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

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?"

source

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

I can actually see both sides to this story. While that boy should be able to pitch, I can see why parents with less skilled players wouldn't want a ball coming that fast at their DC. Maybe he can play in a slightly older/more experienced league

I do feel bad for the kid though

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

What speed is "OK" then? They are going to have to have a radar gun at every game, for every team, and anyone who pitches over X mph automatically walks that batter? 40 mph is too fast... is 39 OK? How about 30?

Will they then ban batters who never miss the ball? If you have a batter who is batting .1000, will he not be allowed to play either?

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

I can see both side of the story but they should not waste his talent either.

I know it's not sports but Christina Aguillera was "banned" from our school singing contest because she was "too good".

So in order to fit in, you should not be too good? What kind of example does it set? That you should not be able to excel?

I think it's sad and does not set a good example.

But I would think if the kid is talented that the mom should also accept that her child would be better suited in a higher level league or with older kids.

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

I wish my son had this problem. Anyhoo, they should just move him up a division or 2. It's that easy. It's done all the time.

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

This is awful... Just move the kid up to an older league.

We're raising a bunch of babies who will NEVER KNOW what it is like to lose...

They need that.

I understand the safety concern, but I don't think this kis should be punished for excelling in something... and that is EXACTLY what they are doing.

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

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

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

I can see their concern. It was strongly suggested that my DD should leave our area's rec league at 10 because she was "too good" and it wasn't fair to the other players.

Lots of those kids were there to play at their age/skill level and when a player is that good it can cause risks to the other kids that don't have the ability to
catch, hit that kind of speed, strength.

It also gives that one kid no benefit if he/she is not being challanged in their games.

My DD went on to play ASA Junior Olympic Travel softball and always played on teams with girls 2-4 years older than her.

It is hard for the parents of these kind of kids if they can't afford to pay for their kid to play in the upper level/competitive league and can only afford Little League /rec league.

Rock on talented Little League Player

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

Posted by Stacey1403

Maybe he can play in a slightly older/more experienced league

I do feel bad for the kid though

Message edited 8/26/2008 9:58:11 AM.

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

I feel for the kid. It sond slike one of the "everyone gets a trophy" leagues.

The kid has talent, it should be encouraged.

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

Posted by Phyl

I can see their concern. It was strongly suggested that my DD should leave our area's rec league at 10 because she was "too good" and it wasn't fair to the other players.

Lots of those kids were there to play at their age/skill level and when a player is that good it can cause risks to the other kids that don't have the ability to
catch, hit that kind of speed, strength.

It also gives that one kid no benefit if he/she is not being challanged in their games.

My DD went on to play ASA Junior Olympic Travel softball and always played on teams with girls 2-4 years older than her.

It is hard for the parents of these kind of kids if they can't afford to pay for their kid to play in the upper level/competitive league and can only afford Little League /rec league.

Rock on talented Little League Player

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

Why not just bump him up, is it that hard? Move him into a league where his skill is equal/closer to those around him. But to tell him he just cant play I dont think is fair

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

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

Posted by namechange

Posted by Phyl

I can see their concern. It was strongly suggested that my DD should leave our area's rec league at 10 because she was "too good" and it wasn't fair to the other players.

Lots of those kids were there to play at their age/skill level and when a player is that good it can cause risks to the other kids that don't have the ability to
catch, hit that kind of speed, strength.

It also gives that one kid no benefit if he/she is not being challanged in their games.

My DD went on to play ASA Junior Olympic Travel softball and always played on teams with girls 2-4 years older than her.

It is hard for the parents of these kind of kids if they can't afford to pay for their kid to play in the upper level/competitive league and can only afford Little League /rec league.

Rock on talented Little League Player

rock on DD!!!!

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

I agree with the league - either have him not pitch & work another position. At 9 years old, there are plenty of skills to be learned. His parents can get him a coach for his pitching outside of the league & inside the league have him work on other skills (catching, etc).

This isn't about whining kids & never losing. How are his teammates supposed to work on their skills & the game if no one in the league can hit his fast ball?

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

This is DISGUSTING and PATHETIC - WHAT the hell are these parents teaching their kids? You're going to tell a 9 year old that he's "too good" to play ball ??? If I was that kid's parent I'd have every frieakin lawyer I could find fighting that to the death !! -
If he has that kind of talent at 9, he could end up playing professionally - HOW DARE anyone take that opportunity for greatness away from a child ??? !!!! Or anyone for that matter?

He pitches too fast ? Well, suck it up and get used to it b/c there will ALWAYS be someone bigger, someone smarter, someone faster, someone more skilled - it's called LIFE !!! Someone wins and someone loses, that is how the game is played. I don't understand how kids can learn any sense of pride in themselves and their acomplishments if their parents consider stepping on the mound and swinging the bat an acomplishment in and of itself? Come on !! ?? -

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

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

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

I see it as more of a safety issue to the other players. In rec ball you have kids grouped by age not their sizes and skills vary. Have you ever been hit by a 40mph baseball?

My DD was a relief Pitcher when she wasn't Catching/ Short Stop and she nailed me in the shin while we were practicing and I fell to the ground screaming in pain! Could you imagine a little 9-10 y/o getting nailed with a pitch like that?

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

Just imagine what sports history would be like if people like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, and the Williams sisters were told when they were younger to quit..... so sad!


I have a feeling it has more to do with that situation where he turned down the offer rather than safety concerns.

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

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

Message edited 8/26/2008 2:05:18 PM.

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

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

You know what, if there was a safety issue, there was one when the team was 5-0, 6-0, 7-0. Now that these kids formed a bond and were undefeated at 8-0 and on their way to the playoffs, they force the team to disband? These kids couldn't finish out there season before they asked the pitcher to step up to a more advanced league? Ludicrous.