Iowas Little League World Series team accused of sign stealing in wild drama
An Iowa team is headed to the Little League World Series, but it’s being accused of cheating to get there.The Iowa team’s tournament-clinching victory is facing accusations that they were illegally stealing signs.Davenport Northwest, who defeated Whitefish Bay of Wisconsin, 7-6, in Friday’s Midwest Regional Championship to earn a trip to Williamsport, were accused of stealing signs and tipping off their hitters during the bottom of the second inning.A baserunner on second, from Davenport Northwest, was seen gesturing toward his teammate in the batter’s box, which the Whitefish Bay seemed to catch on to.“They’re taking signs on second,” Wisconsin’s catcher said to team manager Kyle Fox in a huddle after the team gave up an RBI double.There is an important distinction between Little League and higher levels of baseball.In Major League Baseball, a runner recognizing a catcher’s signs without using technology or other assistance is generally not illegal, although it is frowned upon, depending on who you ask.Little League has stricter regulations, with rules that disallow players and coaches from stealing and relaying signs.There has been no indication that Davenport’s victory will be overturned, and officially, they did win 7-6 and are headed to Williamsport.This comes at the end of a week where just days earlier, the Little League World Series determined that Tulsa National had an ineligible player on its team.The parents for Tulsa National got a temporary restraining order for the Southwest Regional Championship, though it was later vacated in court.Little League Baseball issued a statement on the matter.“We appreciate the Court’s timely and considered decision to vacate the Temporary Restraining Order, allowing enforcement of the Tournament Committee’s decision to remove Tulsa National Little League from the Southwest Region Tournament and declare its previous game a forfeit.
The decision upholds our commitment to a fair and equitable exper...