Too Good to Play Ball...

Scenario: Jericho Scott, 9 year old pitcher of

a little league baseball team in New Haven,

Conn., Standing on the mound at the ball park,

thinking about the game, brushing some

orange clay around with his foot, spinning the

ball around in his hand, wanting to pitch a no

hitter which is his ultimate goal. Suddenly, the

officials call the game due to the opposing

teams forfeiture.

Confused, the boy asks why the game is cancelled,

and it is explained to him that his pitch is too fast

that the other team doesn't want to play against him.

I listen to a sports talk radio show in the morning and

one of the topics of discussion this am was the story

of a little boy in New Haven, Connecticut named

Jericho Scott who is 9 years old, and supposedly has

a mean fast ball that has been said to be upwards

of around 40 mph. The Youth Baseball League of

New Haven told the coach that the boy could not pitch

anymore because his fastball was simply, too fast. WHAT!!!

Officials go on to say that they will also disband the team

and redistribute the players among other squads and

offered the refund of the $50.00 fee to those who asked

for it. REALLY??? I'm sorry, but now what do I tell my kid,

which I have instilled into him since he was able to talk, the

importance of being the best you can be and that if you

want something bad enough, you have to work hard to get it?

Players and parents held a protest on Saturday after the

game was forfeited, urging the league to let Jericho pitch the

rest of the season. How can you punish a kid for being too

good? His coach says that he is on target all the time.

THAT'S GREAT!!! Isn't that what every parent or coach wants

out of their child, to be better than good? Here is something

that should weigh heavy on the conscious of the league officials.

Jericho said that he feels sad....That he feels like it is his fault

that the rest of the team could not play. The boy left the mound

in tears!!! Parents and coaches of the other teams in the league

said that their players were intimidated because of his pitch.

COME ON PEOPLE!! HE'S 9 YEARS OLD!! That is what the game

is all about...It's a competition against other teams and the goal

is to outplay your opponent which, correct me if I'm wrong, is

exactly what little Jericho was doing. You go to any batting cage

in America, and the minimum pitch speed is 40 mph. I think that

what these coaches and parents should do is except the fact that

Jericho has a gift, and I'm sure he's not the only one, and

that they should encourage their players to step up to

the plate and except the challenge they're faced with. Maybe

it will give them the opportunity to strive to be as good,

maybe better than Jericho. LET THE BOY PLAY BALL!!!