My DD just played in a 14u C tournament in Chambersburg PA and they lost their first bracket game against a team using a guest player from a 14u A team as their pitcher and lead off batter. The tournament director had no problem with this.
I've lived and played in GA and NC and have never heard of this being illegal. Don't know the official USSSA rule, but I have never seen tournament directors in those stats take issue with this.
Yes, it is illegal. A registered "A" player can not pick up in a "C" tournament. If a formal complaint is lodged the team can kicked from the tournament. The rule does not vary by State.
Regardless of age a player can not play down in class. The exception is the type of tournament that is being played. An "A" or "B" player can play down with a "B" or "C" team if the tournament is an open format. If the tournament director does not have a problem, the state director of sanctioning body will.
Who decided to call this kid an "A" player? Is she currently rostered with a sanctioned body as an A player..... Or is she honestly just a ringor from another above average team? I'd still be salty if I were a part of the opposition, but it's legal otherwise.
Seems like the A-B-C thing is a much bigger part of the softball culture in some areas than others. In my experience in NC and GA, I couldn't tell you which teams are A, B or C. You just sign up for a tournament and the director will divide it up however he/she sees fit. There are some B tournaments that discourage or don't allow A teams, but in most cases, it's just 'we're having a tournament, you sign up, we'll do the best we can to make it fun and fair.' I don't think anyone would notice if a player from an A team was a guest player for a B or even a C team. If the player was a true ringer, the issue would be that she's a ringer, not the technicality that she's on an A-level team.