Friday evening, the Frontier League Announced that the Quebec Capitales were forced to forfeit a game win against the New York Boulders from August 31st.

The league released the following statement:

The Frontier League has determined that the Quebec Capitales improperly used a player in their game against the New York Boulders on August 31.  As a result, this game has been declared a forfeit loss for Quebec and a victory for New York.  All individual player statistics will remain intact. 

“We appreciate the honesty and transparency shown by manager Pat Scalabrini and the Capitales organization during our investigation of this unfortunate situation,” said deputy commissioner Steve Tahsler.  “While we do not believe that Quebec had any ill intent, unfortunately a violation occurred, and we need to enforce the associated rule.” 

Frontier League

After the September 1st games and decision from the Frontier League, that loss has the Quebec Capitales sitting tied for first place with the New Jersey Jackals while the win has moved the New York Boulders into the third and final playoff spot with only one weekend series remaining.

Our Sports Central reported that the forfeit was due to the use of recently signed “outfielder” Greg Bird.

Frontier League teams are not allowed to add players to the roster after August 14 barring a handful of exceptions. Quebec was in violation of the exception that a player who is ruled out for the season due to injury after the deadline can be replaced by a player of the same position.

Bird, the former New York Yankees first baseman, was signed as an injury replacement for an outfielder and was listed as such on the Capitales’ roster. The 6-foot-3 left-handed slugger would remain eligible so long as he played outfield and not first base, as he did Thursday night. Playing Bird out of position resulted in Quebec’s forfeiture of the game.

Our Sports Central

The New Jersey Jackals and the New York Boulders face off this weekend for two games, while the Quebec Capitales host the Ottawa Titans for two games.

There are also two teams, the Sussex County Miners and the Tri-City Valley Cats, tied for fourth place… both only a half a game behind third place New York and a playoff spot.

The Miners are set to face the Empire State Greys at home, while the Valley Cats are on the road against Trois-Rivieres. Both the Greys and Trois-Rivieres have been out of the playoffs for quite some time, but could play spoiler in the race to the final playoff spot.