9-year-old banned for pitching too well

zero_c · Aug 26, 2008

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?"
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I think its stupid that he is banned for being too good. It seems like all the league is promoting is normalcy.

metzo · Aug 26, 2008

wow thats amazing to be able to pitch 40mph for a 9 year old O_O

DragonK550i · Aug 26, 2008

metzo said: ↑

wow thats amazing to be able to pitch 40mph for a 9 year old O_O
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i know he is taking roids lol

Natsu · Aug 26, 2008

drugs are bad mmkay? ^^

but wow though, 40mph for a 9 year old..........

Whoby · Aug 26, 2008

he should move up to the pros lol ..... love to see men getting squash by a kid =D

Resentless · Aug 26, 2008

stupid.. banning someone for being to good :s its a league goddamnit ><

reno · Aug 26, 2008

u don't see other sports where they ban ppl that are too good...
mayb they shoulda banned phelps at the games... lol

Resentless · Aug 26, 2008

i get banned with CS all the time for playing to good hahah xD

kdotc · Aug 26, 2008

this kid is the future cy young winner

dragong87 · Aug 26, 2008

that's bull!! just because he's better than them.. isn't that how good athletes etc start out? they excel at it?

metzo · Aug 27, 2008

lol would be worst to be catcher tho rather than batter >.< constanly dealing with 40mph balls even in practice! have to be real brave to do that for kids league

Phil · Aug 27, 2008

lol, just coz hes good, they had to ban him lol, i bet hes gunna get revenge and Own them with a different team

reno · Aug 27, 2008

just a matter of time b4 sum1 gets banned from having sex cos they're too good at it

[N] · Aug 27, 2008

i guess they should let the guy play on a similar level but yeah for his age it's pretty crazy, the position change is also for the better i guess. but banning is just stupid.

mr_evolution · Aug 27, 2008

It's just like how they banned this massive 10yr old from playing rugby because he will nail all the other 10yr olds on the field

bbes · Aug 27, 2008

thats different though cos, other ppl could get hurt if he tackled them to strongly but i guess they could have moved him to play against 14 year olds lol. but with pitching i don't see any problems. why ban him?
seems like someone is a sore loser.

AsianInvasion · Aug 27, 2008

Man, poor kid, banning him for being good is.. "tai gwo fen la"!!!

zilch28 · Aug 27, 2008

The weight of a baseball is less than 200g, I doubt anyone will get serious injury even taking the throw directly with the face <_<

and they shouldn't even join if they are afraid of losing.

WaiLik · Aug 30, 2008

not fair to the boy, if the other kids can't do it, then they should catch up! haha.....

metzo · Aug 30, 2008

zilch28 said: ↑

The weight of a baseball is less than 200g, I doubt anyone will get serious injury even taking the throw directly with the face <_<

and they shouldn't even join if they are afraid of losing.
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we are talking about 9 year olds.....if they get hit they can easily break a bone or soemthing...

And im not sure about the junior leagues, but a baseball is like rock hard..so if it hits u at 60mph
It. Will. Hurt

9-year-old banned for pitching too well

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9-year-old banned for pitching too well

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