High school cancels rest of baseball season after players protest coach's removal amid Title VI investigation

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A Florida high school has canceled the remaining six games of its baseball season after players walked out in protest of the dismissal of their head coach.

Fort Myers High School Principal Robert Butz emailed parents of players on the team to inform them the season had been cut short.

"After meeting with every varsity baseball family and evaluating our options for the rest of the season, I must inform you that I have made the decision to cancel the rest of our baseball regular season and district play," Butz wrote. 

"This was not an easy decision to make, but the current status of our team and coaching staff does not provide a viable path forward for the remainder of the season."

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Fort Myers High School canceled the rest of its baseball season amid a Title VI investigation. (Fox News)

The team has been mired in controversy since February, when assistant coach Alex Carcioppolo allegedly used a racial slur when referencing his players in a team group chat. He allegedly wished the team a "Happy Valentine's Day," followed by the N-word, and he was removed from his role two days later.

The School District of Lee County launched a Title VI investigation against the team March 8. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act "prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity that receives Federal funds or other Federal financial assistance." 

On April 5, head coach Kyle Burchfield, while remaining a social studies teacher at the school, was removed from his position with the team. 

Fox 4 Southwest Florida notes he was removed "because of the integrity