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9-year-old boy told he’s too good to pitch
Yahoo Sports ^ | 8/25/08 | JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN

Posted on 08/25/2008 5:44:23 PM PDT by Teflonic

NEW HAVEN, Conn. —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.

(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: jericho; newhaven
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This league seems to be as corrupt as the DNC. Feel so bad for the poor kid caught in the middle.
1 posted on 08/25/2008 5:44:25 PM PDT by Teflonic
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To: Teflonic

In Texas, every college in the state would be recruiting him, nine years old or not. We don’t penalize excellence.


2 posted on 08/25/2008 5:48:47 PM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: Teflonic

Sounds like socialism - equality of results - has oozed its way into little league baseball.

Kid has potential - can’t he play on a team with older kids? A MLB scout should be alerted to this story, he won’t be nine forever.


3 posted on 08/25/2008 5:49:00 PM PDT by Baladas ((ABBHO))
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To: Teflonic

Sheesh! Let the kid pitch!

(I played baseball for 14 years and coached for 14 years.)


4 posted on 08/25/2008 5:49:28 PM PDT by PGalt
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To: Teflonic

Sometimes it is hard to tell if there are any adults involved in certain community organizations. I’d call it childish politics, but that would be an insult to children.


5 posted on 08/25/2008 5:51:11 PM PDT by coconutt2000 (NO MORE PEACE FOR OIL!!! DOWN WITH TYRANTS, TERRORISTS, AND TIMIDCRATS!!!! (3-T's For World Peace))
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To: Teflonic

So mom peeved the league leaders. Big deal. I would hope mom goes back and gives them double.


6 posted on 08/25/2008 5:52:58 PM PDT by healy61
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To: healy61

So, the whole league needs to disband because this woman doesn’t get her way? If she cared about her kid, and really wanted him to excel in his sport, she would have sat down with the league and seen where the best place for him would be. Stupid moron mother.


7 posted on 08/25/2008 5:54:47 PM PDT by Hildy ("We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.")
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To: Teflonic

So....a potentially great pitcher - who’s presence in the league would inspire others to be better - is not allowed to play.


8 posted on 08/25/2008 5:55:20 PM PDT by Psycho_Bunny (Islam: Imagine a clown car.........with guns.)
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To: Teflonic
What's the big deal about a team going undefeated? Some adult doesn't have their big-kid pants on. Some parent is ticked that their little Johnny is being shut out of the spotlight by this Jericho kid.
9 posted on 08/25/2008 5:55:56 PM PDT by Redgirl
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To: Teflonic
There is no such thing as a ‘good’ Komodo Dragon (Monitor Lizard)

Seems stupid to me.

In the little leagues around here a nine year old can only pitch 4 innings a game anyway.

10 posted on 08/25/2008 5:56:29 PM PDT by Pontiac (Your message here.)
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To: Teflonic
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.

After raising 4 boys and being involved in little league for years Id say this is the crux of the matter.

11 posted on 08/25/2008 5:56:44 PM PDT by Snurple
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To: Teflonic
I coached LLB for seven years, the last two at the Williamsport tournament level (never got there, though).

Pitchers at the wrong level for their ability are the biggest problem. Cheating is the second biggest problem.

There are no "no limits" nine year old leagues that I know of. Every nine year old team has rule modifications to deal with the widely varying abilities of nine year olds.

If this kid's birth certificate (his REAL one) says he's nine, and he pitches two perfect games in a row, he should move up and pitch to kids who can hit him.

That's not socialism - that's instructional level sports.

12 posted on 08/25/2008 5:56:44 PM PDT by Jim Noble (When He rolls up His sleeves, He ain't just puttin' on the Ritz)
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To: Teflonic

I know his coach will back him, but I sure the hell hope his parents make sure he knows in clear terms that it is not his fault that nobody else can play.

It’s the liberal crybabies who can’t handle it and think fairness is achieved by destroying and punishing excellence.

And for none of the other parents to step up and say not to do this, what a bunch of pu$$ies they are. Just wimpy, limpy little pu$$ies.


13 posted on 08/25/2008 5:56:58 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: Teflonic
Pathetic. Nauseating. Almost makes me think OBL was right - we are weak, a paper tiger. "Too fast"

You know what? I gotta say, 40mph isn't even all that fast. When you go to batting cages, is it even possible to find a machine that pitches that slowly?

These are 9-year-olds and can't even face 40mph?

Just pathetic.

14 posted on 08/25/2008 6:00:05 PM PDT by Dr. Frank fan
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To: Hildy
So, the whole league needs to disband because this woman doesn’t get her way?

The whole league doesn't need to disband at all. They could, for example, let the kid and the kid's team play the damn baseball games as originally scheduled and stop being such ninnies.

15 posted on 08/25/2008 6:00:47 PM PDT by Dr. Frank fan
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To: Jim Noble
If this kid's birth certificate (his REAL one) says he's nine, and he pitches two perfect games in a row, he should move up and pitch to kids who can hit him. That's not socialism - that's instructional level sports.

It's also an intelligent, reasonable solution as opposed to the one actually implemented.

16 posted on 08/25/2008 6:02:41 PM PDT by Dr. Frank fan
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To: Teflonic
Here is an instance where I recommend a really vicious trial lawyer for the kid, his family and his team.

Put the league out of business.

17 posted on 08/25/2008 6:02:42 PM PDT by Navy Patriot (John McCain, the Manchurian Candidate.)
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To: Teflonic
“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?”

Where have these people been for the last twenty years. It's called socialism and just look at how the politicians have punished success at every turn.

18 posted on 08/25/2008 6:02:48 PM PDT by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote!)
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To: Baladas

On the surface, I’d agree, but it seems this is retribution because the guy who runs the league (and has the defending champion team) asked him to switch teams and he turned it down. Doesn’t this sound an awful lot like union retribution, or thug protection scams? Disgusting.

Colonel, USAFR


19 posted on 08/25/2008 6:04:23 PM PDT by jagusafr ("Bugs, Mr. Rico! Zillions of 'em!" - Robert Heinlein)
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To: Dr. Frank fan

They are nine year olds...the ball is being thrown TOO fast and I’m sure there are alot of parents who are worried about that. And on the other end, why play in a league you are far too good for. It’s like putting a 5th grader into a second grade class and expecting everyone to wait while he reads the 5th grade books. PUT HIM IN A LEAGUE HIS SKILLS BELONG IN..it’s good for him and it’s good for the other kids.


20 posted on 08/25/2008 6:06:31 PM PDT by Hildy ("We do not see things as they are. We see things as we are.")
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