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

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

By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN, Associated Press Writer 11 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 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?”

I saw that too! and was ready to post it!
Sign him up for the Tigers!

This is the most ridiculous thing I have read in a long time. Give me a break. Nice message to send a 9 year old. "Hey, if you are good at something, we won't let you do it." morons.

Well that really sucks! He's nine! If you suck they will let you play, but if they are good they tell you no sorry you aren't allowed to play. How do you get better if you can't practcice...?

Wow. If I was that kid, I woulda been making a case. thats Just people complaining because someone excels at something they cant do. Thats the most ridiculous thing in the world. How that kid must have felt. man I feel bad for him.

It's like telling Maggs, I'm sorry but you are better than the other guys so you can't play.

TG wrote:

It's like telling Maggs, I'm sorry but you are better than the other guys so you can't play.

well, not lately! He needs to get his cute butt in gear!

laprimamirala wrote:

TG wrote:

It's like telling Maggs, I'm sorry but you are better than the other guys so you can't play.

well, not lately! He needs to get his cute butt in gear!

:haha: Well I know that... I was just using the first example that came to mind...

and a grand example at that!

In my area we have kids that age that can throw that hard, right now, in little league. They just praise the kids and tell the others to work harder so they can be as good!

Then again this area has produced many pro baseball players...

- Phil Niekro
- Joe Niekro - Lansing, Ohio (Joe played for the Tigers in 1970 & 1971),
- Bill Mazeroski - (Rush Run) Rayland, Ohio (Pittsburgh Pirates) - HALL of FAME 2001 The best defensive second baseman in the history of MLB. He hit the most dramatic home run in World Series history. It was the the bottom of the ninth, game seven, series tied, and Maz hit the home run that won the 1960 World Series over the New York Yankees. Gave one of the most memorable speeches in Hall of Fame induction history.
- Bernie Allen - (Purdue baseball and football, Minnesota Twins, Washington Senators, New York Yankees, and Montreal Expos baseball)
- George Brett - born in Wheeling, WV (Kansas City Royals, MLB Hall of Fame)
- Hal "Doc" Daughtery - Weirton, WV - (Weir High, Ohio State University baseball, Detroit Tigers)
- Rich Donnelly - Steubenville, Ohio (Pittsburgh Pirates, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies Coaching Staff)
- Emil Drzayich, Jr. - Mingo Jct, Ohio - (Mingo High School, Ohio University baseball, Cincinnati Reds)
- Rollie Fingers - Toronto, Ohio (Oakland A's, MLB Hall of Fame) Hall of Fame pitcher had 341 career saves; won AL MVP and Cy Young awards in 1981 with Brewers; was World Series MVP in '74 with A's.
- Gene Freese - (Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, and Houston Astros baseball)
- Mike Milosevich - Steubenville, Ohio (Steubenville High School baseball, New York Yankees - shortstop)
- Ted Rose - St. Clairsville, Ohio (Cincinnati Reds organization, Montreal Expos)
- Bobby Sismondo - Mingo Jct, Ohio - (Ohio University Baseball, Detroit Tigers farm system)
- Jamie Taylor - Edison South High School (Ohio State baseball, Colorado Rockies AAA)
- Robert Trice - Weirton, WV (Weir High, Philadelphia Phillies - pitcher)
- Ray Vince - Tiltonsville, Ohio (Tiltonsville High School, St. Louis Cardinals farm system)
- Honus Wagner - Born elsewhere, but began his baseball playing career in Steubenville, Ohio. 1895.
- Moses Fleetwood Walker - Steubenville, Ohio (Professional baseball)

These are just some of the baseball players. The area has been a hotbed for pro basketball, and football too.

Let him pitch

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

- Moses Fleetwood Walker - Steubenville, Ohio (Professional baseball)

I think you mean the first black professional baseball player. Jackie Robinson but Walker has you beat by a landslide.

catbox_9 wrote:

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

- Moses Fleetwood Walker - Steubenville, Ohio (Professional baseball)

I think you mean the first black professional baseball player. Jackie Robinson but Walker has you beat by a landslide.

I dotn get y they let him not play its so gay.. ya he can pitch good let him play!!!!