9-year-old boy told he's too good to pitch

By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN – 10 hours ago

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) — Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player — too good, it turns out. The right-hander has a fastball that tops out at about 40 mph. He throws so hard that the Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch any more. When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said.

Officials for the three-year-old league, which has eight teams and about 100 players, said they will disband Jericho's team, redistributing its players among other squads, and offered to refund $50 sign-up fees to anyone who asks for it. They say Jericho's coach, Wilfred Vidro, has resigned.

But Vidro says he didn't quit and the team refuses to disband. Players and parents held a protest at the league's field on Saturday urging the league to let Jericho pitch.

"He's never hurt any one," Vidro said. "He's on target all the time. How can you punish a kid for being too good?"

The controversy bothers Jericho, who says he misses pitching.

"I feel sad," he said. "I feel like it's all my fault nobody could play."

Jericho's coach and parents say the boy is being unfairly targeted because he turned down an invitation to join the defending league champion, which is sponsored by an employer of one of the league's administrators.

Jericho instead joined a team sponsored by Will Power Fitness. The team was 8-0 and on its way to the playoffs when Jericho was banned from pitching.

"I think it's discouraging when you're telling a 9-year-old you're too good at something," said his mother, Nicole Scott. "The whole objective in life is to find something you're good at and stick with it. I'd rather he spend all his time on the baseball field than idolizing someone standing on the street corner."

League attorney Peter Noble says the only factor in banning Jericho from the mound is his pitches are just too fast.

"He is a very skilled player, a very hard thrower," Noble said. "There are a lot of beginners. This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport."

Noble acknowledged that Jericho had not beaned any batters in the co-ed league of 8- to 10-year-olds, but say parents expressed safety concerns.

"Facing that kind of speed" is frighteneing for beginning players, Noble said.

League officials say they first told Vidro that the boy could not pitch after a game on Aug. 13. Jericho played second base the next game on Aug. 16. But when he took the mound Wednesday, the other team walked off and a forfeit was called.

League officials say Jericho's mother became irate, threatening them and vowing to get the league shut down.

"I have never seen behavior of a parent like the behavior Jericho's mother exhibited Wednesday night," Noble said.

Scott denies threatening any one, but said she did call the police.

League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league.

Local attorney John Williams was planning to meet with Jericho's parents Monday to discuss legal options.

"You don't have to be learned in the law to know in your heart that it's wrong," he said. "Now you have to be punished because you excel at something?"

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jp5ghoiaZuAtQRw-ynrAbdVDQORAD92PJST80

"He is a very skilled player, a very hard thrower," Noble said. "There are a lot of beginners. This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport."

Jericho instead joined a team sponsored by Will Power Fitness. The team was 8-0 and on its way to the playoffs when Jericho was banned from pitching.

Rules..... every kid plays and rotates every position......This is a fun league.

League officials say they first told Vidro that the boy could not pitch after a game on Aug. 13. Jericho played second base the next game on Aug. 16. But when he took the mound Wednesday, the other team walked off and a forfeit was called.

Well the boy should just get used to it. That's just life. You pitch too well, they won't let you play. You work too hard, you'll make your co-workers look bad, they will hate you, and get you fired. You make too much money, and the democrats will tax it all away from you... That's just the way life is, and the sooner the boy realizes that, the better off he'll be...

NOT!

Welcome to the Monkey House. Kurt Vonnegut Jr. wrote about this back in the 70's. They put weights on the ballerinas & chips in your head to squish any intelligent thought, so we could all be the same.

"He is a very skilled player, a very hard thrower," Noble said. "There are a lot of beginners. This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport."

Noble acknowledged that Jericho had not beaned any batters in the co-ed league of 8- to 10-year-olds, but say parents expressed safety concerns.

Honestly, this little boy needs to play in a more competetive league. This league is co-ed for pete's sake! It is a bunch of little kids learning the game and this kid is "out of his league".

I think the league made the right decision.

Something tells me there is more to the story though. Im sure there were quite a few conversations on this. The parents remind me of Andy Kaufman and wrestling women. They are totally being ego driven.

Instead of moving him to a different league where he will be more challenged and probably develope his skills they are more into smokin' out the little kids so their boy can be a hero.

I would not want a 40 mph ball coming at my little girl either.
I do not think this is about a kid being punished for being too good. This is about a kid being in the wrong league.

BTW - pitching can really ruin a growing kids arm and give him a lot of problems in the long run. As far as I know, correct me if I am wrong, but it is not advisable for a young kid to be throwing fast balls.

WOW!! Imagine that...... Another gleeming gem of evidence of the dumbing down

“The spirit of the league was community, family, well being, nurturing. It’s an extended family and it’s been disrupted,” said attorney Peter Noble, who represents Liga Juvenil De Baseball De New Haven, Spanish for Youth Baseball League of New Haven. The league is not affiliated with Little League baseball.