CHICAGO, Feb. 11 (UPI) — Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is still standing behind a Little League team, accused of cheating.
Jackie Robinson West (Chicago) has been stripped of its U.S. championship title in the 2014 Little League Baseball International Tournament by little league baseball for rule violations regarding its players, according to multiple sources.
“These remarkable boys brought our entire city together and reminded all Chicagoans how important it is to support our children,” Emanuel said in a statement. “They created memories that will last a lifetime and nothing will take that away, and they showed the nation their character both on and off the field. The city remains united in its support of these great children and in our hearts, they will always be champions in Chicago.”
Little League International found that the team “falsified it’s boundary map,” according to the Los Angeles Times.
The team will vacate wins form the tournaemnt and its manager, Darold Butler, has been suspended. Illinois District 4 administrator Michael Kelly has also lost his position. By falsifying its boundary map, the team was able to build a team with players outside of the geogrpahical range that the team was meant to be comprised of.
“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 CEO Stephen D. 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.”
With Jackie Robinson West losing the title, Las Vegas Mountain Ridge Little League will claim the national accolade.
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