9 Year Old Banned from Pitching Baseball

August 26, 2008, 8:00 PM

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) - Nine-year-old Jericho Scott is a good baseball player — too good, it turns out.

Parents of some opposing players say Jericho Scott's 40 mph fastball is too intimidating. (Douglas Healey / Associated Press)
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: Foxsports.com

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If anyone things that this is the most ridiculous thing they've ever heard, then please speak up now.

I mean, come on. 40mph fastball is too intimidating?!
Guess what 'parents of those scared children', it's part of the freaking sport.

August 26, 2008, 8:05 PM

I heard about this on Sports Center this morning. Yeah, I think it's absurd. Banning a 9-year old from pitching because he's "too good"? Gimme a break. If he's better than everyone else, then good for him. Last time I checked, that was part of competitive sports.

August 26, 2008, 8:07 PM

That's just harsh. The kid has a talent, and so instead of encouraging him to do better, they think it's a good idea to ban him? It's actually retarded.
Although if he's so good, he should have no bother getting into another, better team somewhere else, where he'll be treated properly and coached to become a better player.

August 26, 2008, 8:09 PM

I agree. There's nothing wrong with placing him in a league where players compete at a higher level. He's probably not getting any better as he obliterates kids his own age, so he might as well increase his skill against players who pose more of a challenge.

August 26, 2008, 8:09 PM

It's just outrageous and I feel strongly for the kid. Now he's blaming himself for the team not playing. You know, there's something deeper that's being taught him than 'being too good makes you bannable', it's that quitting is better than playing against someone who's better than you.

It's either that the parents of those players know absolutely nothing about the sport or they're intent on letting their kids grow up too soft.
I think it hurts all the kids in the league too. Since their parents are acting like such arses, it's ruining the sport for everyone involved.

True too that he should just leave that league since it IS Connecticut and there's a ton other states that are just outside it's borders. xD
His league is BS.

**Battle Royale: Profiles** · August 26, 2008, 9:23 PM

Wow, this article is a bit too harsh. I'm surprised that they're going with a 'let's ban the kid!' approach instead of doing what I think should be done:

Having the kid play with older kids. If the kid is THAT good, and THAT much better at baseball than the kids of his age, then why not consider him a 'gifted athlete' and have him play with older kids, instead? Banning him just seems entirely counterproductive. All I know is, I have a feeling we might be seeing this kid's name on a professional team someday. xD

August 26, 2008, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Contra Fates

Wow, this article is a bit too harsh. I'm surprised that they're going with a 'let's ban the kid!' approach instead of doing what I think should be done:

Having the kid play with older kids. If the kid is THAT good, and THAT much better at baseball than the kids of his age, then why not consider him a 'gifted athlete' and have him play with older kids, instead? Banning him just seems entirely counterproductive. All I know is, I have a feeling we might be seeing this kid's name on a professional team someday. xD

I totally agree with you on this one, Contra. Just read the article and all I have to say is "Wow". I just can't believe they're banning a 9-y.o. from pitching... If he's too good to play against kids his age, then why not put him against older kids? I think it's discouraging to tell a kid he's soo good for something they'll ban him from playing.

August 26, 2008, 11:34 PM

Nah, I think we're forgetting that the kid's team doesn't exist anymore and they were 8-0 and headed to a playoff scenario. Why ban him now? Why not wait 'til the whole thing is over then tell him to go up a notch?

And besides, his parents don't want him playing against older kids, for some reason, so maybe, just maybe, there's something more to him with playing with and against his friends rather than 'developing his skills'.

He's a 9-year old. He just wants to have fun and play with his friends. 'Development' is something I think he's not thinking about.

Banning him is just a stupid idea and the most unnecessary move ever made by sporting officials in the history of the world.

August 27, 2008, 12:32 AM

my mom told me about this one yesterday. This is flat out wrong, and it shows how humans are pure idiots. I mean, i would have agreed to moving him up an age or two, but banning him is harsh man. What's the point of that? banning him just destroys his overall potential to be a great player.

**MY YOUT00B** · August 27, 2008, 1:44 AM

Why not just jump him up in the league, where he'd meet the other players in skill? I knew a girl, 11 years old, who was so good that they placed her into a league with 14-16 year olds.