High school baseball team’s season suspended after killing chicken on field, officials say

VALLEY CENTER, Kan. (KWCH/Gray News) – A high school baseball team in Kansas is under criminal investigation after police said they killed a chicken on their baseball field.

The Valley Center Department of Public Safety confirmed that a chicken was killed on the baseball diamond at Valley Center High School.

Police said a Valley Center High School employee contacted a school resource officer on Monday about allegations that the baseball team had killed a chicken on the field before traveling to an away game on Saturday.

On Monday afternoon, the district sent a letter to parents alerting them that the varsity baseball team’s season has been suspended because of an animal cruelty investigation.

Police are investigating the alleged crime as animal cruelty with malicious torture or killing, which is a felony in Kansas.

Investigators are working to determine exactly who was on the field when the chicken was killed and whether coaches or other adults were involved.

Once the police investigation is complete, the case will be presented to the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Office. The office will decide if any charges will be filed.

In the meantime, the baseball team’s season remains suspended.

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