9-year-old barred for pitching too well

[all4114all]

Associated Press

Updated: August 27, 2008, 6:43 AM EST

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?"




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[all4114all]

So, I just don't get this. The excuse is that he throws too hard?? Really? I, too, believe it to be a bunch of hooey.

If kids were to be limited from playing, I would prefer them to be limited because they
throw too hard AND are inaccurate.

My son got beaned at least five times in about two weeks during one season. (He's a leftie) It has been over two years and he still have a mark on his leg. Another time, I saw a kid get hit in the head so hard that the ball bounced OVER the backstop fencing. Thank heavens for helmets.

This article is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Heaven forbid we ask our children to excel AND they do so. Oh, if you want your kids to learn to bat well, put them against a good pitcher, not a belly itcher. Sorry, couldn't reist!

Done venting... Have a good day, All!

[CO_P9864]

I totally agree...as a society we push our children to do well so that when they are even more vunarable, they have something positive to keep them out of trouble. This kid is doing exactly that, he's doing very well what he loves and what keeps him away from trouble. Whats to say he doesnt quit? Then when he's 15 and instead of playing varisty baseball trying to earn his way to college, he's robbing a grocery store where these administrators are shopping. I mean seriously, come on. It becomes a story of "your son beat my son, so i'm gonna throw a fit so he cant play."

You've got to love America.

[NJPrisonCop]

Bad precedence for this league to have a problem with the kid being too good. How about adding more practices so the "special" players raise themselves to his level? Dont make him lower his standards.

[GUNNER]

This is one that should hit the national media. Screw those *******s, what is it set that a certain team in the community has to win all the games. Let that kid and his team play ball.
This is Kind of like where i live, the parents always fight over who is going to be the coach so they can make sure their kids is always the quarterback. Many times holding the team back and causing them to loose many games just so their kid can get his name in the local newspaper.