School won't play ball against team with girl

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MESA, Ariz., May 11 (UPI) -- An Arizona charter high school baseball team forfeited the state championship game because the second baseman on the opposing team is a girl, officials said.

Our Lady of Sorrows Academy in Phoenix gave up the Arizona Charter Athletic Association state championship Thursday because Paige Sultzbach, a freshman, was playing for opponent Mesa Prep, KTVK-TV, Phoenix, reported Friday.

"As a Catholic school, we promote the ideal of forming and educating boys and girls separately during the adolescent years, especially in physical education," Our Lady of Sorrows said in a statement.

Mesa Prep officials said Sultzbach sat out two away games during the season against Our Lady of Sorrows to respect the Catholic school's rules, but they did not think it would be right to ask her to sit out the championship game, which was to take place on a neutral field.

Pamela Sultzbach said her daughter played for the baseball team because the school does not offer girls' softball.

"This is not a contact sport. It shouldn't be an issue. It wasn't that they were afraid they were going to hurt or injure her, it's that (they believe) that a girl's place is not on a field," Sultzbach said of Our Lady of Sorrows.