Baseball group ‘shocked and confused’ after wrongly announcing former Maine athlete’s death

A girls baseball organization says it is shocked and confused after finding out a former Maine athlete, whose death it announced, is still alive .

Baseball for All posted on June 28 that University of Maine at Presque Isle graduate and baseball star Ghazaleh “Oz” Sailors had died, and that it had created a fund in her honor to help young female baseball players.

“On Friday, June 28, we were informed that Oz Sailors had passed away by a source that we perceived to be credible, and we were asked to share the news with our community. This morning, we were made aware of a newspaper article that reported that Oz is still alive,” the group posted on social media late Friday .

The Bangor Daily News investigated Sailors’ alleged death after receiving an email July 2 from Sailors’ brother, Hajir Sailors. He noted the San Francisco Chronicle also reported his sister’s death, but said he believed she was alive after family members spoke with Aroostook County law enforcement.

Sailors is alive, Sheriff’s Office Commander Forrest Dudley confirmed on July 9, but she does not want anyone to know where she is.

The BDN reached Sailors by phone on July 9, but she declined to comment on the death reports.

The BDN and the Chronicle reported the notices of her death were not correct.

Sailors is listed as director of player development for Baseball for All. The organization has not responded to multiple requests for comment.

The June 28 post was removed early Thursday, and late Friday Baseball for All said it had learned Sailors was alive.

“As would be expected, we are shocked and confused and we are in the process of gathering information,” the post stated.