UPDATE @ 3 p.m. April 21:
“At this time we have issued athletic and academic consequences,” he said. “Privacy laws do limit what we’re able to comment about around the investigation but we do appreciate the families and students for all their help throughout this process. Right now we’re focused on providing support to our students.”
A volunteer coach has been barred from participating this season following the internal investigation. Morris declined to identify the coach.
The Clark County Sheriff’s Office is also conducting an investigation into the incidents. Chief Deputy Travis Russell said Friday that the office is continuing to investigate and couldn't give more information.
UPDATE @ 2:40 p.m. April 12: A volunteer assistant coach and three baseball players won't be allowed to participate as the Shawnee High School baseball team takes the field Thursday for the first time since the start of an investigation.
The Clark-Shawnee Local School District has been investigating allegations surrounding the baseball team for about two weeks. School district officials have declined to discuss the allegations, besides saying that they took place during a spring break baseball trip to Tennessee and that they involved student athletes.
>>MORE: Clark-Shawnee investigating baseball team allegations
“While the investigation is continuing and in terms of the remedial actions, we have three players that are not participating at this time and we have one volunteer coach that has not been reinstated at this time,” Superintendent Gregg Morris said.
He wouldn’t release the names of the players or coach. A parent told the Springfield News-Sun that she believed students were emotionally and physically harmed during the trip.
For the full story, go to SpringfieldNewsSun.com.
UPDATE @ 7:50 p.m.: At least three players will be absent from the Shawnee High School baseball roster as the team is to resume its regular season on Thursday, a parent, who asked to remain anonymous, told News Center 7's Kate Bartley.
According to the parent, tonight’s parents-only meeting lasted approximately 15 minutes and only the Clark-Shawnee Local Schools superintendent and the high school's athletic director spoke.
A sheriff's deputy was stationed at the main entrance, asking each adult to prove they had a player on the team before being allowed to enter, the parent said.
The parent also said the three players were not identified by name and no reason was given to explain why they will be absent from the roster.
The parent tells us the decisions made during the meeting included resuming the baseball team’s practice on Wednesday.
EARLIER REPORT
Clark-Shawnee Local School officials are continuing their investigation of the baseball program and have called a team parent meeting tonight.
The meeting is for parents of baseball players only. Media won't be allowed to attend or be on the district’s property.
>>EARLIER COVERAGE: Clark-Shawnee looking into allegations
Superintendent Gregg Morris said the school district’s investigation is ongoing as it attempts to get to the bottom of the allegations. He declined to go into specifics about the allegations.
A parent who asked not to be named has told the Springfield News-Sun her son was of one of the ballplayers on a spring break trip and told her he was near the alleged incidents.
She said she was told that older students harassed younger players, including physically assaulting them.
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Morris said the district is working to resume the baseball season. Varsity and junior varsity games scheduled for tonight against Kenton Ridge High School have been canceled.
“The safety of our students and their privacy are our highest priority,” he said.
“We will continue to keep everyone, including parents and the community informed, about this investigation as we are able to do so and we are going to work diligently to provide a safe environment to our students.”
