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

[Merch]

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



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 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?”

[Athian]

To be honest, the quote that explains the reasion being:

"“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.”

What about the other 99 kids that just can't keep up with this lad? Think it's fair on them that they can not hit a ball. What's the point in even playing if that is the case. If this kid excels so much, then put him in a better league and quit bitching about him being forced out of this one.

The happiness of one child does not equal that of the other 99. the league apparently isn't suppose to be so serious and competetive, so when you have one kid that can't be beaten.. it ruins the whole point of the league to begin with.

You have to think of the bigger picture here, else you'll get caught up in the "Aww, how could they do that to a 9 year old boy, that's so wrong" nonsense.

[DustPox]

its because he's black.

[Nicki]

Originally Posted by DustPox

its because he's black.

Agreed. Nigga's gettin' disrespected
Nah, I think it's sad, and I support Athian's idea about moving him to a different league and stop whining.
My advice for him would be: "Aim for the crouch."

[Jordan]

I heard about this on adio he throw 40 I think, and they said he was to good, and that they banned him. Then they are going to cancel that team and spread them to other ones.

[zafix]

I'm too good to pitch.

[DustPox]

Originally Posted by Ahlto

Agreed. Nigga's gettin' disrespected
Nah, I think it's sad, and I support Athian's idea about moving him to a different league and stop whining.
My advice for him would be: "Aim for the crouch."

omfg i got banned for saying that word!

[CkChRIzZ]

Originally Posted by Jordan

I heard about this on radio. He throws 40 mph, I think. They said he was too good, and they banned him. They are going to break up that team and spread them to other ones.

yea, we could tell from what we read in the 1st post...

[Rock0rz]

lmao he got pwnd its like sayin to a kid "GET OUTTA SCHOOL YOUR DOING TO WELL!!! NO MORE THAN 9 A* ALOUD PER STUDENT!!"

it is kinda stupid that he basicly gets punished cos he has a tallent but i see what they mean. him being that good takes the fun outta it for the others.
but i agree if he is THAT good move him up a legue and let him play with higher ranks or even higher ages. it will help him develop then no one can moan that he is tooo good unless he kicks there asses aswell then well he is just scary good and will be on a fat payroll when he is older <_<

[Bl0t]

wow insane how much effort goes into making him not play...they could probly just ask him to move up the grades or something

[Athian]

Originally Posted by Rock0rz

lmao he got pwnd its like sayin to a kid "GET OUTTA SCHOOL YOUR DOING TO WELL!!! NO MORE THAN 9 A* ALOUD PER STUDENT!!"

It's not really though is it, that example doesn't match this one at all.

Originally Posted by Bl0t

wow insane how much effort goes into making him not play...they could probly just ask him to move up the grades or something

It's the parents that are crying about this so much that they are just wasting breath. Are they not open enough (minded) to simply move the boy into a better league? If that was my kid, I wouldn't even want him to play at a level that he's to good for, he doesn't learn as much.

[Sticky Ramen]

Anyone think the kid might not want to be torn from his friends and kids his own age against his will and forced to be around older guys he doesn't know that are probably unlikely to accept him?

It's hard to see a "right" way of dealing with it from everyone's point of view. That's the problem, obviously.

[Cobra]

It goes both ways. I agree that he should be allowed to play, but it's obvious that they just aren't in his league. Let him move up to another league or level, don't ban the kid. That's ridiculous, as it'll just discourage him from doing anything, for fear that he'll be too good at it.



I can see what they're saying, but like the 2nd post *i believe it was* said, does the happiness of 1 child equal the other 99? You be the judge.



And yes, I agree with Athian. Just move up him and put him in another league. Simple. The parents are blowing this out of proportion, really.

[Sherif]

Alright.. lets just ban Phelps from the olympics next year, apparently he was too good this time.

[Nicki]

Originally Posted by Sherif

Alright.. lets just ban Phelps from the olympics next year, apparently he was too good this time.

Like we should ban the 9-year-old pitcher?