Coach makes players drink soda from shoe

A California high school girl`s softball coach made pupil drink soda pop out of a team member`s shoe.

California: A California high school girl`s softball coach has apologized for requiring eight players who struck out during a recent game to drink soda pop out of a team member`s shoe, a school district official said.

The South Tahoe High School varsity players drank the soda at a team slumber party on May 1, hours after a game against Wooster High School of Reno, Nev. "It was meant as a joke, and obviously it went too far," Lake Tahoe Unified School District superintendent James Tarwater said. A parent complained about the incident and coach Anneliese Neitling has since apologized, Tarwater said. It was a young coach`s mistake and the matter will be addressed during Neitling`s postseason evaluation, he said. "People learn from mistakes," Tarwater said. "She does a good job pulling the team together, morale-wise and support-wise." Neitling, who just completed her second season in charge of the school`s softball program, did not return phone calls for comment. South Tahoe Athletic Director Don Borges declined to comment on the incident. But he said his coaches are required to attend a preseason orientation meeting in which hazing is addressed. Hazing is an act that subjects someone to possible physical harm, personal degradation or disgrace in order to be accepted into a group. South Tahoe High School is located in California, about 6 miles from the state`s border with Nevada, and is a member of the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association. The school adheres to the Nevada hazing law, which states that hazing is a misdemeanor offense if there isn`t substantial bodily harm and a gross misdemeanor if significant bodily harm occurs. Bureau Report