Father Voices Concerns Over Transgender Participation in Girls’ Softball

Father Voices Concerns Over Transgender Participation in Girls’ Softball

In Minnesota, ongoing discussions surround the participation of a 6-foot-tall biological male in girls’ softball competitions. Marissa Rothenberger, who played a key role in leading Champlin Park High School to 14 consecutive wins last season, has raised concerns among many parents and athletes. Last year, as a sophomore, Rothenberger earned First-Team All-State honors, a distinction awarded to only one underclassman in the 4A division.

Now a junior, Rothenberger’s statistics remain impressive, with a 6-1 record, 67 strikeouts, and a remarkable 0.76 ERA over 46 innings. However, the presence of a male athlete competing with girls has sparked a heated debate.

Parents and players alike are questioning the fairness of allowing a transgender athlete to compete in women’s sports. Many feel that this situation does not promote fairness and safety.

Concerns Emerge from Players and Parents

The father of a South Dakota club softball player, who has opted to remain anonymous for the sake of his daughter’s privacy, expressed his concerns after his daughter’s team faced Rothenberger’s team twice in travel games last year. He remarked on the noticeable differences in performance, stating, “When you’ve got a kid that goes 3-for-3 and pitches two innings and strikes out five batters… sometimes there’s just things you notice that are a little bit odd.”

His daughter plays alongside athletes committed to Division I programs. These seasoned competitors were unaware that a biological male was on the field competing against them. He said, “None of us knew that that girl was a boy. But when this came out… my 16-year-old knew exactly who it was, and she said, ‘Man, that doesn’t surprise me.'”

Minnesota’s regulations allow individuals to modify the sex on their birth certificates. Documents reveal that Rothenberger’s mother, Heather, petitioned to change her child’s birth certificate shortly after Rothenberger’s 9th birthday, resulting in an updated document designating her as female and changing her name from Charlie Dean to Marissa.

Safety and Fairness: A Parent’s Perspective

According to the concerned father, this issue transcends politics; it is fundamentally about safety, transparency, and the protection of female athletes. He emphasized that in a sport like softball, where an errant pitch or a high-speed ball can cause injury, the concerns are not insignificant. He noted, “You’re talking about somebody with exceptional size and strength. Forty-three feet from mound to plate is not that far away. The reaction times — the ball off the bat of a 17-year-old male versus a 17-year-old female — it’s just… different.”

The father voiced his frustration regarding the lack of transparency in these competitions. He argued that other teams deserve to know if they are playing against a transgender athlete to ensure safety and promote honest dialogue. He stated, “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. Don’t be hiding players and presenting them as girls when they’re boys.”

The Personal Impact of a Larger Issue

While the topic of transgender individuals in sports has been prominent in national discussions, the father admitted he never anticipated it affecting his family so closely. He said, “Nobody ever thought it would hit this close to home. You hear about this stuff in Connecticut and Oregon and with Riley [Gaines] in swimming, and you think, ‘Oh, that’s far away.’ But when we found out, it hit us right at home. Everybody was shocked.”

Moreover, he criticized the lack of accountability among leadership in youth sports. Leaders of fastpitch softball clubs and organizations are tasked with advocating for female athletes, yet he feels many have failed in their duty. 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.”

The Historical Context of Title IX and Current Struggles

The father referred to Title IX, the legislation enacted in 1972 designed to prohibit sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs, emphasizing the original intent of this law. He lamented how far the current climate has strayed from the intent of this landmark legislation. He explained, “When Title IX was enacted, there was not one congressman, not one judge, not one person in the country that didn’t know the difference between men and women. They knew why that law was passed. There was no ambiguity.”

Expressing his disappointment, he stated, “For whatever reason, people do not stand up for what’s right. There are really three camps: the people who think these kids should be able to play wherever they want, the people like me who say it’s flat-out wrong, and the people in the middle just sitting on the side and doing nothing. Those people need to stand up.”

Calling for Change in Policy and Attitude

As the conversation concluded, the father expressed a strong desire for state lawmakers and athletic organizations to implement clear policies to protect female athletes, not only for current players but for the future of women’s sports. He passionately stated, “It absolutely sickens me — the cowardice, the apathy on the sidelines. It’s not even about being gay or trans. It’s cowardice. And if you’re making that call, you need to be called out.”

A Changing Landscape in Softball

In response to the growing concerns, OutKick reached out to various organizations involved in girls’ softball, including USA Softball and the Alliance Fastpitch, among others. While some did not respond, the Alliance Fastpitch indicated that in January 2025, its Board of Directors approved a new Athlete Eligibility Policy, which restricts participation in national events strictly to biological females. A spokesperson for the organization stated, “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 within our female-only, youth fastpitch competitions.”

However, it’s important to note that the Minnesota State High School League, along with other state high school governing bodies, operates under different rules than club softball. Additionally, enforcing a female-only policy remains challenging in states like Minnesota, where individuals can change their birth certificate information without significant restrictions.

The concerned father concluded with a somber note about the need for decisive action from state lawmakers and athletic organizations. He stated, “Until state lawmakers and athletic organizations are willing to draw a clear, uncompromising line rooted in biology, not ideology, girls and women will continue to be put at risk.”