CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) — Eastlake Little League responded to media reports of controversy with fellow district youth baseball league, Park View, citing a recent "false" report by a local radio station.
Eastlake told 10News that the league's officials had no part in putting together a protest against fellow District 42 league, Park View Little League, alleging residency and school enrollment violations.
The timing of this protest comes as Park View seeks its third trip to the Little League World Series in nine years.
RELATED: Chula Vista's Park View Little League crowned SoCal Champs
The complaint, submitted by a group of Eastlake parents, surrounded Park View player residency and school enrollment requirements, according to a statement from Eastlake Little League treasurer Shane Stroberg.
"Eastlake Little League and the Board of Directors as a whole did not support, perform or pay for any information gathering regarding the Park View All Stars," Stroberg told 10News in a statement.
In a separate statement, Little League International Director of Media Relations Kevin Fountain told 10News that Little League officials had "not found any reason to deem Park View Little League ineligible from the Little League International Tournament" following the complaint.
He added that Park View had submitted additional documents to support residency and school enrollment requirements of its players:
Little League International acknowledges that a protest was filed earlier in the tournament against Park View Little League through its Regional Offices regarding residency and school enrollment eligibility. Park View Little League has provided additional documentation as requested to support the residency and school enrollment eligibility requirements of all the players on their 2018 Little League Baseball tournament team in accordance with Little League’s residency/school enrollment requirements. Based on the information that has been provided, Little League International has not found any reason to deem Park View Little League ineligible from the Little League International Tournament.
Stroberg told 10News that "false reporting" by local radio station Mighty 1090 AM prompted the league to respond. He did not specify what details reported by Mighty 1090 were incorrect:
Eastlake Little League and the Board of Directors as a whole did not support, perform or pay for any information gathering regarding the Park View All Stars. A group of parents in the league, who have remained anonymous, took it upon themselves and utilized their own resources to gather the information that was submitted by them. Eastlake Little League did not submit the information to anyone, it was submitted anonymously by this group of parents. The League and Board will not comment on the information gathered or Park View All Star players in any way other than wishing them and their coaches the best of luck!
Stroberg added that the league would continue its tradition of sending financial support for transportation to whichever team emerges to represent the West in the Little League World Series.
Park View's 12U team, known as the "Green Monsters," has stomped the competition this season, going undefeated through 11 games. The team is currently hoping to capture its third world championship appearance in Williamsport, PA.
Park View's All-Star team heads into the Western Regional tournament in San Bernardino this weekend. Eastlake's team is no longer in tournament play.
Multiple media outlets previously reported that Eastlake parents resorted to hiring a private investigator to look into where some Park View players lived and attended school. Those findings were reportedly a part of the protest submitted to Little League officials.
Fountain and Stroberg declined to elaborate on the details of the submitted complaint.
