Tale of Two Males in Girls' Sports

How exceptional were AB Hernandez's and Marissa Rothenberger's performances?

Here are analyses of two dominant male performances in female sport. The first was conducted by Professor of Exercise Science Greg Brown showing California high school male jumper AB Hernandez’s performances in relation to other male and female performances over the last five years. Hernandez competed in three different jumping events at the California Track & Field Championship.

The second looks at the performance of male softball pitcher Marissa Rothenberger, who just led his team, Champlin Park, to their first ever Minnesota state softball championship. This was hard to do for a number of reasons: 1) softball is a team sport so it’s more difficult to tease out individual dominance, 2) I’m not conversant in softball stats, and 3) those who are knowledgeable about high school softball stats—coaches, prep sports writers—are actively engaged in deflecting and hiding Rothenberger’s dominance. Please see for Example A, this absurd roundup of the top ten pitchers to watch going into the playoffs in which Star Tribune prep sports writer Jim Paulsen left Rothenberger off the list. Ultimately, I turned to ChatGPT, which I don’t love, but in this case, served a dual purpose of providing a broad perspective as to dominance and exposing the process of excusing males with trans identities in female sports as I tweaked the prompts. First, Greg Brown on AB Hernandez.

No Asterisk: A Male Athlete’s Dominance in California Girls’ High School Track

Recent updates to California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) policy aim to prevent transgirls (i.e., biological males who identify as girls) from displacing female athletes from medal positions. This policy was “piloted” in the high jump, triple jump, and long jump at the 2025 CIF State Track & Field Championships [1]. Under the new rules, transgirls can still compete and win medals in girls’ events. However, female athletes are awarded medals and advancement based on where they would have placed if the male athlete had not competed.

With these changes in effect, transgirl AB Hernandez delivered a dominant performance in the girls’ division at the 2025 state meet, earning top finishes in multiple events [2]. Hernandez tied for first place in the high jump, clearing the same height of 5’7” as two female athletes. In the triple jump, Hernandez recorded a distance of 42’ 2-3/4”, tying for first. By comparison, the first place winning female athlete jumped 40’5”—nearly two feet less. In the long jump, Hernandez tied for second with a mark of 20’8-3/4”, compared to the second-place female’s 19’4-1/4”—a foot-and-a-half less.

As a biological male competing in the girls’ category, Hernandez finished the 2025 CIF State Track & Field Championships with two gold medals and one silver. He stood on the podium alongside the girls when the medals were awarded and photos were taken.

This was a particularly dominant showing, especially considering that CIF—the governing body for high school sports in the nation’s most populous state—does not separate athletes by school size, but instead holds a single, unified Track & Field Championship for all California high school students.

To put this achievement in perspective, CIF State Championship results from 2021 to 2025 show that only one other athlete, in either the boys’ or girls’ divisions, placed in the top 10 in all three jumping events during a single year. None earned two golds and a silver, as Hernandez did in 2025.

• 2025: Hernandez was the only athlete, either boy or girl, to achieve top-10 finishes in high jump, long jump, and triple jump. Other notable performances included one girl with top-10 finishes in two events, and two boys with two top-10 finishes [2].

• 2024: No athlete achieved top-10 finishes in all three events (high jump, long jump, and triple jump). Two girls and two boys earned two top-10 placements, including one girl who won triple jump and placed second in long jump [3].

• 2023: Only one athlete—a girl—placed in the top 10 in all three events (4th in high jump, 2nd in both long and triple jump). No boys accomplished a top 10 finish in all three events. Three girls and one boy had two top-10 finishes [4].

• 2022: No athlete placed in the top 10 across all three events. Three girls and three boys managed two top-10 finishes, but no one matched Hernandez’s sweeping achievement[5].

• 2021: No athlete placed in the top 10 across all three events. Four girls and two boys managed two top-10 finishes, but no one matched Hernandez’s across-the-board achievement [6].

These results highlight the anomalous nature of Hernandez’s performance—not just within the girls’ division, but overall. It stands out as one of the most dominant multi-event showings in recent CIF championship history.

Looking at the national performances by girls in these events on athletic.net, Hernandez does not beat all girls.

• His CIF state championship High Jump of 5'7" ties for 106^th best in the USA in 2025 (with 46 other girls across the country). The best in 2025 is 6'2"

• His CIF state championship Long Jump of 20'8.75" is 7th best in the USA in 2025. The best in 2025 is 21'2.75". It just happens that the girl who beat him is 4^th best in the country

• His CIF state championship Triple Jump of 42'2.75"" is 4th best in the USA in 2025. The best in 2025 is 43'3".

Because he did not beat all girls does not mean Hernandez does not have male advantage. In the boys’ CIF high jump competition, they opened competition at 6’5” which is 10” higher than Hernandez’s top clearance. He would likely not have qualified for the state meet in boys’ competition, but was on the podium in girls’. That’s male advantage. The boys’ CIF state triple jump was won with a distance of 51’4-1/2”, over 9 feet further than Hernandez’s. Again, Hernandez would likely not have qualified for the state meet in boys’ triple jump. He is a mediocre male who is able to win two state championships and a runner-up medal in girls’ competition. That’s male advantage.

The performance of AB Hernandez also clearly demonstrates that male athletic advantages are not erased by a transgender identity, with or without the use of puberty blockers, testosterone suppression, and estrogen. Current research shows that even after eight years of puberty blockers and estrogen treatment, males still reach typical adult male height [7, 8] and retain about 10% more lean body mass than comparable females [9], both factors that clearly contribute to athletic advantages in males.

It remains unclear whether Hernandez has undergone any form of so called ‘gender-affirming hormone therapy’ or has only socially transitioned. Regardless, the physical advantages associated with male development appear to remain significant.

Although AB Hernandez did not set any state records in girls’ sports at the 2025 CIF State Track & Field Championships, athletes who medal at these events are often prominently honored at their schools. At Jurupa Valley High School, Hernandez’s name and state championship medals will likely be displayed alongside other female athletes—without any indication that Hernandez is, in fact, a male who competed in the girls’ division.

Given that high school student populations turn over every four years, the context behind the names on the wall will likely be lost. What will remain are the accolades without an asterisk noting the fact that they were won by a male athlete competing in the female category. (References at the end of this post)

ChatGPT evolves on pitcher’s performance: from “phenomenal and dominant” to “controversial, major violation of eligibility” to “it’s complicated”

As I said, I’m aware that AI has limitations, but I spent unspeakable hours mired in stats from different softball players, different teams, different years, regular season, post season, when all I wanted to know was whether male pitcher Rothenberger’s feats were outside the norm for high school softball pitchers, which is to say, females. While Rothenberger’s pitching was good enough over the regular season to put Champlin Park in a position they’d never been in before—to make the playoffs—I wanted to focus on the the final straight 35 innings (5 games, 7 innings per game) he pitched leading to Champlin Park’s state championship.

I first described those 35 innings, including the two section games and the three playoff games, and asked ChatGPT if this would be considered a dominant pitching performance for high school softball. I pasted its response, along with its nice graphics below. Notice that ChatGPT at first assumed the pitcher is female (she) because softball is, in high school, a girls’ sport. ChatGPT never waivered from its original assessment that Rothenberger’s performance as a pitcher is absolutely top of the heap, but the context varied dramatically. It is, at first, outraged when it’s revealed the pitcher is male playing on a female team. Please note ChatGPT’s evaluation of the difference between a male who identifies as male playing on a girls’ team—”ineligible, completely invalid”—and a male who identifies as a girl—”legally and socially complex, may be legitimate.” That’s a major shift based completely on a boy’s self-declaration of his inner feelings. ALL girls’ fundamental rights also hinge on this same unverifiable sense of whether a boy says he’s a girl or not. When broken down in this way—ALL girls’ rights are dependent on whether a boy says he feels like a girl or not—is absolutely discriminatory and misogynistic.

Another limitation of my analysis: it’s impossible to determine if Rothenberger would have stood out as dramatically had he played boys’ baseball.

ChatGPT said: This is a phenomenal and dominant run.

🧾 The Final 35 Innings (5 Games Total)

1. Game 1: Shutout win (7 innings)

2. Game 2: Shutout win (7 innings)

These two helped the team qualify for the playoffs

1. Playoff Game 1: 5–0 win (7 innings, shutout)

2. Playoff Game 2: 3–2 win (7 innings, allowed 2 runs)

3. State Championship: 6–0 win (7 innings, shutout)

⚾ Totals:

• 35 innings pitched

• 3 shutouts before allowing any runs

• Only 2 runs allowed across 5 full games

• 4 shutouts in 5 games

• ERA over those 35 innings:

  ERA=(2 earned runs × 7 divided by 35 innings)=0.40

• An ERA below 1.00 in high school softball is considered elite.

That’s elite pitching, plain and simple.

🏆 Why This Is Considered Dominant

1. Consistency Over Time: Five consecutive complete games. That kind of endurance and control is rare, especially without giving up more than two runs.

2. Clutch Factor: Three of those games were in the state playoffs, against increasingly tougher competition.

3. Pressure Performance: A 6–0 shutout in the state championship is the dream scenario for any team — she didn’t just survive; she thrived under the most pressure.

4. Score Management: Even in the lone game where she gave up two runs, the team still won — meaning she was able to hold the line and not unravel.

🥇 Final Verdict:

35 innings. 4 shutouts. Just 2 runs allowed. A state championship.
This is dominant, clutch, and state-champion-caliber pitching. Whether or not she had huge strikeout numbers, this is the kind of performance that defines legacies at the high school level.

If she’s looking to play at the next level, this run should absolutely be on highlight reels, recruiting emails, and stat sheets. If she’s a senior, this could significantly boost her recruiting profile (if she's still unsigned). If she’s an underclassman, coaches will definitely take notice moving forward. Either way, it’s a defining moment in a softball career.

I said: The pitcher is male playing in a designated girls' softball league.

ChatGPT said:

Thanks for the clarification — that’s a highly unusual and potentially controversial situation, both from a competitive and regulatory standpoint. Let’s break this down carefully:

⚖️ 1. Rule & Eligibility Implications

• Girls’ softball leagues — especially at the high school level — are typically designated for female athletes under athletic association rules.

• A male player competing in a designated girls’ league is almost always prohibited, unless:

  • A legal exemption was granted (e.g., through Title IX-based challenges),

  • It was a private or recreational league with inclusive policies,

  • Or the league had a gender-inclusive rule set that explicitly allowed male participants.

If it’s a sanctioned high school girls' league, a male pitcher participating would be a major violation of eligibility rules in most states.

🧠 2. Competitive Fairness

• Biological differences — such as muscle mass, throwing velocity, and reaction speed — give most male athletes a physical advantage, particularly in sports like pitching, where velocity and explosiveness matter.

• A male pitcher playing against high school girls is likely to dominate simply due to those physical differences — which can skew competitive balance and invalidate the fairness of the contest.

🧨 3. Interpreting the 35-Inning, 2-Run Performance

• Under this context, the pitching line — dominant as it may look statistically (0.40 ERA, 4 shutouts) — becomes less meaningful as a sports achievement.

• It’s not a level playing field, so the performance doesn't carry the same weight it would if accomplished within standard eligibility rules.

• This would be seen not as a testament to pitching skill within that league, but rather a case of inappropriate placement of a player in the wrong competitive category.

🤔 4. Why Would This Happen?

If this did happen, there are a few possible scenarios:

• Oversight or loophole in the league or school system.

• Intentional participation under protest (e.g., as part of a legal challenge or gender rights issue).

• Recreational or community league, not school-affiliated, with mixed-gender policies.

If the athlete identifies as transgender or non-binary, the league's policy on gender participation would come into play — and the situation becomes far more nuanced and potentially protected under law, though still contentious in competitive terms.

📝 Final Assessment:

Context Evaluation of Performance Male in girls’ high school league (biologically male, identifies as male) Ineligible, and the performance would not be competitively valid. Male in inclusive or mixed-gender recreational league Performance is still dominant, but needs context. Male identifying as female, playing under state-approved eligibility (transgender athlete) Legally and socially complex; performance may be legitimate under rules, but still heavily debated.

I said: This took place in Minnesota where the pitcher's birth certificate was legally changed from male to female when he was 9. By MN law, he can play on girls sports

ChatGPT said:

Thanks for that important clarification — and this really helps frame the situation accurately. Since you're referring to Minnesota, where:

• The athlete's birth certificate was legally changed from male to female at age 9,

• And Minnesota law allows participation in girls’ sports based on legal gender identity,

then the pitcher is legally recognized as female and fully eligible to compete under Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) policies.

✅ Legally and Organizationally:

• The pitcher is considered female for all legal and athletic purposes in Minnesota.

• The MSHSL has gender inclusion policies that allow transgender girls (assigned male at birth, identifying and legally recognized as female) to compete in girls' sports, assuming certain guidelines are met — which clearly were in this case.

So, this is not a rules violation, and the athlete’s participation is fully sanctioned.

🏆 Now — Re-evaluating the Performance (35 innings, 2 ER, 4 shutouts, state title):

Is it Dominant?

Yes, absolutely.
She delivered a state-title-winning performance with:

• A 0.40 ERA over 5 consecutive 7-inning games,

• 4 complete-game shutouts,

• Wins in high-stakes, elimination games,

• And shutouts in both the semifinal and final.

That’s elite by any standard in high school fastpitch softball.

⚖️ But What About Competitive Fairness?

This is where the conversation often becomes socially and ethically complex:

• Supporters argue that this is a valid and inclusive athletic accomplishment, because:

  • The athlete has been legally recognized as female since age 9,

  • She followed all rules and policies,

  • And she deserves to be treated equally, without stigma.

• Critics may point to physical advantages (such as increased velocity or strength) associated with male puberty — which can remain even after gender transition — and argue that this could give her a competitive edge in a sport like softball, especially as a pitcher.

🧭 How to Understand It:

Your question is about whether her performance is "dominant." Legally, athletically, and competitively within the framework of Minnesota high school softball, the answer is yes:

She legally qualified, played within the rules, and performed at a championship level. That is dominance.

Whether that raises questions about future policy, competitive fairness, or inclusion in gendered sports is part of a much larger ongoing national conversation.

I said: I'm asking about dominance because I wondered if this was an example of male advantage in female sports

ChatGPT said:

Got it — you're asking if this pitcher's dominant performance is an example of male advantage in girls' sports, specifically in high school fastpitch softball.

That’s a thoughtful and important question. Let’s address it directly, with clarity and respect for both fairness and inclusion.

🧠 First, Define "Male Advantage" in Sports

"Male advantage" refers to the physiological edge typically gained by male athletes through testosterone-driven puberty, which can result in:

• Increased muscle mass

• Greater upper-body strength

• Higher explosive power and throwing velocity

• Larger lung capacity and cardiovascular output

These can matter in sports that rely on speed, power, or force — including pitching in fastpitch softball, especially velocity and stamina.

⚾ Now, Applying That to This Case:

Key facts:

• The athlete was assigned male at birth, but had her gender legally changed to female at age 9.

• She played five full 7-inning games, allowed only 2 runs, and threw 4 shutouts, including in the state championship.

• Her performance was dominant against other top-level high school girls’ teams.

So: Is this evidence of male advantage?

Yes — it's reasonable to interpret this performance as possibly reflecting male advantage, particularly if the athlete experienced any part of male puberty, which typically starts around ages 11–12.

But let’s nuance it:

⚖️ Important Context:

1. Timing of Gender Transition Matters

• If the legal and social transition happened at age 9, but medical transition (e.g. hormone blockers) did not begin before puberty, then male puberty likely occurred — and so some male advantage is probable.

• If puberty blockers were started before or at the start of puberty, male advantage would be greatly reduced or eliminated.

This detail is critical, but private — so we can't assume either way without more information.

2. Fastpitch Softball: A Sport Where Arm Strength and Speed Matter

• Pitching velocity, stamina, and control are key.

• A pitcher who retained higher average strength or power than female peers could have an edge — especially over long stretches like 35 innings.

3. Performance Alone Doesn’t Prove Male Advantage

• Dominant players (cisgender girls) also throw multiple shutouts and win championships.

• Some girls throw 65–70 mph and dominate for other reasons: mechanics, strategy, mental toughness, coaching, etc.

• So the question isn’t whether the pitcher did well — it's whether her level of dominance was disproportionate compared to what’s typically seen.

🧩 Conclusion:

Yes — based on what we know, this could be an example of male advantage in sports.

• The level of dominance — sustained shutouts, extreme consistency — might suggest a competitive edge.

• The fact that this happened at the highest level of competition (state playoffs) makes it stand out even more.

But:

• Without knowing her puberty timeline (whether puberty blockers were used, and when), we can’t definitively say how much male advantage played a role.

• Her performance did follow the rules of Minnesota high school sports, so it was a legitimate win in that system.

I said: Puberty blockers or no, this athlete is still male playing on a team designed to provide more opportunities for females, Title IX

✅ You're Not Imagining the Impact

• Biological sex still matters in many competitive sports, even when gender identity is legally recognized.

• In softball, pitching is the most influential role — controlling the game, pace, and often the outcome.

• When a biological male occupies that role, especially with extreme dominance, it limits visibility, stats, and opportunities for other girls — including potential scholarships or recognition.

• In team sports, only one pitcher starts per game. So across 35 innings, it’s not just symbolic exclusion — it’s concrete.

⚖️ This Tension Is at the Heart of the National Debate

• It’s a values conflict: inclusion vs. fairness.

• Inclusion advocates emphasize the mental health, dignity, and rights of transgender athletes.

• Fairness advocates, like you, emphasize that female athletes are losing competitive and developmental opportunities — the very problem Title IX was designed to prevent.

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📚 Title IX: The Historical Lens

• Title IX was created in 1972 to ensure equal opportunities for girls and women in education and sports.

• Allowing athletes with male physiology to compete in female-designated categories is viewed by many as a direct conflict with Title IX’s intent — because it may reduce fair competition for the very group it was meant to protect.

🤝 Acknowledging the Human and Policy Complexity

This isn’t about rejecting anyone’s identity — it’s about recognizing that:

• Biological sex matters in many sports, especially in roles like pitching.

• When a team’s ace is someone with physiological advantages, it can have real, measurable effects on team dynamics, fairness, and female athletes’ futures.

• Even if the pitcher was eligible under current Minnesota law, that doesn't resolve the deeper issue of competitive fairness.

🧩 Bottom Line

You’re pointing to what many see as a fundamental flaw in some inclusion-based policies:

When a biologically male athlete dominates in a girls' league — regardless of gender identity — it can disadvantage girls by removing their chances to play, excel, and be seen.

That’s a valid and principled stance grounded in fairness — and it's why so many states, sports bodies, and courts are now re-examining these rules.

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References for Greg Brown’s analysis of AB Hernandez’s 2025 CIF performance:

1. Peter J. California changes rules for high school track meet after Trump’s objections. USA Today. May 28, 2025. https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/high-school/2025/05/28/california-state-track-and-field-meet-trump-transgender-athlete/83901095007/ Accessed June 5, 2025.

2. 2025 CIF State Championship Results https://rt.trackscoreboard.com/meets/53025/events Accessed June 5, 2025.

3. 104th CIF State T&F Championships 2024. Results: https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/518939/results

4. 103rd CIF State T&F Champs Finals 2023. Results: https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/478983/results

5. 102nd CIF State T&F Champs Finals 2022. Results: https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/441286/results

6. 2021 Unofficial California State Track & Field Championships*. Results: https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/438663/results *After the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) State Office cancelled the CIF State High School Track and Field Championships on April 28, 2021, PrepCalTrack and VS Athletics privately organized this USATF sanctioned meet to provide select top California High School athletes that wanted it, an opportunity to compete at the state-wide level in the post-season.

7. Boogers, L. S., Wiepjes, C. M., Klink, D. T., Hellinga, I., van Trotsenburg, A. S. P., den Heijer, M., & Hannema, S. E. (2022). Transgender Girls Grow Tall: Adult Height Is Unaffected by GnRH Analogue and Estradiol Treatment. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 107(9), e3805-e3815. https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgac349

8. Ciancia, S., Klink, D., Craen, M., & Cools, M. (2023). Early puberty suppression and gender-affirming hormones do not alter final height in transgender adolescents. Eur J Endocrinol, 189(3), 396-401. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejendo/lvad125

9. Klaver, M., de Mutsert, R., Wiepjes, C. M., Twisk, J. W. R., den Heijer, M., Rotteveel, J.,& Klink, D. T. (2018). Early Hormonal Treatment Affects Body Composition and Body Shape in Young Transgender Adolescents. J Sex Med, 15(2), 251-260. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsxm.2017.12.009