A Texas youth softball team is banned from league play amid allegations of racial taunting, but the player’s family calls for more action.<\/p>\n
BRYAN, Texas \u2014 Serious allegations of racial taunting at a girls\u2019 youth softball game in Texas have led to a team being banned from league play. But the family of the biracial player at the center of the incident says the punishment is not enough.<\/p>\n
The allegations stem from a May 9 matchup between Texas Charm and the Texas Terminators. According to the family of a 13-year-old Terminators pitcher, players on the opposing team directed monkey-like noises toward her during the game.<\/p>\n
Video from the game captures what appear to be the noises during multiple points, including while the pitcher was on the mound, at bat, and even during postgame handshakes.<\/p>\n
Heather Lee, the pitcher\u2019s mother, said the behavior began early and continued throughout the game.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt carried on through the entire rest of the game,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n
She said her concerns were confirmed by others watching, including parents and even her husband, who was in the dugout.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy husband texts me and he’s like, \u2018Are they doing what I think they’re doing?\u2019\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Lee said she did not see any effort on the field to stop it.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing. I didn’t notice any let up on it at all,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Texas Terminators head coach Louie Matta said he also heard the monkey-like noises and immediately raised concerns with the umpire.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe elected to not get involved and told us that unless the opposing team is verbally saying derogatory terms. he’s not going to do anything about it,\u201d Matta said.<\/p>\n
Matta said he also approached the opposing team\u2019s coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe denied the meaning behind the monkey noises,\u201d Matta said.<\/p>\n
After the game, Lee said she had a difficult but important conversation with her daughter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just told her that it’s very serious that people do these things, because not only does it start there. Potentially, it could be something that leads to harming you, and you have to recognize it. She\u2019s very strong, and she said, \u2018I know who I am,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n
Matta said he later contacted tournament officials and sent them video evidence but initially did not receive a response.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re still waiting,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In a statement, USSSA South Texas State Director Shannon Gonzalez said the organization has since completed its investigation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe concluded our investigation and the team Texas Charm is banned from playing in USSSA tournaments.,”\u00a0USSSA South Texas State Director Shannon Gonzalez told KHOU 11.<\/p>\n
Still, the pitcher\u2019s family says the decision falls short.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe deserves an apology of some sort or some kind of acknowledgement that this isn’t the behavior that they tolerate,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n
KHOU 11 also reached out to Texas Charm for comment. Head coach Michael Gongora responded with a statement calling the allegations false.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are aware of the false accusations against us as a team. The character of our players and this team, as a whole, are of the utmost importance. Further discussion on this matter will be directly with the USSSA organization,\u201d Gongora said.<\/p>\n
The family says they are speaking out not just for their daughter, but to ensure it doesn\u2019t happen to other young athletes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t want it to happen to any child. They\u2019re 13, paying a game that they love,\u201d Lee said.<\/p>\n