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Nation's top prep baseball team investigated for hazing

Courtesy Twitter/JimHalley
Courtesy Twitter/JimHalley

A travel baseball team associated with recently-crowned state champion Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.) High School is being investigated for a hazing incident.

The team is coached by the school's coaching staff and includes most of the same players as the school team, but is not funded by the school or officially associated with the school.

Given the close affiliation, though, the school is investigating.

According to WSB-2 in Atlanta, incoming freshmen were allegedly hazed by current juniors on the team (known as rising seniors). The incident happened at a hotel in Charleston, S.C., where the team was playing in a tournament last weekend.

School officials released a statement Tuesday:

“Parkview High School is investigating allegations of misbehavior of six upperclassmen toward younger students during a baseball tournament  that was held in Charleston, SC. It is alleged that the older students entered approximately three hotel rooms of incoming freshmen players on Friday evening and began to wrestle with the younger students. This was discovered later Friday night as coaches were checking on the players. In addition, an allegation was made of inappropriate physical contact by an older student toward one of the freshmen. The coach reported this allegation to the Athletic Director and administrators so that an investigation could begin. The school is actively investigating this situation and will take appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation. School Police have been notified and upon completion of their investigation will share information with the appropriate jurisdictional authority.”

USA Today recently ranked Parkview the No. 1 in the nation. Coach Chan Brown was named the nation's coach of the year. The season ended May 23. No outgoing seniors were part of the travel team.

At least four high schools investigated football hazing incidents in the fall of 2014. One investigation resulted in seven students being arrested; three resulted in seasons being cancelled.

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Danielle Elliot is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact her at delliot@yahoo-inc.com or find her on Twitter and Facebook.