North Texas softball team withdraws from playoffs ahead of third round
Jacksboro softball withdrew from the UIL high school softball playoffs Wednesday, the University Interscholastic League said in a statement to the Star-Telegram.
The UIL statement reads:
“UIL can confirm that on May 6, Jacksboro ISD self-reported the participation of an ineligible player during the 2025-2026 softball season. Per the UIL Constitution & Contest Rules, the minimum penalty is forfeiture of all games in which the player participated.”
According to a statement from Jacksboro ISD Superintendent Brad Burnett shared to the district’s social media, Jacksboro ISD athletic director Casey Hubble was made aware of a UIL eligibility violation by another school that claimed a Jacksboro softball player participated in more games than allowed under the UIL’s participation rule.
Jacksboro was set to face Canadian in the Class 3A Division II regional semifinals. Wall will now be reinstated to replace Jacksboro after losing 3-2 in a deciding game three of the area round, which occurred before the eligibility issue was found.
The statement from Burnett reads:
“Coach Hubble and I met with Head Softball Coach John Bennett this morning and conducted a thorough review of our schedule and eligibility records. Based on our findings, we confirmed that an ineligible player participated in contests beginning April 3, 2026.”
Before the forfeitures, Jacksboro had posted an 8-4 record in District 7-3A play, entering the playoffs with a third-place berth.
The statement from Burnett continues:
“The situation resulted from an unintentional error in tracking participation limits. There was no intent on the part of our coaching staff to gain a competitive advantage. Jacksboro ISD takes full responsibility for this error and remains committed to upholding the standards and integrity expected by the UIL.”
Jacksboro’s three-game regional semifinal series against Canadian was slated to start 6 p.m. Thursday. According to Wall High School Facebook, the team will face Canadian in a winner-takes-all one-game 6 p.m. Friday at Lubbock Cooper High School.
The change has been reflected in the UIL’s Class 3A Division II playoff softball bracket.
In the bi-district round, which happened after the eligibility violations occurred, Jacksboro defeated Tolar in two games, eliminating the team from the postseason.
This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 4:23 PM.
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