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

Kind of lame story. Kid doesn't pitch that fast. That's just slightly above average for a kid that age. The average is around 30-35. Jake pitched in the 40mph range at 7 years old. So either they have a vendetta or they are WAY to protective of their babies...Personally I'd want my boys to play against the best the park has to offer.


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?”

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Jake During All Stars

Addendum

Heather is as sweet and sexy as ever. She went to some place and painted a picture the other night with some friends. Looks good too. She is very pleased with herself.

Adam is still in 4k at Cedar Grove. Not happy about it either. His birthday is in December. Most of his friends moved up to the big school. Sandra McConathy is his teacher in the afternoons and she thinks he's as smart of all of them..ahem. Little pride there.

Of course he's upset that he doesn't have a dirt bike, but maybe Santa will bring him a 4 wheeler!

Quick Update

I've been too busy lately to post much, but I wanted to let everyone know what's going on with my Dad and the Davis family in general.
Dad is not doing well. He has lost most of his energy and can hardly move around. He has been using a cane for the last year or so, but he's been having to use a walker some lately. He just had his 63rd birthday, and all of his siblings and their spouses came over to see him. I think it lifted his spirits some. He still refuses to take any pain medicine. He wants to be aware of what's going on and may take some Tylenol from time to time, but that's it. Pray for him and Mom. For strength, faith, love, and peace. Financially as well.

Jake turned 9 on the 9th, and started 4th grade last week. We had a party for him at our house with friends and family. He surprised me by not asking for anything for his birthday. I finally asked him with a few days to go, and he said to surprise him. So we did. We got Jake a Honda XR80 (dirt bike). Completely caught him off guard. Now Adam is asking when he's going to get one!

I'll put up some pictures of Jake from All Stars later. We went to state, but didn't do too well. We still went to State though!