Santiago Forfeits 11 Baseball Victories

Santiago’s baseball team will miss the playoffs after forfeiting its 11 victories for using a player who violated Southern Section rules by competing in an amateur league, Cavalier Coach Paul Allen said.

The player, a starter, competed in the Sunday league during the entire season. “I know what’s right and what’s wrong, and this was wrong,” Allen said. “He should have known better. He knew the rules, and the rules were broken.”

Santiago was alone in third place in the Garden Grove League standings with records of 11-9 overall and 7-5 in league before the forfeiture, which will allow Garden Grove to move up to the third position and Pacifica to move up and claim the league’s fourth guaranteed playoff berth. The Cavaliers are 0-20 and 0-12 heading into Thursday’s season finale against Santa Ana.

Allen said he was most disappointed that his two seniors other than pitcher Brian Pilkington, a professional prospect, will be denied a chance to compete in meaningful competition. “That is probably the last time they had a chance to go someplace,” Allen said.