Baseball Players File Suit Over Bizarre High School Hazing Ritual

EAST LAKE, FL -- Two former East Lake High School baseball players say they were bullied by teammates when they refused to participate in a bizarre hazing ritual.

Jay King, 18, and Judah Norwood, 17, say they became the targets of racial slurs and sexual harassment when they declined to take part in a hazing ritual known as the "Oreo run."

King and Norwood say that players who are new to the varsity baseball team are required to participate in a hazing ritual that involved placing an Oreo cookie into their buttocks and then racing one another. Whoever lost the race is required to eat the cookie.

Last week the parents of both students filed lawsuits in Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Court for negligence, asserting that the baseball coaches knew about the "sexual depravity" that was taking place in the locker room and the bullying their sons were subjected to, yet did nothing to stop it.

The lawsuit claims the bullying and name-calling took place throughout the 2018 spring baseball season. The name-calling included the use of a racial slur toward the boys, both of whom are black. The two were also the targets of sexual harassment, according to the lawsuit.

As a result, the lawsuit claims the two ball players suffered anxiety, depression, insomnia and low self-esteem. Both students transferred to another school last fall for their senior years due to the harassment.

The families are seeking more than $15,000 in damages.

Jay King's father, Charle King, said he was unaware of the hazing and harassment that his son was experiencing until the final game of the 2018 baseball season in May.

"He (Jay) was the last one to leave the field," said King. When Jay King finally approached his father, Charlie King said his son was crying. When he questioned his son, Jay King told him that one of his teammates had just told him to "go back to your country."

Jay King then confessed to his father everything he'd gone through during the 2018 baseball season. King promptly went directly to the school's athletic director to complain.

"They said OK. We're gonna do something about it," said King. He said he was told that the school would investigate the allegations and respond within six months. But King said he never heard back.

Lisa Wolf, public information officer for the school district, sent Patch the following statement issued by the school district:

"Pinellas County Schools fully investigated the incident both internally and externally and found there was no negligence on the part of our staff."

Due to the ongoing litigation, the school district declined further comment.

But that didn't stop the families from addressing the school board at its regular meeting Tuesday, Jan. 29.

"I'm not a liar," Jay King told the school board at the public meeting. "Everything I said is true. Hazing and sexual harassment and bullying did occur throughout the baseball year at East Lake High School."

Judah's mother, Shannon Norwood, said she's horrified that the school district would allow this hazing ritual and bullying to take place.

"I put my child’s life in your hands for those four or five hours," Norwood said. "You failed me as a citizen. You failed me as a taxpayer. You failed me as an educator."

Due to the litigation, East Lake High baseball coach Zack Roper could not comment on the allegations.

Image via Pinellas School Board

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