A Texas judge has issued a temporary restraining order reinstating the Tulsa Little League team into the 2026 Little League Baseball Southwest Region Tournament, hours after it was disqualified by Little League International. The ruling allows the championship game, scheduled for August 11, to proceed as planned.
Judge Ryan Luna of the 414th District Court granted the order sought by parents and players of the Tulsa team. The decision means the winner of the August 11 game will determine the Southwest Region's representative in the Little League World Series in Williamsport. Little League International had previously stated that its tournament committee's decision was final and binding following a protest regarding the eligibility of a player on the Tulsa team.
It remains unclear what action Little League Baseball will take in response to the court's intervention. The organization had initially announced that the Southwest Region Tournament would conclude with a one-game championship between Texas West and Louisiana after the Tulsa team's disqualification.
Sports Illustrated reported that three teams participating in the regional tournament had requested an investigation into the Tulsa National Little League's compliance with Little League regulations and eligibility requirements for international tournaments. The complaint reportedly cited alleged violations of the Sibling Participation Regulation, a rule concerning pitching limits in a single day, and a rule related to completing games.