Little League Pitcher Banned From Playing Because He's Too Good

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.

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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?"

Comments

[pchoi187]

I was just watching Adult Swim on Cartoon Network and it said something in the lines of "a Child was banned from Little League because he was too good" So I google'd the subject about a child being banned from little league for being too good and now I am here writing this comment.

In my opinion a little metaphor is in hand here. If a child was born with an above average IQ would you tell him to get a C or a B on his next test because he is too smart. I don't think so because adults would be all over this child trying to help him enhance his intellect through more learning experiences as tests. So telling a kid that he is too good at baseball and who MIGHT even have a future in the Major League for his fast pitches to stop. Is just like telling a genius to stop trying to figure out the mysteries of the world.

On a personal note

GET OVER IT HE'S GOOD SO WHAT BIG DEAL TRAIN HARDER I MEAN EVERYBODY HAS COACHES AND MAYBE HE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE A PRODIGY. THE CHILD MIGHT HAVE WORKED HIS BUTT OFF TO BE ABLE TO THROW FAST PITCHES FOR HIS TEAM TO WIN THE LITTLE LEAGUE!

Excuse the caps lock if it is annoying but I am just trying to get a point across.

[Reaper2108]

To me this is a total load of bull, because the whole purpose of life is to excel in everything, and for only the strong to survive and the weak to get weeded out. So for this kid to get banned just because he's better than the rest, just shows how afraid the world is of becomeing more than what we are now. The reason why people are afraid is because everyone who is the "Top Dogs" in society, will very easily get replaced by the further growth of people who are better than them, not by practice, but just by the further evolution of man. Further more though, if parents are afraid of Jericho's pitches being "Too Fast", than they shouldn't have their kids play. Sports are all about competing, not gently showing kids how to "Play Nice", otherwise we wouldn't have championships like the Little League World Series, which is meant for the best of the best to play against each other and find out who is better. Would you actually say that Michael Phelps should be banned from the Olympics just because he is "Too Good" of a swimmer, or maybe not just sports either, why just stop there. How about we say that anybody who is "Too Good" at an instrument is banned from ever peforming, or that if a kid is "Too Good" at school, than they should be banned from colleges.

[scanubod]

The truth about youth baseball is everyone thinks their own kid is better than everyone else and if he or she isn't then they will try to manage teams, join their little league boards, etc to insure their kids have a better chance to excel by making rule changes in their favor. Youth baseball has more dirt bags in it then any other sport. Parents destroy the sport. It is the rare person who thinks of the betterment of all kids, not just their own child. The proper thing to do would be to have your child face this kid so he or she gets better. By facing quality players your child will get better also. If your kid isn't good enough to play in a sport and you need to baby him by trying to pick out what players he or she should face then maybe it's time they take up soccer or some other sport. You want to have a great league? Fight for what is right whether it causes you problems with board members/managers etc. What is right is following league rules made for ALL kids, not yours. Don't think you are smarter than the people who made up these rules for everyone in the world because you aren’t. Youth baseball is supposed to be about kids learning fundamentals of the game and having fun. You want your kid to have fun? Leave him/her alone.

[Thumbody]

Send him to Minnesota the twins need a good relief pitcher "down the stretch".

[john456]

Most of the "go getems" have never really played this sport. The most important thing is for a 9 year old kid is to "hit the ball". Pitchers duels don't have a place at this level. If the kid pitching is too fast or "good" he needs to be moved to a level (10 year olds?) that fits his competitiveness. There is nothing wrong with what the league did. Despite the Mother, it is in the Kid's own best interest to be in a situation that is competitive for him. I am totally amazed at how many parents (and writers to this blog) want to see a dominant player, especially at the preteen level. I can almost gaurantee you that if this kid dominated this league this year and even next he'd be a "has been" in two to three years. If he can not compete at the next level he can be brought back and eventually he will fade into the group.

[TRUTH900]

The most important thing at this level is not for the kids to hit the ball. It is for them to learn the game, learn teamwork, and how to accept victory as well as defeat. This child has not violated any rules; he has done nothing wrong; in fact, he has done everything right. He should not be penalized because he is good. It is a shame when a child has to feel that he is letting him team down because he's good. Something is wrong when parents and community members exile a child because their children or friends' children aren't the best. In life, people are rewarded for excelling above others. You can't teach the children that when things are difficult or someone is better that you can try to get rid of the person as opposed to working hard and learning to compete. When these children get older, they wont ask other people to please not play because others can't hit off of him. If that were the case, they would be asking high school players to play in college because they pitch too fast /dunk too hard. You can't set a standard that is unrealistic later in life. If the child wants to move to a higher level he can, but if not he shouldn't be made to do so. After all baseball at this level is about having FUN so why shouldn't he play with the children on his level with which he goes to school.

[justanothermom]

This story is the epitomy of what is wrong in America. Little League is suppose to be fun. Sure, there is always a kid on the team that is better than your kid. We just don't like to admit it. And, we shouldn't admit it to our kids. These parents have made it known rather publicly their kids aren't good enough. WOW! I would never tell my kids that. Teaching your kids to quit at such an early age may be one they never forget. Instead of making everything/everyone equal, we should remember the lesson of "overcoming adversity". Real life is tough... deal with it.
I agree, this is a sad, very sad.

[INDA]

goxsox364 is right on target!!! Baseball has become a cheap babysitting service. Where else can you drop him/her off for 2 -3 hours a day several times a week for months? B/T/W, the better players are typically the ones whose parents are involved in the practices, learn the at home drills, and work with their kids outside of practice. They don't just come to the games and seem surprised when other kids are better than their own. (B/T/W, goxsox364, my kid is swinging a Combat B1 DaBomb. HOT!!! -- and nearly impossible to get your hands on anymore.)

[Semper]

Well the new media gets credit for this, becasues this has been happening for a long time. Lets creat this nice safe environment for our kids. We don't act like those other people over there. And stay away from them. Unfortunately, these kids grow up into adults, and then the nation suffers, because in most cases they will be protected from the cradle to the grave and affected many lives in between. Whats happened to us. We can't even parent anymore. This kind of behavior reflects a very fundamental weakness in our society. Some people should not have children to raise.

[AristophanesJones]

Reminiscent of Harrison Bergeron.

[echaves]

Is this an actual Little League sponsored program? or is it run independently or by another organization or by the town? Would someone please check into this.

Little League International is a Worldwide Program, and having a kid throw to hard is not a rule in little League.

By the way this is ridicoulous, I have been involve in Little League Programs for over 13 yrs.

If the Kid is that good than the other kids just have to work harder to get to his Level.

[gosox364]

i guess the pitchers i know who play in our town little league are banned too! 40 mph is NOT fast for a 9 year old. i'd much rather see a 40 mph pitcher who is accurate on the mound vs. someone who has no control and pitches slower! i think the real issue is the number of parents who sign their youngsters up because they want a babysitting service; their youngsters are not paying attention during the game because they have no interest... that's when the injuries happen!! hope no one has a hot bat on this league; that will be next.

[julzzev]

I agree, 40 mph would be SLOW for our 9 year olds...we would never pitch them...they would get hit out of the park! We play Pony League in our town, and we have a seven year old (a first year pinto player) that throws at least 45, if not 50. My nine year old (first year mustang) throws 51, and my 11 year old (first year bronco) throws 63! These are not even our fastest pitchers... I think this is a bit ridiculous!

[RobinSeattle]

John Kruk on Baseball Tonight had it right: the adults opposed to having this kid pitch with his age group are teaching their kids to be quitters. They should be ashamed of themselves and they have now become infamous thanks to the media attention and they have traumatized a child who has done nothing wrong.

This is a joke to the point of farce. Stop coddling your kids you idiots. Teach them how to compete straight up and not runaway from difficult situations. What's next? All the students of a high school class walking out and their parents forcing the it to be canceled because a particularly smart kid has set the curve too high? Give me a break!

[jsarets]

I'm assuming this is a private organization that does not employ its members, so they can deny membership to anyone on just about any grounds. It seems extremely unlikely that the family will be able to win a civil suit against the league, and if they did manage to forcibly get the kid back in the league, would he even want to play in a league that clearly doesn't want him around?

The corporate sponsorship of juvenile athletics is suspect, placing kids in the middle of what could be tenacious business rivalries. The kid didn't get kicked out of the league because he was too good at pitching, he got kicked out because he was too good at pitching to not be on the team with the most aggressive sponsorship.

[JeanPaulSatire]

Even if it's a private organization that employs no one, If the league's ball fields are "public accommodations" then their legal ability to discriminate is greatly diminished.

[unclesmedley]

"...if they did manage to forcibly get the kid back in the league, would he even want to play in a league that clearly doesn't want him around?..."

One would hope that the thought of a nine year-old kid being abused by a bucnh of manipulative adults would engender widespread support. I live in Rhode Island, and I would take my kid to see Jericho throw. It's a great story--if it ends they way it should.

Talent should be treasured and nurtured. This kid deserves better than he's getting. And the adults responsible for this traumatic decision should be forced to defend their actions in front of God & everybody. This really stinks.

[BrendanOMaidian]

Hello...Lets' get our facts straight. According to this story, this is not the Little League. This is somewhat inane, however, for it is like Hillary wanting to get Obama off the Democrats' team because he's too good.
Let the kid pitch.

[pchoi187]

Nice!

[django707]

Au contraire, mon ami. I have been associated with Little League baseball throughout my life, having played, coached, and fathered two little leaguers, one elite, the other just in it for fun. I have witnessed the "psycho-competitive vehemence" coast to coast in a wide array of communities. As a matter of fact, I have at times given in to these extreme Darwinian impulses.
What I have discovered is that one of the great American lies associated with sports is that the competition "builds character." I have met elite athletes from Little League to Ted Williams and I have never seen an instance where sports has built character.
What I have seen is a myriad of self-obsessed, pampered prima donnas who feel their ability to hit a ball hard, or run fast, or jump high entitles them to selfish behavior that wouldn't be tolerated if it came from ordinary folk.
The great athletes I've spoken to with extraordinary character have described to me a respect for humanity that came from witnessing a parent who worked hard to keep food on the table, inspirational mentors who they'd been lucky enough to meet, examples of people who conquered great hardship and retained their dignity.
They were grateful for the opportunities that sports provided them, but well aware of where the heroism came from.

[unclesmedley]

"...I have never seen an instance where sports has built character..."

You need to get out more, pal.

Sure, there are kids who are handled improperly, who develop a deeply obnoxious perspective. But there are also millions of kids who find confidence and purpose in athletics. Some of them are superstars (Mike Phelps, Cal Ripkin, Roger Federer, Mary Lou Retton, Yao Ming, David Robinson, etc.) Most of them are just kids who were stuck inside themselves until the found their thing on the field, in the gym or the pool, or wherever games are properly presented and fairly played.

[Aramingo]

It's not the cream of the crop that get that character thing. It's the rest of us. We learn how to handle disappoint ment and failure, which are valuable skills in the world. We also learn that hard work pays off. Once again, the elite among may well be as you point out, but for the rest of us, it's a good thing.

Now to equivocate. Charles Barkley once said that people shouldn't look up to him as a hero. Rather, it's your parents, teachers, etc that you should look up to. Say what you want about Chuck, but occasionaly, he hits it out of the park.