Sports
Woods-Shores Little League Told to Hold Re-Draft
National organization rules the Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League must re-assign players to teams in its premier, competitive division. An informational meeting has been called for Thursday night.
With opening day less than three weeks away, the Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League has had to shake up its teams.
The Little League’s national organization ruled that the Woods-Shores did not use an equitable system to select players for the teams in the major league—the premier, competitive division for children ages 9-12—according to an email from Nina Johnson, the Central Region Director of Little League Baseball and Softball.
“My office had received some correspondence that had indicated that Grosse Pointe Wood Shores LL may have used a player selection system that was not in accordance with one of the approved methods,” Johnson wrote in an email to Patch. “Upon contacting the league president, it was confirmed that the league did not use an approved player selection system.”
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“The league provided my office with a description of the method that was used and it was reviewed by the Charter Committee in Williamsport,” Johnson continued in her email. “The Committee determined that the method that was used did not provide for an equitable distribution of talent, and as a result, the league was required to conduct a total redraft of their major division.”
According to an email sent to parents, the Woods-Shores will hold its “redraft” this week and re-assign players to the various teams, even though some teams had been practicing for four to six weeks.
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The league’s opening day ceremony and parade is scheduled for Sunday, May 6, at 1 p.m.
Patch has left messages with Grosse Pointe Woods-Shores Little League president Dick Borland.
Meanwhile, an informational meeting has been scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Grosse Pointe Woods Community Center on Mack Avenue. The meeting is being held despite not having confirmation from the league board, which is normally required. However, the meeting intends to inform parents and participants what has transpired and what will happen next, according to an email sent to parents yesterday from an email associated with the league.
NOTE: This story was updated at 3:40 p.m. April 17 to correct the time teams have been practicing.
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