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Trouble in Belmont Heights

The All-Stars forfeit a game and lose their coaches and a teammate.

By MIKE READLING and ANTHONY GAGLIANO
© St. Petersburg Times
published July 2, 2002

TAMPA -- The Belmont Heights Junior All-Stars were forced to forfeit their first District 13 game last weekend when league president Annette Jenkins refused to sign off on their roster.

Jenkins refused Friday and Saturday to sign off on coach Marcus Leggett's roster, leaving players in the dugout in street clothes, wondering when they would play again. A team cannot play a game or receive its jerseys until the league president or player agent signs an affidavit verifying the players' addresses and eligibility.

"I thought we were going to play, but I heard her say she wasn't going to sign," All-Star Alex Floyd said.

Floyd and his 13- and 14-year-old teammates endured a postponement due to rain Saturday night then forfeited Sunday, the result of what several people affiliated with the league said was a swipe by Jenkins at Leggett, assistant Vernon Slater and at least one family.

All are members of a group trying to get information from Jenkins concerning the league's finances.

Jenkins signed off on the roster Sunday afternoon only after Leggett and Slater stepped down and one player, whose family has been a vocal part of the group, was replaced on the roster.

"To me, that was a personal thing she had against me and my coaches because of that concerned citizen group we were a part of," Leggett said. "She said she would not sign off as long as we were coaches. She told all the board members that."

District 13 administrator Darrel Cann said he didn't know why Jenkins refused to submit a roster before Sunday.

Leggett said he, Slater and James Hart, whose son was removed from the roster, were part of the Concerned Citizens Group For Belmont Heights Little League, which has petitioned Jenkins for financial information.

Jenkins declined comment when approached at Temple Terrace Little League during a rain delay Monday, saying she wanted to "enjoy what's going on here" while gesturing to an empty field. She said she would answer questions if contacted at home but did not return a message left there.

"You can put whatever you want in the paper," said Jenkins, who has been president for two years. "It's okay with me."

Harold Langston, spokesman for the citizens group, said the organization was formed earlier this year to get answers to questions about the financial viability of the league, which had been one of the most successful in the nation.

Belmont Heights, boasting former players such as Dwight Gooden and Carl Everett, advanced to World Series competition six times between 1973 and 1982. The 1982 junior team, featuring Derek Bell and Gary Sheffield, won the world championship.

Slater said field conditions at the Little League are substandard and some teams went through the season without full uniforms. Leggett said he and parents bought pants for his team.

"The money is not being used properly," Leggett said. "If it's for the kids, the money is not going for the kids."

The group sent Jenkins a certified letter that she refused to accept, Slater said, and later approached her at Belmont Heights Little League, where they handed another to her. The letter, Slater said, contained questions and asked for disclosure of financial documents.

"All we did was ask questions. We didn't accuse anybody," said Slater, a former Belmont Heights Little Leaguer. "The thing is the fields have been like this all this year and all last year, and we don't have a clue why. All we know is they won't provide us documentation of bank deposits or where the money goes or anything.

"All we've been asking is for answers about the finances of the park. If you're president of the park and you don't want to answer that, it seems like you have something to hide."

Little League bylaws state financial records can be given only to members of Belmont Heights Little League. Citizens can become members by paying $1 and showing up for the annual meeting, which Belmont's constitution says must be held the first Saturday of May, Langston said.

Langston said Jenkins did not schedule a meeting.

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