Jericho Scott Is Too Good To Play Little League

Jericho Scott, 9, can whiz a fastball almost 40 mph. That’s impressive for a kid, too impressive. The Youth Baseball League of New Haven in Connecticut has told the young baseball player he can no longer pitch on the league.

Last week Jericho took the mound anyway. The opposing team saw the boy ready to play and packed up their gear forfeiting the game.

There are about 100 players for the three year old league on eight teams. Officials have said that they plan on disbanding Jericho’s team and put the players on other teams. Anyone not on board with that is free to be refunded their $50 sign up fees. Wilfred Vidro, Jericho’s coach has resigned over this mess according to the big wigs.

Vidro says that he didn’t quit and his team has refused to disband. Players and parents held a protest on Saturday urging the league to allow the little boy to pitch.

Yahoo reports the boy’s coach saying:

“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?”

This mess seems to be good old small town politics. It seems Jericho turned down an invite to play for the defending league champion. That team just so happens to be sponsored by an employer of one of the administrators for the league. Jericho decided to join the team sponsored by Will Power Fitness. The team was going gang busters, 8-0 and on its way to the playoffs when the administrators decided that young Jericho was just too good.

Peter Noble, the attorney for the league says that Jericho is being banned because he pitches too fast. He says that some of the parents expressed concern over their children being injured. Noble did note that Jericho has never once beaned another player. They also say that Nicole Scott, Jericho’s mother has threatened to close down the league because of this issue.

“I have never seen behavior of a parent like the behavior Jericho’s mother exhibited Wednesday night,” Noble said.

Scott denies the allegation that she threatened anyone but admits to calling the police. She also admits to being angry that her son is being singled out for having such talent.

“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.”

The league has suggested that Jericho play on an older team or on a different league.

Attorney John Williams thinks that this all mess is wrong. He will be meeting with Jericho’s family Monday to discuss legal options.

At the heart of this problem is a little nine-year-old boy who misses playing a game he loves.

“I feel sad,” he said. “I feel like it’s all my fault nobody could play.”

And that my friends is a crime.