Let the Kid Pitch!!!

**Dustoff262** · 08-25-08, 08:49 PM

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

By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN, Associated Press Writer
4 hours, 17 minutes ago

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 frighteneing 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?”

**Darin** · 08-25-08, 09:13 PM

Seems like that there's something else going on besides a a talented 9 year old. Too bad because the kid is getting the bad end of the deal.

**gopherpuckfan** · 08-25-08, 09:56 PM

Tough shit. People around here tried to pull the same crap when Joe Mauer was playing ball at our park. Joe ended up playing a couple years ahead, but only because he even thrived there. The parents at our rec center wanted him banned from t-ball because he hit the ball so hard.

**Bob Loblaw** · 08-25-08, 10:05 PM

I'm fairly certain it's not out of the realm of physical possibility for a 9-year-old to hit 50mph on the gun. In fact, I think it actually happens with some regularity. Especially if this kiddo's pitching with good command and control (no HBPs as of yet)...yeah, something strange is afoot here, and I'll betcha it doesn't have anything to do with baseball.

**irishmick** · 08-25-08, 10:43 PM

It annoys me that the second someone is better than anyone else people pitch a fit. Of *course* the kid should be allowed to pitch! Definitely sounds like someone has their panties in a bunch over something besides a 9-year old who can throw the ball well.

**Rhino** · 08-25-08, 11:13 PM

And there you have it folks. Clearly the decision of a democrat. Punishing an individual for achieving above everyone else. Because it's NOT FAIR.

Someone needs to teach these kids, life isn't fair.

When they go to apply for a job and someone stands out, are they going to tell that guy he can't work because he's too good and give the idiots that couldn't cut it another change?

Give me a effing break.

**CTR man** · 08-25-08, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Rhino

And there you have it folks. Clearly the decision of a democrat. Punishing an individual for achieving above everyone else. Because it's NOT FAIR.

Someone needs to teach these kids, life isn't fair.

When they go to apply for a job and someone stands out, are they going to tell that guy he can't work because he's too good and give the idiots that couldn't cut it another change?

Give me a effing break.

That seems to be par for the course in some occupations these days. "You can't work here cause you're over qualified." Thank God this doesn't happen in LE.

**Terminator** · 08-25-08, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by CTR man

Thank God this doesn't happen in LE.

WRONG! I have been turned down from two full-time police jobs in my day because according to ranking officers, I was overqualified. In full disbelief the Chief in one agency repeatedly asked me, "are you sure you want to work here?" I was like WTF!

Also, check into the officer in Connecticut who was too smart for the PD to hire.

http://waronyou.com/2008/07/new-lond...y-stupid-cops/

**CTR man** · 08-25-08, 11:34 PM

Originally Posted by Terminator

WRONG! I have been turned down from two full-time police jobs in my day because according to ranking officers, I was overqualified. In full disbelief the Chief in one agency repeatedly asked me, "are you sure you want to work here?" I was like WTF!

Also, check into the officer in Connecticut who was too smart for the PD to hire.

http://waronyou.com/2008/07/new-lond...y-stupid-cops/

I stand corrected.

Remind me to never move there.

**Shoestring** · 08-26-08, 12:34 AM

If he is so good, bump him up a level or two. Hell it may even increase the kids potential. Banning him is BS and people need to get their heads out of their arces.

As long as they keep pitch counts so the kid doesnt hurt himself he should be able to continue

**10-42Adam** · 08-26-08, 04:11 AM

Originally Posted by Shoestring

If he is so good, bump him up a level or two. Hell it may even increase the kids potential. Banning him is BS and people need to get their heads out of their arces.

As long as they keep pitch counts so the kid doesnt hurt himself he should be able to continue

Agreed. He shouldn't be told he can't pitch simply because he's "too good." That's punishing him for the wrong reason...

**CT209** · 08-26-08, 05:25 AM

It's the current mindset of so many people. You can't allow kids to fail. So, here we have a kid that can pitch so well, no other kid can get a hit. Obiviously, the good pitcher has to go. Otherwise the other kids may develop the idea that they just suck at batting. It would ruin the dear childrens self-esteem. We can't have that.

So, we'll punish the good pitcher. I fully expect the Olympics will go that way at some point. If a country has an outstanding athlete who will win by a wide margin, they'll be barred from competing because it'll make the other countries feel bad. We must join together as one world-wide multicultural group to stamp out bad feelings.

**mack** · 08-26-08, 08:00 AM

I can't believe this. Here is a potential future major league pitcher and they bann him from playing at 9 years old? They should be promoting him not banning him. Any child can be hurt playing any sport, what if a slow pitch gets hit with a line drive and hits another child square in the chest. The injury would probably be worse than getting hit with one of this kid's pitches.

**OfficerResource.com** · 08-26-08, 08:38 AM

This does not surprise me. I am a little league coach and you would not believe how some parents / coaches act. This level of baseball is supposed to be teaching the children the fundamentals, but some coaches / parents are more worried about winning than anything else.

**Cool Breeze** · 08-26-08, 09:04 AM

From what I hear, the kid came late into the season and was recruited by the coach of the team he's currently on. This goes against the league's policy and he should have been placed on a different team. The league told the coach he couldn't play, the coach said okay, and two minutes later the kid was put into the game on the mound. So, the entire team is being punished because of the coach.

The fact that he's good is the only reason the story is getting any press.

**mavriktu** · 08-26-08, 09:32 AM

It's the current mindset of so many people. You can't allow kids to fail. So, here we have a kid that can pitch so well, no other kid can get a hit. Obiviously, the good pitcher has to go. Otherwise the other kids may develop the idea that they just suck at batting. It would ruin the dear childrens self-esteem. We can't have that.

Even given this thought process,it wont gel.Why? because it isn't like this is the only pitcher these kids will face.

Their thoughts should go along the lines of "I really suck against THIS pitcher".Well guess what,pros go through the same thing.

**mack** · 08-26-08, 09:56 AM

Bottom line is this kid is getting screwed no matter who caused it.

**Willowdared** · 08-26-08, 10:52 AM

Funny how youth sports has changed. I remember when they didn't let you over-hand pitch at all until you were 13 because they wanted to protect the growth plates in your bones.

**lewisipso** · 08-26-08, 11:55 AM

This same principle does not only apply to players that are too good but the ones that are not. I do not do sports. Don't care for them, never played them don't know how. That should not hinder my children. I tried to enter my kids in sports beginning with T ball. I believed they were supposed to be taught the game and sportsmanship. Negative. I came real close to physically explaining to several coaches the error of their coaching. Needless to say only the best players are allowed to play. Everyone else is yelled at and treated as if bricks have a higher IQ.
Parents take children playing sports to levels where the only thing that counts is winning at any cost. When you have to have coaches removed from the field for abuse as well as parents for causing disruption it has gone to far. What are the kids learning?

**Rhino** · 08-26-08, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by lewisipso

What are the kids learning?

They learn that winning and getting ahead in life is only reserved for those who want it. They learn that life isn't fair. That despite what their liberal school system tells them it's full of winners and losers and you, by your choices, determine which one you'll be.

It prepares them for real life. Something liberals don't want out of some twisted sense of "fairness"; or as it most of it know it... "socialism".