9 year old player told he is to good..

[P J Shaker]

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?"

SOURCE - AP www.si.com
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200....ap/index.html

[Agent Zero]

I read about this in today's paper. what a fucking shame. "sorry man, but your kid is too damn good". What a joke..

[P J Shaker]

this is how the USA is going to be over taken in 20 years...we are rasing a generation of sissy's

[Agent Zero]

Originally Posted by P J Shaker

this is how the USA is going to be over taken in 20 years...we are rasing a generation of sissy's

Don't get me started on that subject.

[nyG]

I hate anyone that would ever try to hold this kid back from doing something he loves and he's actually good at. What a joke, I can't wait for him to be a major league player in about 10-15 years just to prove all of the doubters.

[Agent Zero]

I also remember reading in the paper about how he was throwing 40mph fast balls. But the paper also said that he had never hit a batter and his control was great. Man, this kind of stuff really burns me up. How would you like to be his parents? Tell your kid, "sorry but they say you are too good to play". I mean.. what a fucking god damned joke.

[P J Shaker]

thats true....his control is great and he hasnt even pitched anyone inside....

it isnt his talent or his pitch speed...their was another team sponsor that wanted him this year...that team is the defending champions...they didnt get him and now his team in undefeated....he happens to play for a team with a competing sponsor...this is all about the politics of adults...its a shame that they are letting their greed get in the way fo this kids talent....

if his speed was the problem they would have told him after the first game...but they wait until the playoffs are comming....its just stupid that the adults are to interested in winning

[Darius Ali]

Its this new bullshit "everybody wins" mentality with todays kids. Rewarding mediocrity. If you don't want your kid to get struck out then work with his ass till he gets better.