18 Professional Softball Players Resign From Team

Eighteen professional softball players resigned after their general manager tweeted President Donald Trump that the team stood for the national anthem. All of the players have resigned and started their own team.

On Monday, Scrap Yard FP faced off against The USSSA Pride in Melbourne, Florida, the first game of a seven-game series. During the game, the Twitter account for the Scrap Yard FP team posted a picture of the team standing for the national anthem and the caption: “Hey @realDonaldTrump Pro Fastpitch being played live … Everyone standing for the FLAG!”  The tweet has since been deleted, according to Time.

Upon returning to the locker room after the game, the players were surprised to learn of the tweet, which was sent by the team’s general manager Connie May. The players began tweeting their disappointment.

“I am so hurt, but Hate and Ignorance will never win,” Kiki Stokes, a Black player from the team, tweeted. Images of a lengthy statement accompanied the tweet, saying, “to come into that locker room after a game and have no idea that the organization I stayed loyal to for the last five years and put my honest to God heart and soul into wasn’t looking for me, but more importantly my community hurts.”

“We might be standing in this photo, but we SURE AS HELL AREN’T STANDING FOR THIS. I’m embarrassed. I’m heartbroken. I’m DISGUSTED,” player Hailey McCleney tweeted. “@ScrapYardFP I will never be associated with your organization again. BLACK LIVES MATTER. The tone deafness on this is UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!”

The teammates have announced that they have formed a new team and will continue to play during the 2020 summer season under the name “This Is Us.” A statement on their website says that they will “continue playing the game they love, while also using their platforms to raise awareness, empower young women, and unite the softball community.”

We might be standing in this photo but we SURE AS HELL AREN’T STANDING FOR THIS. I’m embarrassed. I’m heartbroken. I’m DISGUSTED. @ScrapYardFP I will never be associated with your organization again. BLACK LIVES MATTER. The tone deafness on this is UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/5jSNipTFLd

— Haylie McCleney (@hayliemac8) June 23, 2020