Softball Tournament Experience Leaves Lasting Impression

Kendall Cotzmacher vividly remembers stepping into the batter’s box alongside Marissa Rothenberger during the semi-finals of the Minnesota State Tournament. It was a pivotal moment for Cotzmacher and her White Bear Lake High School teammates, who were eager to reach the state championship. Having transferred to White Bear Lake in her final year, her goal was to win the title with her sister and teammates.

On that day, however, Rothenberger, a trans athlete, was on the mound for their opponent, Champlin Park High School.

“They’re moving ten times more,” Cotzmacher told a news outlet about Rothenberger’s pitches. “I’ve seen the pitch movement, and, well, when you’ve got bigger hands than biological women your age, especially in Minnesota, you’re going to spin the ball differently. I mean, this athlete may not have been the best one on the field, but they still managed to nail those pitches, and we just couldn’t hit it.”

Cotzmacher felt the pressure that day, but she still managed to connect with Rothenberger’s performance. Despite making some solid plays, White Bear Lake got only two runs from seven hits. But it didn’t stop there; Rothenberger also began to swing the bat, hitting a double that intensified the final innings and helped lead Champlin Park to victory.

“It was a half swing. The athlete wasn’t maximizing their potential, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t hit hard,” Cotzmacher explained, reflecting on the challenges faced during the game. “The pitch calling was tough too; it seemed like every pitch I called, they could hit.”

Unfortunately, Cotzmacher’s high school softball career came to an end that day. Overwhelmed, she fell into her sister’s arms and cried. “Honestly, I wanted to leave right away. I didn’t want to do anything else. We just couldn’t process what had happened.” She expressed her struggle to come to terms with the defeat. “How do you admit that you lost to a biological male? It was a lot to handle.”

The situation drew further attention when the Trump administration concluded that the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota High School League had violated Title IX by allowing trans athletes to compete. They were given a deadline to change their policies to restrict women’s sports to biological women, failure to comply posing a risk of referrals to the Department of Justice.

A press release from the Department of Education highlighted the dominance of male pitchers over female athletes, noting that male pitchers had allowed just one run across 35 innings and had struck out 27 female batters. Now a freshman at West Michigan University, Cotzmacher continues to play softball while hoping for policy changes that would keep biological males out of women’s sports. Rothenberger still has one high school season left.

In February, Minnesota announced it would not adhere to the federal executive order, with Democratic leaders like Attorney General Keith Ellison actively opposing it. Ellison even filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, claiming it infringed on Title IX rights for female athletes.

Despite his position, some advocates, including Ellison, argue for inclusion, emphasizing the importance of athletics for youth development and community. “It’s wrong to tell a group of students facing bullying that they can’t participate because of who they are,” he stated.

The governor’s office declined to pass a bill aimed at banning trans athletes from women’s sports earlier this year, labeling it as unnecessary oppression. Meanwhile, advocates for change have made their voices heard, including at a rally in the capital featuring Riley Gaines, who spoke out against the current regulations.

Cotzmacher attended this rally, feeling motivated to fight for her fellow female athletes. “I’m not backing down. I want to speak up for other girls. [Gaines] spoke for me,” Cotzmacher remarked.

She’s become involved with various advocacy groups, striving to preserve women’s sports. “Minnesota feels different now, like there’s confusion. It’s not the same place I grew up in; it’s unsafe,” she shared, reflecting on changes in her community.

As she looks to the future, Cotzmacher hopes that actions will be taken to address her concerns about women’s sports, wishing for a fair season for her sister in 2026. “It’s significant to see that change might be coming. People realize they’ve done something wrong, and that means a lot to me. I’m eager to see what unfolds.”