is valued over the importance of wins and losses," Little League International President and CEO Stephen Keener said in a statement. "This is a heartbreaking decision. What these players accomplished on the field and the memories and lessons they have learned during the Little League World Series tournament is something the kids can be proud of, but it is unfortunate that the actions of adults have led to this outcome.
"As our Little League operations staff learned of the many issues and actions that occurred over the course of 2014 and prior, as painful as this is, we feel it a necessary decision to maintain the integrity of the Little League program," Keener said. "No team can be allowed to attempt to strengthen its team by putting players on their roster that live outside their boundaries."
The league also suspended coach Darold Butler and placed the team on probation until its president and treasurer have been replaced.
Reaction here.