A father in South Dakota has voiced serious concerns after his daughter's softball team competed against a transgender pitcher without prior knowledge.
The anonymous parent told OutKick that the lack of transparency surrounding biological males in girls' sports poses significant safety risks.
His daughter's team, which includes several Division I commits, faced Marissa Rothenberger's team twice in travel ball competitions, with the 6-foot-tall pitcher demonstrating exceptional performance that raised questions among players and parents alike.
Rothenberger, who competes for Champlin Park High School in Minnesota, has established an impressive record on the mound.
A father revealed he had no idea his daughter was set to face a transgender pitcher in softball
Reuters
As a junior, the athlete boasts a 6-1 record with 67 strikeouts and a 0.76 ERA in 46 innings pitched, according to Minnesota Softball Hub.
Last year as a sophomore, Rothenberger helped the school win 14 consecutive games and earned First-Team All-State honours—the only underclassman in the 4A division to receive this distinction.
Documents obtained by Reduxx revealed that Rothenberger's birth certificate was altered shortly after the athlete's ninth birthday, changing the name from "Charlie Dean" to "Marissa" and listing the sex as female.
"None of us knew that that girl was a boy," the father explained.
"There should be no disguise. If there's a boy on the other team, the other team should know that—from a safety standpoint and just for open, transparent dialogue."
He emphasised that the issue transcends politics, focusing instead on safety and fairness for female athletes.
"You're talking about somebody with exceptional size and strength," the father said regarding the transgender athlete.
"The safety of the kids on the other side, from a legal standpoint, needs to be respected.
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The father hit out at 'left-wing woke groups' and the 'coward' leaders that allowed such a situation to happen
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"Everybody’s so worried about getting sued by these left-wing woke groups."
He criticised those in leadership positions who remain silent on the issue.
"It absolutely sickens me—the cowardice, the apathy on the sidelines," he stated.
"These people are making a lot of money. If you want to be in a leadership position, you need to represent these kids and step up and do what's right."
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MSHSL section playoff softball already starts next week. Champlin Park enters the postseason red hot, winners of 14 in a row.
— Chaz Mootz (@ChazMootzCCX) May 17, 2024
The Patriots closed out the regular season last night with a 2-1 win over Chaska. Marissa Rothenberger threw 10 k’s, only allowing 3 hits in 7 IP. pic.twitter.com/gYnl0UlHzG
Amid growing concerns, the Alliance Fastpitch has taken decisive action by approving a new Athlete Eligibility Policy in January 2025. The policy restricts participation in national events exclusively to biological females.
"The eligibility conditions established in this policy are driven solely by the Alliance Fastpitch's desire to ensure safety, maintain fairness and avoid any unfair competitive advantage," the organisation stated to OutKick.
However, enforcement challenges remain, particularly in states like Minnesota where individuals can change the sex on their birth certificates, potentially circumventing such policies at the state high school level.
