In Minnesota, a 6-foot high biological man continues to dominate girls’ softball.

Like another last year, Marissa Rothenberger Champlin Park High School helped win 14-like games on the way into the playoffs and was named first-team all-state-the only subclass of the 4A division to serve the honor. Now a junior, Rothenberger remains a prominent on the haug with a 6-1 record, 67 strikes and a 0.76 era in 46 laps that are beaten, per. Minnesota Softball hub.

But not everyone is cheering. Many parents and players are left to wonder why a male athlete is allowed to compete in girls’ sports in the first place and why no one is willing to say anything about it.

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The father of a South Dakota Club Softball player who asked to remain anonymous for his daughter’s privacy told Outkick that his daughter’s team played against Rothenberger’s team twice last year in travel ball.

“Our girls have played Marissa’s team twice and they are a good club. They are a top notch club,” he said. “When you have a child who goes 3-for-3 and 2-for-2 and throws two laps and strikes five blows … Sometimes there are just things you notice there are a little weird.”

His daughter is playing on a team with several division in-bever-spicy athletes used for high-level competition-but none of them were told they would face a biological man.

“None of us knew that girl was a boy,” he said. “But when this came out … my 16-year-old knew exactly who it was and she said, ‘Man, it doesn’t surprise me.'”

The state of Minnesota allows residents to change the sex listed on their birth certificates. According to documents obtained by Reduxx, Rothenberger’s mother, Heather, used, “on Hennpin County District Court to change [the athlete’s] Birth certificate shortly after his 9 -year birthday. The petition was approved and Rothenberger was issued a new birth certificate showing that he was born ‘female’ and changed his name from ‘Charlie Dean’ to ‘Marissa.’ “

Father expresses security concerns over transgender softball player

The player is described as being 6-foot with “extraordinary size and strength.” (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA -Photos via Getty Images)

For this father, the question should not be a political question. It’s about security, honesty and protection of female athletes, especially in a sport like Softball, where a wrong pitch or a brutal comebacker can lead to serious injury.

“You talk about someone with unique size and strength,” he said. “Thirty -three feet [from mound to plate] is not so far away. The reaction time ball from the bat of a 17-year-old man against a 17-year-old woman-is just … different.

“The children on the other hand, from a legal point of view, have to be respected. Everyone is so concerned about being sued by these leftist waking groups. Well, what about people on the other side of the coin who just wants their girls in a safe environment?”

The lack of transparency (and the wrong assumption that everyone in the field is female) is what hit him the most.

“There should be no disguise,” he said. “If there is a boy on the other team, the other team needs to know – from a security point of view and just for open, transparent dialogue. Don’t hide players and present them as girls when they are boys.”

He admitted that although the question of transidentifying men has been a Hot-Button question recently, he never imagined his family would be affected.

“No one ever thought it would hit this close to home,” he said. “You hear about these things in Connecticut and Oregon and with Riley [Gaines] in swimming, and you’re thinking, ‘Oh, it’s far away.’ But when we found out, it hit us right at home. Everyone was shocked. “

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Softballfar: Leadership has to step up to protect girls and women

This father also thinks it is time for people in leadership positions to be held responsible. He specifically pointed to those responsible for Elite Fastpitch Softball Clubs and organizations to be advocates of their female athletes.

“These people make a lot of money,” he said. “If you want to be in a leadership position, represent these kids and step up and do what’s right.”

He quoted the original intention of section IX – and how far we have already had from it.

“When section IX was adopted in 1972, there was not a congressman, not a judge, not a person in the country who did not know the difference between men and women,” he said. “They knew why this law was passed. There was no ambiguity.

“For some reason, people don’t stand up to what’s right. There really are three camps: the people who think these children should be able to play wherever they want, the people like me who say it is flat and the people in the middle just sit on the side and do nothing. These people need to get up.”

President Donald Trump signs an executive order that prevents transient female athletes from competing in women’s or girls’ sporting events, in the eastern space of the White House, on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

He left the conversation with a plea to those responsible. He wants to see a strong policy in place, not only for the rights of his own daughters, but for future athletes down the road.

“It absolutely socks me – the cowardice, the apathy on the sidelines,” he said. “It’s not even about being gay or trans. It’s cowardly. And if you make that call, you have to be called out.”

Outkick reached out to three leading organizations in girls’ softball (USA Softball, Alliance Fastpitch and Premier Girls Fastpitch) as well as Midwest Speed, the club that Rothenberger played last summer and autumn.

While the other organizations did not respond, Alliance told Outkick that its board of directors approved a new eligibility eligibility policy in January 2025, limiting participation in national events that are strictly biological women.

“The eligibility conditions laid down in this policy are driven exclusively by Alliance Fastpitch’s desire to ensure security, maintain justice and avoid any unreasonable competitive advantage in our female, youth’s fast pitch competitions,” Alliance said in a statement to Outkick. “The Board of Directors is actively working to communicate this policy to all member leagues.”

However, it is important to note that the Minnesota State High School League (as well as all other State High School -controlling bodies) is separated from Club Softball and operates under its own set rules. Furthermore, it is difficult to enforce a policy that is only female in states, like Minnesota, where individuals can simply change the sex on their birth certificate as desired.

As this South Dakota father said, until state legislators and athletic organizations are willing to draw a clear, uncompromising line – a rooted in biology, not ideology – girls and women will continue to be at risk.