Two students at Westhill High School are being told they can't play baseball.

Stamford's Westhill Vikings just wrapped up their eighth game against Bridgeport's Central Hilltoppers, which they won 10-0. While the team played through their lineup, two players continued to sit and watch from the sidelines.

Geuris Arias and Noel Santana, both 18, are from the Dominican Republic.

Although they both attend practice and are in uniform for every game, they have yet to play in a game. That's because due to CIAC rules pertaining to international transfers, they are not allowed to.

According to the handbook, under the foreign exchange rules, "Students would be eligible to play CIAC sports if:

Santana is a junior and started school at Westhill in November, while Arias started in January as a sophomore.

Per the same handbook, they haven't been enrolled school long enough (12 weeks) to join a varsity team, and since they attended school in Dominican Republic for over eight semesters, they are ruled ineligible to play sports, even though never having played on a team in Dominican Republic.

"He says one way he feels bad because we can't play, but for another way we feel like happy because we are in the dugout supporting the guys, so we give this energy," said Santana, translating for Arias.

There is a hardship exemption where they have to present an unforeseeable act, condition or event which caused a severe burden on the student or their family.

Arias and Santana have individually appealed the CIAC's decision. Santana's heard back last week on the CIAC's decision - he was denied.

"For one way I feel bad because I can't play, I would love to be on the field playing with them, but I can't," said Santana. "I just want to play, nothing else."

For Arias, they don't even know where they are in the process for him.

Their coach isn't letting the fear of striking out keep them from possibly never playing a game.

"I plan to continue to fight 'cause it's the right thing to do as a coach, it's the right thing to do as person. These are two kids who love baseball," said Mike Riveles, baseball coach at Westhill High School.

News 12 reached out to the CIAC which said it cannot comment on the cases of either player. News 12 reached out to the district's superintendent and the school's principal for comment but have not heard back.