Play Ball! : Boys Win Right to Play on Little League Softball Teams

Members of the Sunshine Little League hit a home run Thursday when a Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction allowing boys to again play Little League softball.

Judge Alfred Lord said that National Little League officials in Williamsport, Pa., might have had “a rational basis” for issuing the policy change in December that banned boys nationwide from playing Little League softball this year. But, Lord said, “if the Unruh Act (California’s law against sex discrimination) applies, then I think it must be enforced by preliminary injunction where sufficient showing is made.”

The injunction goes into effect immediately but it applies only to the five softball teams that are members of the Sunshine Little League in East San Diego. Of the 62 players on those softball teams last year, 19 were boys.

Outside the courtroom, Jose Torres Jr., 10, and Louis Fuentes Jr., 14, hugged their parents and laughed as they made plans to prepare for the Little League softball season, which begins April 13.

“I’m ready to play,” Jose said. “I feel terrific and wonderful and glad that I can play softball.”

Louis, who has been playing Little League baseball and now plans to switch to a softball team, said, “I’m very happy. I didn’t think we would get the injunction. Now I can celebrate.”

The American Civil Liberties Union filed suit in February on behalf of the two boys, who both played softball last year in the Sunshine Little League.

The suit said that the National Little League policy violated California’s Unruh Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex. The suit asked for an injunction lifting the ban and allowing boys throughout California to try out for Little League softball teams.

Jose Torres Sr., manager of the Centre City Blues softball team, which had five male players (including his son) last year, was also excited.

“Boy, I feel great,” he said. “We’ve been hampered only by our practicing, but that’s no problem. We’ll just have to train a bit harder.”

Coaches and managers of the six softball teams met Thursday night to choose members for their teams.

ACLU attorney Gregory Marshall said the court has the authority to make the injunction apply statewide. But unless other boys in the state decide that they also want to play Little League softball, Marshall said, the injunction will apply only to the Sunshine Little League.

Reeve J. Jacques, attorney for the National Little League, said he would discuss the court’s decision with League officials before taking any further action.