Snohomish Little League accused of throwing World Series game

The Snohomish Little League team was accused of intentionally losing Monday night’s game in the softball World Series to eliminate its toughest competition.

The team lost 8-0 to North Carolina, resting many of its stars. The team not only lost, it did not record a hit

There are a lot of coaches who will work in a gray area in order to give themselves an advantage, according to KIRO Radio reporter Chris Sullivan, a former Little League All-Star coach. Some call it a strategy.

The loss left Snohomish, North Carolina, and Iowa in a tie for first place at the end of Pool Play. Only two teams advance, and because of tie-breaker rules, Snohomish and North Carolina moved on. Iowa’s coach protested, accusing Snohomish of throwing the game to eliminate his team from the tournament. He said Snohomish was swinging at balls in the dirt and intentionally getting out.

“How about you try as hard as you can?” asked KIRO Radio’s John Curley.

“[Strategy] may be great when you’re a professional, but when you’re dealing with 11 and 12-year-old kids, that sends the wrong message if, in fact, that was the intention,” Sullivan argued.

Little League International issued a statement, saying, “The Little League International Tournament Committee recently received credible reports that some teams did not play with the effort and spirit appropriate for any Little League game.”

And because of that ruling, Snohomish was forced to play the team it was accused of trying to duck &#8212 Iowa &#8212 in a one-game, winner-take-all game.

This type of strategy is never the kids’ idea, according to coach Sullivan.

“I always say 99 percent of people, if given the opportunity, will work the system to their advantage,” Curley said. “The system was open, they had a gap, they went in there, and took advantage of it. I’m not condemning them.”

Snohomish lost to Iowa, 3-2, pushing them to the fifth place game against Uganda on Wednesday morning. Snohomish is out of the semi-finals and has no chance at a final four game.

The district issued a statement following Tuesday’s game:

“Throughout all of the tournaments these girls from South Snohomish represented the best of Snohomish County. In every game they played hard and they played fair, they competed to the best of their ability and they demonstrated great sportsmanship throughout every tournament.”

KIRO Radio’s Chris Sullivan contributed to this report.