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

Updated: August 25, 2008, 9:30 PM ET

NEW HAVEN, Conn. -- 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 frightening 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?"

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

I just saw this on the "other board"...it is ridiculous

I too saw that story and I thought it was pretty sad. If the kid is the same age as the other kids, let him pitch. I did see that this was in Connecticut, isn't that the same place they decided not to keep score in some soccer league so the little kids wouldn't have to feel the pain of losing? When I played midget football, there was some kind of a size restriction. I think if the kid weighed over 150 lb, he wasn't permitted to carry the ball, he had to play another position. If there was a loose ball or an interception, and one of these kids grabbed the ball, play stopped where he took possession of it. They called these kids "blackstripers" and made them wear a big piece of black tape on the side of their helmets. I'm sure it was my play in this "sissy league" that hindered my football development and caused me to not make the 8th grade team several years later, which caused me not make the high school varsity, which led to my not being offered a scholarship at tOSU, and to subsequently not be drafted in the 3rd round by the Browns. These kids in Connecticut should want to play against the hardest throwing 9-year olds they can find, because it's only going to make them into better players in the end.

I'm sure this stupid decision will be reversed soon. It's getting a lot of attention.

No doubt I would be soo angry if I were affiliated with the team or family. the "officials" are a bunch of boneheads.

If this were China, there would be no problem

quote:

Originally posted by trevilli:
I too saw that story and I thought it was pretty sad. If the kid is the same age as the other kids, let him pitch. I did see that this was in Connecticut, isn't that the same place they decided not to keep score in some soccer league so the little kids wouldn't have to feel the pain of losing? When I played midget football, there was some kind of a size restriction. I think if the kid weighed over 150 lb, he wasn't permitted to carry the ball, he had to play another position. If there was a loose ball or an interception, and one of these kids grabbed the ball, play stopped where he took possession of it. They called these kids "blackstripers" and made them wear a big piece of black tape on the side of their helmets. I'm sure it was my play in this "sissy league" that hindered my football development and caused me to not make the 8th grade team several years later, which caused me not make the high school varsity, which led to my not being offered a scholarship at tOSU, and to subsequently not be drafted in the 3rd round by the Browns. These kids in Connecticut should want to play against the hardest throwing 9-year olds they can find, because it's only going to make them into better players in the end.

Just wondering if you meant this figuratively, or literally.

As for this thread, and the premise -- it's disgusting. It's not like this kid is 16 or 14, playing in little league. Like that Dominican Republic kid (can't remember his name). Let the kid play.

boooo youth baseball league of New Haven... Horrayy beer!

quote:

Originally posted by All Heart:
Just wondering if you meant this figuratively, or literally.

Sorry if it wasn't clear, it was all tongue-in-cheek. I could have been the best football player my high school had ever produced if I was bigger, stronger, faster and more athletic. Alas, I was born with the type of body made for sitting in the stands and watching the athletes play. However, one of these 9 year old baseball players could be the next Randy Johnson or Roger Clemens, but if they don't allow the best players to play, they'll never know.

quote:

Originally posted by kope:
boooo youth baseball league of New Haven... Horrayy beer!

RED STRIPE!!

Anyway I dunno about you guys but when I played baseball when I was 9 tons of kids threw 34-45 mph it wasn't hard to hit. Hell I even got 4 teeth knocked out when I was 8 for going in the 80-90mph batting cage lol.

Just let him play with the older kids!

This story makes me want to throw a fastball at these "officials" heads. This is the most retarded thing I have ever heard of in my life. When I played little league there were always that handful of kids in the league that were just plain better,faster, stronger, and more talented. It is just a fact of life. Thats how it goes. Why is this kid's feelings not as important as the other kids feelings. These little league officials should be stripped of their duties and play should be resumed as normal. Any parents who have a problem should pull their kids out of the league and enroll them in ballet or something. What these parents are saying to their kids is "nope that kid throws too hard son, you are not even going to try and get in there and hit". When they should be saying "come on son, lets go in the backyard and work on your hitting and I'll throw a little harder to you so you can practice for this pitcher". The message being sent to these kids is when the going gets tough, quit! What is wrong with these parents?

quote:

Originally posted by LBJVirus:RED STRIPE!!

Rouge Dead Guy Ale!

I also think this is crazy. By the way my son was 5'6 in the sixth grade and weighed about 150 lbs which made him wear a red stripe. It never made sense to me. I would rather have a smaller kid hitting a bigger kid that is running the ball than to have a big kid hitting the little kids with the ball.

However if I was the parent of the boy with this type of pitching I would cinsider having him play in an older league. Let him throw those pitches against better hitters rather than to plateu throwing against kids that have proved not to be able to hit against him.

However he would then be subject to stronger hits back at him and he likely would also have a hard time hitting against the older teams. He would improve if the coaches let him play. But if the older pitchers can throw his speeds they will likely not play him because the other older pitchers are likely better hitters.

Also I am sure the town next to them would be willing to let him play in their league and when he gets to highschool and is throwing 90 mph they will have to face him when it counts.

i cant believe they are doing this, this poor kid man if i was a parent on the team i would be suing everybody involved.


Nox

quote:

RED STRIPE!!

Anyway I dunno about you guys but when I played baseball when I was 9 tons of kids threw 34-45 mph it wasn't hard to hit. Hell I even got 4 teeth knocked out when I was 8 for going in the 80-90mph batting cage lol.

yeaa red stripe!!!

and yes you are right, because where im from or the league i used to play in(not travel ball) most kids throw 40mph.

if he is the best by far, that means the other kids are throwing 25-30mph. i dont know about you but in my mind that would barley make it to the plate. so the talent in that age group must not be very good.

finally we have a local batting cage were we routinely have 6,7,8 year olds(sometimes 5) hitting in a cage that hits on average 40mph. like John Kruk said on ESPN "lets just teach our kids to quit."