Thursday, August 15, 2002
Another Little League scandal?
New York team may have used ineligible kids
The Associated Press
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - A team from New York captures the imagination of its community, then conquers the opposition on its way to the Little League World Series. But allegations swirl about ineligible players. Here we go again.
With the Little League World Series set to open Friday, Little League is investigating allegations the Harlem team that won the Mid-Atlantic Regional did it with players from outside the league's boundaries.
Newsday reported Wednesday that as many as three players, including star pitcher Alibay Barkley, live outside the Harlem Little League district, according to neighbors.
Last summer's Little League World Series was dogged by scandal when Bronx, N.Y., pitcher Danny Almonte was discovered to be too old to play. Almonte's team was forced to forfeit its third-place finish after officials determined he was 14.
Last week, Little League received two anonymous messages saying three of Harlem's players lived outside the team's boundaries and that several players were too old to compete. To be eligible for this year's tournament, players could not turn 13 before Aug.1.
Those charges were investigated and disproved, Little League officials said.
But Newsday reported that three Harlem players appear to live outside the district - Barkley and shortstop-pitcher Jeremy Lopez in the Bronx, and third baseman-pitcher Andrew Diaz in Washington Heights.
Lance Van Auken, the spokesman for Little League and a member of the committee that investigates eligibility questions, said Wednesday the new allegations involve different players, and that Little League was investigating. If the team used ineligible players, it might have to forfeit its last game.
Barkley was the starting pitcher and hit a two-run homer Tuesday night when Harlem beat Lehigh Little League of Bethlehem, Pa., 5-4 in seven innings to reach the World Series.
One of the Harlem coaches, Bill McGee, declined to discuss the allegations.
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Another Little League scandal?
