Nine-year-old told he's too good

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.


Nine-year-old told he's too good - MLB - SI.com

This is so wrong let the kid play.

Not to toot my horn (I was a little older) I played either outfield or 2nd base and could hit the league went to my parents and suggested that I move up early (to the 14 year olds) my parents (really my mom) said no and that was the end of it . This is why I dont like organized little leagues.

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"When faced with facts and truths do the Democratic thing, Ignore them they will go away" Me
Senator Obama what is your experience ?
I have been in the Senate for a total of 1347 days of which 600 of them have been running for President of the United States I have introduced 121 pieces of Legislation of which 116 never made it out of committee's and 2 passed. I have released 6 books and one cd in that time.
Oh that is not good enough? I was also a community organizer I am good at pushing buttons

What a shame. That kid should be inspiration for any kid who struggles to get a good pitch. Yet he gets the boot for being what young pitchers thrive to be.

They are just hating...

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A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine. - Thomas Jefferson

he could be the next Cal Ripkin or Yogi Berra you cant hold a kid back like that,thats where we get hall of famers

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There is more to this than the simple fact that this child is too good. This child is a PITCHER. Pitchers throw as fast as they can to a catcher; hopefully hitting the catcher's mitt and NOT the batter.

This kid throws about half the velocity of some major league pitchers. If he hits me, an adult, with a 9-year-old's version of a fast ball (topping out at better than 40-MPH), I'll shake it off and move on.

If he hits an 8-year-old, or another 9-year-old at the same velocity it could well have a horrible ending.

It isn't like he's an outfielder or playing another infield position where he may handle the ball a couple of times an inning. Even if he tries throwing a runner out, the runner is moving and not simply standing there.

If the article is completely accurate--and I doubt that it is--the league handled the situation poorly.

This child has a talent. However, if he continues throwing this hard at 9-years-old, he'll ruin his arm before he's a teenager. His bones aren't even completely developed at this age and won't be for several more years.

I am sure there are people in New Haven having cows over this; DEMANDING that the league let this kid continue to pitch. They're the same ones who will be first in line with the lawsuits after he hits a batter and causes serious injury.

Even worse is how this child will have to live with it for the rest of his life... one that is barely out of the starting gate.

If this child's coach really cares, there are other positions and other, safer ways to help him develop.

And, I don't care how accurate he's been to date. He's nine years old, it does not take a lot to lose perspective. It only takes one bean-ball, even with a helmet!

Regards,

Joe Walther

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Joe Walther
http://thetruefacts.blogharbor.com

I dont know Joe my son got disgusted by the local little league in NJ they have a "picnic" when they announce the All Stars of the league to play in the tournaments. 2 years in a row my son watched as each coaches kid was selected and none of the non-coaches were. He watched as door prizes of bats,balls,gloves were "won" by the coaches kids and he would win a plastic Kazoo . Sports today is nothing about the child it is to make the leagues money. My son was 10 when he told me he didnt think they played fair and didnt want to play anymore.