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Two more Southwest Region Little League Softball teams have filed protests in Waco, Texas, bringing the total to three in three days.
Greater Helotes (Texas West) and Eastbank (Louisiana) followed Industrial Little League’s (Texas East) lead by filing protests on Sunday night and Monday afternoon.
The protest from Texas West is similar to the one filed by Texas East, according to an email obtained by Softball On SI.
The complaint challenges the eligibility of Tulsa National Little League (Oklahoma) and references “residency requirements, tournament roster compliance, and administrative conduct that, if substantiated, directly impact the integrity of the 2026 Little League Softball Tournament.”
“Little League has built its reputation on fairness, integrity, and providing every child an equal opportunity to compete under the same rules,” Chelsea Owens, president of GHLL, writes. “We believe those principles are best protected through a transparent, impartial, and comprehensive review process.
“Because the Southwest Region Tournament is currently ongoing, we respectfully request that this matter be reviewed on an expedited basis to preserve the integrity of the tournament and ensure that any necessary action can be taken while meaningful remedies remain available.”
The protest filed by Eastbank Little League is slightly different from the previous two and claims that Oklahoma falsified official documents.
Eastbank chose to go this route after Little League Vice President of Operations and International Tournament Director Dan Velte reportedly denied the protest filed by Texas East.
Softball on SI obtained the protest submitted by Eastbank Little League, in which the protest claims that the Tournament Eligibility Affidavit itself, filed by Tulsa National Little League, contains falsified information by the Tulsa National Little League coach, Jonathan Arias, League President, Steve Skocik and Oklahoma District 1 District Administrator Mindy Abbott, misrepresenting the eligibility of the players from Tulsa National Little League.
Louisiana filed its protest an hour before taking the field against Oklahoma on Monday afternoon and chose to play the game because the coaches did not want to negatively affect the players’ experience at the region tournament.
Oklahoma won the game 10-1.
Eastbank is asking the Southwest Region to look into two players who don’t live within the Tulsa boundary and didn’t go to school there either.
“These violations for falsifying a tournament affidavit have raised questions regarding if any of the information in the affidavit is true,” the protest reads. “As a result, we request: Immediate investigation into the above two players’ residency verification to validate the information in the affidavit is falsified. Disqualification of ‘Team Oklahoma’ from all 2026 postseason play. Disciplinary action against District Administrator Mindy Abbott and Steve Skocik for knowingly signing falsified information in a tournament affidavit.”
Softball On SI contacted Little League International for comment and did not receive a response.
Texas East Files First Protest
Industrial Little League set the tone for the Southwest Region Tournament by filing the first of three separate protests in Waco, Texas, on Saturday.
Texas West accused Tulsa National Little League of violating Little League rules regarding residency and boundary compliance, tournament eligibility, and minimum scheduled games.
“We understand that reviewing this matter may require additional time and effort, and we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause,” Industrial Little League president Jamie Lankford wrote in an email to Senior Director of Regional Operations Corey Wright and Southwest Region Director Blane Whitmire. “Our intent is not to create unnecessary difficulties or disrupt the tournament. Rather, we believe it is our responsibility to advocate for our players and to ensure that all teams are participating under the same eligibility standards established by Little League.
“We have great respect for the time and dedication of the volunteers and officials who make this tournament possible, and we appreciate your willingness to carefully review our concerns. We simply ask that this protest be considered fairly and in accordance with the applicable Little League rules and regulations.”
Texas West’s protest was denied on Monday, according to the Texas East coaching staff.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/onsi/softball as Two More Protests Filed at Little League Softball Southwest Region Tournament.
