The athletic director of Evanston Township High School has pulled the varsity baseball team from the state playoffs after "inappropriate photos" of girls at the school were distributed among some players, officials said.



The team was supposed to play Taft High School in the first round of playoffs Friday evening. But the school informed the Illinois High School Association that it would forfeit the game -- and hence the playoffs -- because there were "not enough players to play the game," said IHSA assistant executive director Craig Anderson.



Anderson said he was told by the school's athletic director, Chris Livatino, that the decision was made "because of suspensions and disciplining of players."



"This would have been the opening game," Anderson said. "I'm sure it's disappointing."



Livatino could not be reached for comment this morning.



In a letter to parents and guardians, ETHS Supt. Eric Witherspoon said the district had received a report that girls at the school had sent "inappropriate photos of themselves to ETHS boys who were members of the varsity baseball team, and some of the boys, in turn, were circulating the inappropriate photos."



"Upon receiving this report, school administration initiated an investigation into the facts of the situation to determine what occurred," Witherspoon said. "Appropriate actions have been taken."



In the letter, Witherspoon cautioned that "the incident above is not an isolated one. We know that as more and more young people become connected in the digital age, sexting will remain a top concern for parents and educators. Please take the time to educate yourself and your child about the consequences of sexting."



The Evanston Police Department and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services declined to take any action, according to the letter.

