Punished for having ineligible player on roster; less than 10% of 38 players from Yavapai County; none from Sedona/Verde Valley
The Yavapai Community College 2024 baseball team had a discouraging season, and was forced to forfeit 24 games due to an ineligible player on its roster. Additionally, the team fell far short of its goal to recruit 25% of its players from Yavapai County, a target set in 2020.
The 38-man roster includes only three players from Yavapai County, along with four players from Canada and one from Japan. The remaining players come from various states, including Texas, California, Minnesota, Hawaii, Maryland, and other parts of Arizona.
You may recall that in April 2020, Vice President Clint Ewell informed the Governing Board of the College’s goal to increase County student athletic involvement by at least 25%. At the time, District Governing Board Chair Deb McCasland confirmed Mr. Ewell’s statement.
In February 2021, the athletic department stated its “recruiting policy is to recruit within the county.” However, the department also noted that “historically, the best student-athletes in Yavapai County want to leave the county to pursue their athletic endeavors. Due to sheer numbers, most recruiting is done outside of Yavapai County.”