Segerstrom varsity baseball players ruled eligible to play by school district officials

(PHOTO: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Segerstrom High School’s varsity baseball players, who have been ineligible to play for the past couple weeks, are now eligible to compete in the final two games of the season, according to Fermin Leal, chief communications and community relations officer for Santa Ana Unified School District.

Segerstrom hosts Buena Park Friday and is scheduled to meet Katella Tuesday.

The varsity players, believed to be seven, were declared ineligible and district officials announced that Segerstrom had violated three CIF rules and was being banned from the CIF playoffs this season. The team was allowed to continue to play but games would not count on Segerstrom’s record.

CIF officials noted that the probation factors included were CIF Bylaw 500C, Authorized Participation; CIF Bylaw 510, Undue Influence and CIF Bylaws 503, 503A, 503B, Administrative Oversight.

The exact nature of the violations has not been disclosed. Segerstrom was forced to forfeit all of its wins and Coach Erasmo Ramirez was removed as head coach.

While the players are now eligible, the CIF playoff ban will remain, Leal said.

“We worked to properly enroll all ineligible students, so now they are eligible to play today,” Leal said in a statement to OC Sports Zone on Friday. “CIF playoff ban is still in effect for this year. Coach is still on leave pending further review. Today’s game will count as an official game.”

School district officials did not indicate why the players status has been changed. OC Sports Zone sought a comment Thursday about any updates.

The announcement of the CIF playoff ban led to a protest by students on campus and a large contingent of parents and players appeared at a meeting of the Santa Ana Unified School District school board asking that the ban be lifted and the players be re-instated.

When asked, Segerstrom athletic officials and CIF officials have declined comment in response to questions from OC Sports Zone about the probation. Segerstrom was leading the Golden West League standings at the time and players and coaches were looking for a big run in the playoffs.

The CIF probation on the baseball program runs through February of 2026. At that time, school officials can request reinstatement of the program.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com