08/12/2026
I have had several people reach out to me today about the latest LLWS eligibility scandal which led to the Oklahoma team being disqualified from the International Tournament yesterday at the Southwest Regional Tournament in Waco, due to Tulsa National Little League putting a player on their tournament team affidavit who was in fact ineligible to participate by Little League Rules and Regulations. Because this player’s eligibility was originally established based on deceit and untruthful information entered into Little League’s central registration system on the part of his parent, an entire team of otherwise eligible Oklahoma ball players have now had to pay the ultimate price due to the actions of an adult who should have known better.
I found out about this scandal via social media late last night, and rumors have been swirling like wildfire! I have been reading posts and scrolling through many different comment sections throughout the day today. The following information out of a news outlet in Tulsa, Oklahoma is the most accurate and clear depiction of what actually transpired that I have come across all day, so I wanted to share it here on our District 12 page. (Link to the full article is included here if you’d like to read through the entire 2-day write up)
“The legal battle over Tulsa National Little League’s removal from the Southwest Region Tournament continued Tuesday, as Little League Baseball asked a Texas judge to dissolve a temporary restraining order that called for Tulsa National to be allowed to play in the regional championship.
Little League Baseball filed an emergency motion asking the court to dissolve the temporary restraining order and hold an emergency hearing, arguing the organization properly disqualified Tulsa National for using an ineligible player and that complying with the court’s order is now impossible.
The filing also provides new details about the eligibility dispute that led to Tulsa National’s removal from the tournament. According to Little League, the eligibility of a Tulsa National player identified in court documents as “O.G.” depended on a sibling open-enrollment provision. Little League says the player did not meet its standard residence or school-attendance requirements for Tulsa National. Under the provision cited in the filing, a player may qualify through open enrollment if a sibling age 7 or younger actively participated and played the complete season in the league’s Challenger Division.
Little League alleges O.G.'s father registered the player’s sibling as a 7-year-old in the Challenger Division. However, the organization says the father acknowledged directly to Little League Vice President of Operations and International Tournament Director Dan Velte on Monday that the sibling was actually 10 years old. Little League also alleges the father acknowledged the sibling never participated in a practice or game with Tulsa National. The organization argues those facts invalidated the sibling exception that had been used to establish O.G.'s eligibility.
The filing acknowledges O.G. had previously been found eligible by Little League’s Charter Committee. Little League argues that previous determination was based on information it later concluded was inaccurate, specifically the sibling’s age and participation during the 2026 season.
Little League Says Three Protests Were Filed
The emergency motion also provides additional details about the protests filed against Tulsa National during the Southwest Region Tournament.
According to Little League, three protests were filed. The first was filed by Texas East before the tournament began. Little League says that protest was reviewed and found to have no basis and did not involve O.G. A second protest was filed by Texas East on Saturday, Aug. 9, followed by a third from Louisiana. Little League says both of those protests specifically raised questions about O.G.'s eligibility and prompted the Tournament Committee to conduct a formal investigation.
The Tournament Committee met Monday morning and voted to disqualify Tulsa National after reviewing the eligibility information, according to the filing. An email included with the court filing shows Little League Southwest Region Director Blaine Whitmire notified Tulsa National President Stephen Skocik of the decision at 12:36 p.m. Monday.
“Following multiple protests regarding the eligibility of players on the Tulsa National Little League Baseball team, the Little League International Tournament Committee has determined that a player who participated on the team is ineligible,” the email said. The email said Tulsa National was removed from the Southwest Region Tournament and its previous game was declared a forfeit.
Little League Says Player Participated In Oklahoma State Tournament
Little League also argues it does not matter whether O.G. played during the Southwest Region Tournament in Waco. According to the filing, O.G. participated in the Oklahoma State Tournament, which Little League considers part of the Little League International Tournament.
Little League’s filing says its rules require a team to be disqualified if facts establishing a player’s ineligibility become known after that player has participated in a game during the International Tournament. The organization therefore argues Tulsa National’s disqualification was mandatory because O.G. participated in the state tournament, regardless of whether he played in any Southwest Region games. Tulsa National advanced through the Oklahoma State Tournament before reaching the Southwest Region Tournament in Waco, where the winner earns a spot in the Little League World Series.”
A Texas judge granted a temporary restraining order after Tulsa National was removed from the Southwest Region Tournament. Texas West beat Louisiana 4-1 Monday and will now face Oklahoma on Tuesday for a spot in Williamsport.
