The South Atlanta and Washington high school softball teams will be forced to forfeit the playoffs as punishment for a brawl that broke out at a game last week.
Atlanta Public Schools announced Monday that the softball teams from both high schools will forfeit their first-round playoff games, meaning they will not participate in the Georgia High School Association state playoffs. The playoffs begin this week.
The decision is in response to a big fight on Oct. 2. Video of the incident shows numerous people involved in the fight, which is being investigated by school district police. An adult who allegedly fired a gun on school property was arrested. The district said that additional charges could be brought.
Students at both schools also will face school-level discipline.
A parent of a Washington softball player told the Atlanta school board on Monday that her daughter’s team was punished, but that’s not the case for all students involved in the fight.
She said district did not provide adequate protection. Near the end of her comments, several members of the audience began to chant: “Let them play.”
“This decision to have both teams forgo the post season was a difficult one. However, all students, student athletes and parents representing APS are required to adhere to a code of conduct that calls for respect and appropriate behavior at school or on school property at any time, off school grounds at any activity, function or event and while traveling to and from such events, and on vehicles provided for student transportation by the district,” said APS spokesman Ian Smith, in a written statement.
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