My Daughter Was Excited to Play Softball with Morrilton Parks, Arkansas Until Another Parent Who Doesn’t Like Me Texted That She Can’t Play

A local Morrilton mother says her daughter was abruptly told she could no longer play on a youth softball team, despite practices having already started. She’s pointing the finger at adult drama for denying a child the chance to play.

In a Facebook post that has drawn dozens of responses from community members, Sha Harris wrote that her daughter, Madisynn, showed up to practice excited and ready to join a team of neighborhood girls when Harris received a text message informing her that her child “can no longer play.”

According to Harris, the reason given was not behavior or eligibility, but that “another parent doesn’t like me.”

Harris further alleged that the same parent who objected to her participation “physically attacked someone in public, on school grounds,” a claim she presented as an example of what she called the small-town pettiness harming children.

Harris was careful to clarify an initial misunderstanding that spread online: an update to the post states emphatically,

She also named the coach listed on the team’s roster as Becca Brossard (Chenault), writing that the situation had “made blood boil” because the child, not the adult, was the one being punished. Harris added,

If true, the incident raises questions about how adult conflicts are handled in community sports programs and who has final authority over roster decisions.

Several commenters urged Harris to bring the issue to the league’s oversight committee and to consider finding another team for her daughter if necessary.

One commenter, La Donna Harris Gulley, advised,

Multiple readers echoed the sentiment that a coach or league administrator, rather than a parent, should determine a player’s playing status. Carolyn S Baggett Turner added,

Others expressed anger and disbelief, defending the child’s right to participate in the process. Terra Warren Smith said,

Brittanie Taryn Morris called the situation “ridiculous” and “unacceptable,” while Kallie Peak wrote, “A child wants to play a sport, let them play.”

Some commenters recommended that Harris pursue more assertive steps.

Madison Gullett said she would “make me a little phone call to Hollenball Director,” and Rebecca Madruga insisted: “if she ain’t playing ain’t no one playing. Period.”

Others urged Harris to stand her ground and find another team if the coach would not act. “Move her to another team ASAP!” wrote Jennifer Oakley Rogers.

Several posts reflected broader frustration with small-town dynamics. “Small town BS!” wrote Brandy Thomas; “People suck and this is so unfair to her!!” added Johnathon Cathey.

One commenter, Lauren Faford, questioned the leadership and transparency of the coach:

Not all commenters wrote in outrage; a few urged restraint and legalism, encouraging Harris to follow formal complaint procedures rather than escalating online. Cynthia Jackson suggested,

Others offered emotional support: “Prayers love y’all,” wrote Tequila Toney.

For now, the central figure in Harris’s post is a child who arrived at practice excited to play and left excluded, a result, Harris maintains, of adult animosity. She wrote,