JACKSONVILLE – When the Gateway Conference softball tournament starts next week, one particular team won’t be there to defend its title.
The two-time defending county champions the Atlantic Coast Stingrays have been barred from the tournament by Duval County Athletic Director and Gateway Conference coordinator Tammie Talley.
According to unnamed sources, the Stingrays are being suspended for multiple counts of alleged hazing incidents on underclassmen going on throughout the season.
Once source said at least one opponent turned them into the Gateway Conference notifying them of the alleged incidents within the program.
Another source said the alleged incident was minor at best, in which the team allegedly got permission to do so prior to the incident, however by letter of the law its still hazing.
According to the University of Michigan Dean of Students, hazing is defined as, ” any action or situation, with or without the consent of the participants, which recklessly, intentionally, or unintentionally endangers the mental, physical, or academic health or safety of a student.”
This includes, but is not limited to any situation which:
- Creates a risk of injury to any individual or group
- Causes discomfort to any individual or group
- Causes embarrassment to any individual or group
- Involves harassment of any individual or group
- Involves degradation of any individual or group
- Involves humiliation of an individual or group
- Involves ridicule of an individual or group
- Involves or includes the willful destruction or removal of public or private property for the purpose of initiation or admission into, affiliation with, or as a condition for continued membership in an organization
It includes physical injury, assault or battery, kidnapping or imprisonment, intentionally placing at risk of mental or emotional harm (putting “over the edge”), degradation, humiliation, the compromising of moral or religious values, forced consumption of any liquid or solid, placing an individual in physical danger (at risk) which includes abandonment, and impairment of physical liberties which include curfews or other interference with academic endeavors.
Signs that hazing may be occurring:
- Cutting, branding, labeling, or shaving of parts of the body
- Required “greeting” of members in a specific manner when seen on campus
- Required walking in groups to class, the cafeteria, etc.
- Required carrying of certain items
- Loss of voice due to having to yell
- Performing of special tasks for the members or others
- Required attendance at late night work sessions, resulting in sleep deprivation
- Not coming home for days or weeks at a time
- Not being able to sit down or soreness from paddling
- Physical exhaustion from multiple sit ups, running, or other calisthenics
- Appearance of mental exhaustion or withdrawal from normal lifestyle; change in personality
- Appearance of sadness or expressions of inferiority
- Withdrawal from normal activities or friends
- Being dropped off and made to find the way back
Mrs. Talley confirmed Atlantic Coast was indeed suspended from the tournament but would not elaborate on why.
Earlier in the day, the Gateway Conference Softball Bracket was released via email and also confirmed Atlantic Coast was not playing in the tournament.
This was only the beginning of the Stingrays problems this week.
The Stingrays were scheduled to resume its District 2-8A game from Monday with Fleming Island yesterday trailing the Eagles 3-2 in the fourth inning but the Stingrays notified Fleming Island they wouldn’t be coming.
Talley confirmed the game was cancelled, citing “It didn’t effect the district standings either way win or lose”; yet the forfeit of the game actually creates a three-way tiebreaker with Fleming Island (7-5, 4-1) and Oakleaf (16-1, 4-1) for the No. 1 overall seed.
Atlantic Coast (10-6 overall, 4-1 in the district) would have likely been at best the No. 2 seed overall in the Gateway Conference tournament by virtue of its 6-1 record against Gateway Conference schools.
With the Stingrays out of the tournament, this pushed other teams up in their place and also allowed another team into the tournament as one of the play in first round games.
As of result of the suspension, the Stingrays will have the week off and prepare for its final two games of the regular season April 23 at Providence and April 26 at home against Nease.
