Angie Thissen says it is all about safety.
"It could cause death. Someone could die from this," says Thissen whose nine-year-old daughter, Ashlie, plays fast-pitch softball. "The game has changed. The equipment has changed."
She wants her daughter to wear an infielder’s mask. "The mask is important because it helps protect the face.
But Thissen's daughter was told no by the Wichita Mustangs Softball Academy. She was told that if she wanted to pitch, a mask was not an option.
"Our theory is we let them wear them anytime they want to but we don't let them play the infield or pitcher’s mound because that's where they're scared of getting hit," says owner Mark Griggs.
Griggs says in his opinion, the masks only make it more dangerous. "Our thought is…if you're scared of doing something you're more likely to get hurt no matter how much protective equipment you have on."
That argument doesn't fly with Thissen. "It doesn't make sense," she says.
There are no rules against the infielder mask. The Amateur Softball Association, which governs many Kansas leagues, tells FactFinder 12 it should be a personal choice. A spokesperson also says there are no plans to either require or ban the masks.
"If this kind of mask is allowed by the league we don't understand why he won't let them wear it," says Thissen.
FactFinder 12 also checked with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Last year, there were an estimated 8,000 softball injuries among girls 9-11 years old. Players that ended up going to the hospital. Of those, nearly 1,400 were facial injuries.
Griggs is standing by his argument. He says that wearing a mask means a player may be afraid of the ball, and therefore even more prone to injury.
"Rather the play the kids that we don't know are scared, we just chose not to play anyone in the infield or pitcher's mound with a facemask on," says Griggs.
He says parents do have a choice.
"It doesn't stop her from wearing one…it just stops her from playing with us. There are a lot of teams. We're not the only team in the country or Wichita.
That's what the Thissens decided to do. Ashlie moved to a different team. It allows masks and several players wear them.
Griggs says it"s just his rule. "My opinion is not the word, it's just my opinion."
With no rules requiring or banning the masks opinion is what it comes down to.
