VIRGINIA BEACH — Kempsville High School’s baseball season is over after “a lengthy investigation” found that “racism, hate speech, and harassment” have been prevalent on the team for multiple years, according to a note principal Melissa George sent to parents in recent weeks.
“After our lengthy investigation after we received allegations of racism on the baseball team earlier in April, we have found that racism, hate speech, and harassment have been an ongoing issue for multiple years,” George wrote in the message, first reported by WTKR. “Due to additional information we have through our investigation, at this time we are forfeiting (the May 2) game against (Princess Anne).
“Working with the Senior Executive Director of High Schools, Dr. Walter Brower, the Chief of Schools, Mr. Matt Delaney, and Coach (John) Penn, we came to the decision that we can not in good faith play baseball knowing the number of players involved. Please know that this is much broader than the initial allegations brought forth and stems across multiple years.”
Kempsville has not played this month and was 5-11 in games played before forfeits to Princess Anne, Landstown and Green Run. Rumors have swirled on social media in recent weeks that the team’s season was done.
Multiple sources told The Virginian-Pilot this week the Chiefs’ season was canceled, and Virginia Beach Public Schools confirmed the decision in a Wednesday statement.
“Kempsville High School administration and VBCPS Department of School Leadership conducted an investigation of the Kempsville High School varsity baseball team,” the statement said. “Evidence of racism, hate speech and harassment were confirmed. Appropriate action was taken, including forfeiture of the remainder of the baseball season. Know that this type of behavior will not be tolerated in our school division. VBCPS values inclusive communities and works to ensure that our staff, students and community embrace our core values.”
No specifics were given about the findings of the probe.
Kempsville was scheduled to play Green Run on Thursday in the season finale for both teams — as neither qualified for the postseason. But the cancelation left Green Run without a game to honor its seniors before coach Myron Campbell scrambled to find another opponent, Tallwood.
“I was frustrated by the simple fact that my seniors wouldn’t get to play the game,” Campbell said. “I wanted to make sure my guys got to play this game. I know the forfeit was an automatic ‘W’ for us, but I wanted them to be able to play the game.”
Campbell was especially frustrated by the reason for Kempsville’s forfeit.
“We should be so far from this, but we’re not,” said Campbell, who is Black and has two sons, Tyler and Tameron, on his team. “We’re still how it was before Jackie (Robinson), man. It’s 2024 and still feels like it’s 1944. But I’ve been in baseball in this area for 13 years and it has not changed. And I’m not really surprised of what has come out of the Kempsville area because it happened to my oldest son when he was like 12 or 13.
“He was ready to walk away from the game. (Racism is) out there and it’s bad.”
Princess Anne, which was able to add another game to its schedule, will play its regular-season finale against Cox on Thursday. Cavaliers coach Marc Joe said he reached out to the family after hearing about the trouble they were having at Kempsville.
“I found out when we played them the first time at our place (April 17) that there was some turmoil going on,” said Joe. “I’ll be honest with you, there was part of me that didn’t even want to go over there and play them. But when I first found out, I wasn’t surprised at all. It’s sad.”
Staff writer Jami Frankenberry contributed to this story.
