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

By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN, Associated Press Writer 11 hours, 4 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.
ADVERTISEMENT

“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?”

Linky link

You know what, folks? This really gets my goat.

Here's this kid, and he's good at something that he enjoys that doesn't involve drugs, alcohol, gangs, sex, or any other number of things tempting our kids these days, and we (the adults) are going punish him for it? What the HELL are these idjits thinking?

This entire thing makes me ill. I suppose we'd be more happy if he joined a gang and started doing drive-bys, as that's allowed where being talented in a sport will get you condemned to sit on the bench because you're just "too good."

God in heaven have mercy - is it any wonder our country is so F-ed up?

Well - this is a by-product of a country whose population has been led to believe that becoming the best through hard work and displaying that talent is "elitist" and therefore someone to be looked down on.

Kind of ass-backward, isn't it?

In America, it's become fashionable to be stupid, and I just don't get it.

Kinda makes you wonder if this:

"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."

wasn't it after all, no?

This is the way to push mediocrity in society. Tell kids that if someone is better than them, they do not need to try harder; instead we will make it easier for them by making the better athlete quit; thus eliminating any feelings of inadequacy. After all, it is all about preserving the feelings of our precious babies. Heaven forbid we teach them to push harder and reach higher.

quote:

Originally posted by mcgreer:
Well - this is a by-product of a country whose population has been led to believe that becoming the best through hard work and displaying that talent is "elitist" and therefore someone to be looked down on.

Kind of ass-backward, isn't it?

In America, it's become fashionable to be stupid, and I just don't get it.

I could not possibly agree more, my friend!

It seems like the harder you work towards success, the more people want to hold you down and hold you back. Why?

What happened to rewarding determination, hard work and success? Why are we punishing it now? This poor kid is going to mature knowing that if he succeeds 'too much' he'll be ostracized, set aside and mocked - not to mention fired (from a job) or ridiculed (in a hobby).

Is this REALLY what we want our kids to learn? That becoming too good at something is no longer accepted as a sign of personal determination or seen as a role model, but that it represents an elitist attitude that hurts others?

quote:

Originally posted by chemist9999:
Kinda makes you wonder if this:

"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."

wasn't it after all, no?

My good sir, I do believe you've identified EXACTLY what it is. Well, that and the fact that losers that want everything handed to them get their poor wittle feewings hurt when someone succeeds from hard work and determination...

Sickening.

maybe they would feel better if this kid was on a corner selling drugs or shooting at people in school

quote:

Originally posted by proudcavmom:
This is the way to push mediocrity in society. Tell kids that if someone is better than them, they do not need to try harder; instead we will make it easier for them by making the better athlete quit; thus eliminating any feelings of inadequacy. After all, it is all about preserving the feelings of our precious babies. Heaven forbid we teach them to push harder and reach higher.

Mediocrity... What an excellent and perfectly appropriate term here!

I am in total agreement with your assessment. Too few people want to push themselves, believing that society somehow owes them something just because they exist. Why encourage greatness when we can punish success, instead?

We are becoming more socialist every day, and I don't mind telling you that I sincerely hope for a coup to revert us to the "old" America we once prided ourselves in before all this liberal feel good crap infected our working system.

When did this nation adopt an attitude detrimental to trying? When did 'trying too hard' become a bad thing?

quote:

Originally posted by blane:
maybe they would feel better if this kid was on a corner selling drugs or shooting at people in school

My point exactly! What message do we send not only to this child, but to his peers? That if you're good at something not illegal you'll get negative attention?

This kid busted his butt to get good at a sport he loves. He wasn't arrogant or condescending, he merely did his best, putting 110% into every game.

And we punish him for that?

My GOD, America, wake up and see where we're being torn asunder!

Can you say "sports injury" boys and girls???

A 9 year old is still developing. Even way into teen years it is more then likely the child will sustain an injury from the strain of pitching.

It's sad but the children have a sense of invincibility and some parents (coaches) are just plain stupid.

But if you don't care about the kid's future then let him pitch until the dameage is so severe he won't be able to pitch again.

If my child was on a team that forfeited I would be after the coach. What is that coach teaching the kids "If you think you are going to lose then don't bother trying. " Wouldn't that make an awesome motivational poster.

quote:

Originally posted by FollowMeInfantry:

quote:

Originally posted by blane:
maybe they would feel better if this kid was on a corner selling drugs or shooting at people in school

My point exactly! What message do we send not only to this child, but to his peers? That if you're good at something not illegal you'll get negative attention?

This kid busted his butt to get good at a sport he loves. He wasn't arrogant or condescending, he merely did his best, putting 110% into every game.

And we punish him for that?

My GOD, America, wake up and see where we're being torn asunder!

if he wants to play bad enough he can come on down here to morristown, tn, we have more baseball leagues, teams, fields, conferences than any other town of the same population. we are constantly sending teams to the world playoffs, just last year our 12-13 yr old girls won the national softball championship, we've had several baseball teams go to the world series, and two to win it all. a pitcher like that would be well recieved here!

Children's Hospital Boston
Sports Injury Statistics
Baseball and softball - Nearly 117,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for baseball-related injuries, and nearly 26,000 children and adolescents ages five to 14 were treated for softball-related injuries. Baseball also has the highest fatality rate among sports for children and adolescents ages five to 14, with three to four persons dying from baseball injuries each year.

Children need to be guided and protected. Protected from themselves and sometimes the parents.

Alright, everyone is taking Jericho's side, so let me play devil's advocate:

The league attorney said this: "This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport.”

At this age, shouldn't sport be about fun and learning, not just winning?

What about the kids who had to bat against Jericho? What are they learning when they have no chance of connecting with one of his pitches? They never get a chance to improve their batting technique or their base running skills. How fair is that for them? Tango-Sierra for them?

Also what is Jericho learning here? He mows down everyone he is up against. What happens the first time in the future when he gets in a protracted battle with a batter? Or someone hits a line drive right back at him? Or they light him up and the manager pulls him? He is not learning to deal with adversity.

There was a compromise solution offered:

"League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league."

If Jericho is truly a prodigy, then maybe he should be pitching in an older league, or a league with with different objectives, then everyone wins. The same thing that happens when you have child intellectual prodigies- they skip grades or go to special academies.

It doesn't have to be a zero-sum game here. They are 9 year olds! Time enough for big contracts and free agency later.

quote:

Originally posted by bill_kananen:
Can you say "sports injury" boys and girls???

A 9 year old is still developing. Even way into teen years it is more then likely the child will sustain an injury from the strain of pitching.

It's sad but the children have a sense of invincibility and some parents (coaches) are just plain stupid.

But if you don't care about the kid's future then let him pitch until the dameage is so severe he won't be able to pitch again.

This has nothing to do with injury.

It's about a group of so called "adults" ( ) that refute personal determination and success in the name of fairness and equality. While their intentions may be sincere enough, I am reminded of 650 AD Rome and their intentions. The fact is that if you separate people based on ability in a negative manner, those people will mature to the realization that personal success can never exceed social acceptance, draining them of motivation.

Those unable to compete should not be judged. Those that ARE capable of competing should not be judged!

These stereotypical labels we assign are ridiculous and detrimental. We should allow people to excel in their talents, encourage them in their failures, and assist them in their shortcomings.

There is no excuse for singling one person out, and at that especially a child!

quote:

Originally posted by Motive25:
Alright, everyone is taking Jericho's side, so let me play devil's advocate:

The league attorney said this: "This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport.”

At this age, shouldn't sport be about fun and learning, not just winning?

What about the kids who had to bat against Jericho? What are they learning when they have no chance of connecting with one of his pitches? They never get a chance to improve their batting technique or their base running skills. How fair is that for them? Tango-Sierra for them?

Also what is Jericho learning here? He mows down everyone he is up against. What happens the first time in the future when he gets in a protracted battle with a batter? Or someone hits a line drive right back at him? Or they light him up and the manager pulls him? He is not learning to deal with adversity.

There was a compromise solution offered:

"League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league."

If Jericho is truly a prodigy, then maybe he should be pitching in an older league, or a league with with different objectives, then everyone wins. The same thing that happens when you have child intellectual prodigies- they skip grades or go to special academies.

It doesn't have to be a zero-sum game here. They are 9 year olds! Time enough for big contracts and free agency later.

Or maybe the stiff competition will teach them to br better hitters.

quote:

Originally posted by thorin001:

quote:

Originally posted by Motive25:
Alright, everyone is taking Jericho's side, so let me play devil's advocate:

The league attorney said this: "This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport.”

At this age, shouldn't sport be about fun and learning, not just winning?

What about the kids who had to bat against Jericho? What are they learning when they have no chance of connecting with one of his pitches? They never get a chance to improve their batting technique or their base running skills. How fair is that for them? Tango-Sierra for them?

Also what is Jericho learning here? He mows down everyone he is up against. What happens the first time in the future when he gets in a protracted battle with a batter? Or someone hits a line drive right back at him? Or they light him up and the manager pulls him? He is not learning to deal with adversity.

There was a compromise solution offered:

"League officials suggested that Jericho play other positions, or pitch against older players or in a different league."

If Jericho is truly a prodigy, then maybe he should be pitching in an older league, or a league with with different objectives, then everyone wins. The same thing that happens when you have child intellectual prodigies- they skip grades or go to special academies.

It doesn't have to be a zero-sum game here. They are 9 year olds! Time enough for big contracts and free agency later.

Or maybe the stiff competition will teach them to br better hitters.

If you brought in Roger Clemens to throw against them, I guess they would eventually become outstanding hitters!

When you are teaching someone to do something, you bring them along gradually- Increasing the challenge in an incremental fashion, but giving them tastes of success to build their confidence and keep them interested.

quote:

Originally posted by Motive25:

quote:

Originally posted by thorin001:
Or maybe the stiff competition will teach them to br better hitters.

If you brought in Roger Clemens to throw against them, I guess they would eventually become outstanding hitters!

When you are teaching someone to do something, you bring them along gradually- Increasing the challenge in an incremental fashion, but giving them tastes of success to build their confidence and keep them interested.

Or you can teach them, that in real life situations, they will often be faced with someone who is better than them.

They have choices: They can quit or they can practice until they are able to hit off of a better pitcher. This would have been a great lesson at the batting cages.

I quit coaching soccer the year after a league told me that I needed to slow my soccer team down and allow other teams to score occasionally because it was demoralizing for them to play us.

I have no idea how to coach kids to play at half speed. My guys were taught to give 110 percent at all times.

Competition in youth is important. Not everyone is going to win... It is the lessons that you learn from your losses that make you a better person.

As for the injury to the young pitcher; most leagues have rules implemented allowing them to only pitch an allotted number of innings per week, thus protecting him from injury. (I also coached little league for 13 years)