The Katy baseball team will not be in the state playoffs this season.
That was the resounding message sent Monday when the University Interscholastic League denied the appeals of two Katy players, who were found to have accepted money to work youth baseball games from Feb. 22 to April 11. The Tigers have been forced to forfeit the games Grant Jackman and Hayden played in during that period, which turns out to be 20 games.
“The school and the District understand this is a very unfortunate incident as the team has worked very hard during the season,” Katy School District said in a released statement. “But it is important that Katy ISD abides by the rules and regulations of the UIL, as it is expected of all school districts.”
The state executive committee voted unanimously to uphold the forfeiture which was originally handed down on April 22. The students and school had been arguing that there was a misinterpretation of the UIL Constitution Contest Rules, Section 4411, Amateur Athletic Rule.
According to the amateur guidelines, both players became ineligible to play high school ball when they accepted money from the youth league.
The rule in part says, "...A student in grades 9-12 is not an amateur if that individual, within the preceding 12 months received money or other valuable consideration for teaching or participating in a League sponsored school sport."
Jackman and Baker admitted in testimony that they made roughly $1,500 helping out with Little League games, but insist they did not coach.
