Santa Clarita South to Forfeit 14 Victories

The Santa Clarita South American Legion baseball team, 14-3 and apparently headed for the playoffs, must forfeit all of its victories, Coach Tim O’Brien said Tuesday.

O’Brien said he was notified Monday night by District 20 Commissioner Mel Swerdling that his team had been using an ineligible player. Swerdling had no comment.

“This is unbelievable to me,” O’Brien said.

State legion officials, who are expected to detail the violation to O’Brien in a letter this week, said the team did not follow procedure when outfielder Chris Wright switched from the Newhall-Saugus team at the start of the season to Santa Clarita South.

O’Brien, a five-year varsity assistant at Hart High who is a first-year legion coach with a brand new team, said he meticulously followed Swerdling’s guidelines for Wright’s transfer.

“If we were 7-9 or 8-8, nobody would be complaining,” O’Brien said. “Nothing underhanded or devious was done.”

Santa Clarita South also has been accused of violating a “base school” rule.

Santa Clarita South’s base school is Valencia High, but 16 of the team’s 17 players attend Hart.

Legion bylaws prohibit any school from serving as base school for more than one legion team. Hart is the base team for Newhall-Saugus.

O’Brien said Swerdling knew about his team’s makeup.

“We’re not trying to circumvent any rules,” O’Brien said. “I’m just doing what I’ve been told.”

O’Brien said he studied the state rule book thoroughly and knows the guidelines for eligibility. But one veteran legion coach said a number of rules that are enforced nationwide are not included in the state book.

The coach, who asked not to be identified, said special waivers are necessary for every Hart player, not just Wright. He also said several other area teams could face punishment.

Santa Clarita South, now 0-17, will be allowed to play out the remaining two weeks of the season.