In a significant decision, Lowell High School in San Francisco will forfeit three of its varsity baseball games due to reports of racist taunting that occurred during a junior varsity championship match last spring. This ruling comes as part of an investigation conducted by the Academic Athletic Association and the CIF San Francisco City Section, which governs the school's athletic teams.
The investigation revealed that on May 15, 2026, members of Lowell's varsity baseball team exhibited "unsportsmanlike" conduct while attending a junior varsity championship game against Lincoln High School. The findings indicated that the team violated multiple bylaws, including those related to conduct and hazing. As a result, the team has been ordered to forfeit games against Lincoln High School, Galileo Academy, and Washington High School during the 2026-2027 season. The specific dates for these forfeited matches have yet to be determined, but officials indicated that they would be selected based on last season's standings and their potential impact on the upcoming season.
While the investigation did not explicitly name the details of the alleged racist incident, school district officials released a statement urging anyone who has experienced or witnessed "racialized harm" to come forward. The district emphasized its commitment to ensuring that racism and discrimination have no place within the Lowell community or the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).
Following the reports of the incident in May, Lowell's administration promptly reached out to the Lincoln baseball team and affected students and families. Although the specifics of any disciplinary actions remain unclear, the district confirmed that some players took responsibility for their actions. This incident has sparked a broader conversation about the culture within school sports and the importance of accountability.
In a video that surfaced, it was reported that a racist taunt was directed by Lowell's varsity players during a critical moment in the junior varsity game, specifically at the top of the seventh inning. Despite the controversy, Lowell's varsity team went on to compete against Lincoln in the San Francisco Section's varsity championship game just three days later, ultimately winning the title 2-1 at Oracle Park.
In light of the incident, Lowell Principal Jan Bautista issued a letter to students and families on May 22, condemning the behavior and placing the entire coaching staff on indefinite leave. The team subsequently lost in the first round of the regional tournament. The district has stated that an interim coach will be appointed for the upcoming season, with plans for a permanent coach to be hired later.
As part of the response to this incident, all staff members and players associated with both the junior varsity and varsity baseball teams will be required to participate in training sessions focused on sportsmanship, implicit bias, bullying, hazing, and inappropriate behaviors. The district's letter emphasized that participation in school sports is a privilege that comes with the expectation of positive conduct both on and off the field.
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