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by Mark_Ockerbloom from Dedham

Last Post 1 day, 2 hours Ago


When is being perfect in sports a bad thing? When you're a youth baseball team that's 8-0 and you have the best pitcher in the league. We're talking about a team in New Haven, Connecticut and 9-year old star pitcher Jericho Scott who's pitching is so fast (he's got a 40-mile per hour fastball) and accurate (he's never hit anyone) that he frightens the other players. The league actually told his coach not to pitch him anymore! So when he showed up to a game and took the mound, the opposing team forfeited. The league now says it will disband the team and redistribute the players to other squads but Jericho's parents and other team parents aren't playing ball and are protesting the move asking why Jericho is being punished for being too talented? "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."

Not surprisingly, the lawyers are squaring off now and all the while Jericho just wants to play ball and I say let him and let the kids who are scared of him learn how to conquer their fears.


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Valintyne read my blog view my photos
Aug 25, 2008 | 9:07 PM

This encapsulates the entire problem with youth sports. This is the end result of giving out trophies for "participation" and telling kids that "everyone is a winner". This kid's got game, and they're not playing him? On what planet does that make sense? If the other players are scared of young Master Scott, maybe they should take up soccer. I can't imagine telling my son he can't do something because he's too good at it. I truly hope his parents keep up the fight and that Jericho stays right on the mound where he belongs.

sirB read my blog
Aug 25, 2008 | 10:22 PM

Mark,

40 mph at 9 years old is very impressive. Good for him!

What I'm taking from this story is that all the other teams in the league, or whomever is behind this are simply rotten sports.

I don't hear anything about getting rid of Tiger because he is too good. That's because it's all about sportsmanship. Something this league is lacking - bigtime! This is really sad. Val's right. I know this young mans parents will fight the good fight. More power to them. And shame shame shame on anybody who's in favor of having this great young athlete curbed.

TheEliteOne read my blog
Aug 25, 2008 | 10:32 PM

Move him up a level if he is that good. The problem is: kids are dropping out of baseball at a younger age these days. For a pitcher to shut down these teams is not good for the "whole".

I know there are other ways to think about it.
But getting one hit makes the day for these kids. The other part of the game is boring to them.

It is not uncommon for the older teams to recruit the better younger players. Why isn't it happening in this case?

JuneInMA read my blog view my photos
Aug 25, 2008 | 10:49 PM

WHAT???!!! This is absurd!!!

First, I second what Valintyne just said, and I add: I can't imagine telling my kid "he's too good for you. Why don't you let mommy step in and 'fix' this problem for you?" Are you kidding me??!! If anything, they should make this motivation for the other kids. They should make it a challenge for the other kids to get better and beat him at the game, because in life, 'mommy' is not going to be fixing the problems for them. If they don't learn to stand up, dust off the knees and go at it again, they are never going to learn to go the distance and taste success.

You go 'Master Scott'!!!!

Ryan_Asselta read my blog
Aug 25, 2008 | 11:15 PM

Couldnt agree with you more Valintyne. It's a perfect example of this new "Everybody wins" society. It's really a shame because it is the kid with all the talent who is getting punished here.

So what if he dominates. It should motivate his opponents to work harder so they can be just as good as him. To take him off the field his simply wrong...wrong..wrong.

Kevin_Lemanowicz read my blog view my photos
Aug 25, 2008 | 11:25 PM

Never happened when we were children... I remember Roger Engle blowing people away in Brookly, CT. I thought it a challenge to hit against him (only one hit off him ever through little league).

skripples read my blog
Aug 25, 2008 | 11:36 PM

This story disappointed me. It reminds me of the "everybody wins" dispute.

I remember when I was a kid you had to try out for sports. If you were good you made it, if you were bad you didn't. If you really wanted to be part of a team you practiced and tried again next year. And there was always someone better. Sometimes way better. But you didn't forfeit the game you just pushed harder. And if they were still better then you you gave them respect for their talents.

This boy seems to have a natural talent. He should be encouraged to follow it through. What's more disgraceful is when I read "When Jericho took the mound anyway last week, the opposing team forfeited the game, packed its gear and left, his coach said." What kind of example is that other coach setting for his team... When things get to tough you quit. Sports are supposed to help in teaching kids valuabled lessons for their future: Like working for success, team work, how to deal with loss and competition in a healthy way.

This boy should be able to play and be allowed to work to even better his skills, and other parents and coaches need to teach their children that this is the way life goes. You don't give up when life throws you a curve ball (pun intened) and people with great talent should be admired for them not punished for them.

Go, Jericho, Go!

Mark_Ockerbloom read my blog view my photos
Aug 25, 2008 | 11:48 PM

Right there with you Kevin, Bobby Cook was the Nolan Ryan of our league. I can still see him on the mound at West side field in Winchester. Big kid, high leg kick and a mean fastball. We'd just take our hacks and hope for the best.

Bob_South_Shore
Aug 26, 2008 | 3:28 AM

I was helping in the dugout years ago with 11-12 year olds. There was a boy who threw much faster than any of the other kids. As one of the kids got up to bat I commented, "this is making me nervous, I need to take a little break", as the boy was a tad wild. As I walked behind the backstop I heard a sick dull thud. The kid at bat was hit between the eyes and wound up with a concussion, done for the year. What upset me was that the parents could have moved him up but they wanted him to be overpowering at that level. Had he been moved up he would have been pitching against more talented kids with better reflexes. Why would the parents of a star not want him to face better competition and should we put kids at risk if they decide not to? Oh and by the way, the star player eventually lost his edge and played soccer in high school.

Bob_South_Shore
Aug 26, 2008 | 3:32 AM

I was helping in the dugout years ago with 11-12 year olds. There was a boy who threw much faster than any of the other kids. As one of the kids got up to bat I commented, "this is making me nervous, I need to take a little break", as the boy was a tad wild. As I walked behind the backstop I heard a sick dull thud. The kid at bat was hit between the eyes and wound up with a concussion, done for the year. What upset me was that the parents could have moved him up but they wanted him to be overpowering at that level. Had he been moved up he would have been pitching against more talented kids with better reflexes. Why would the parents of a star not want him to face better competition and should we put kids at risk if they decide not to? Oh and by the way, the star player eventually lost his edge and played soccer in high school.

Gerard
Aug 26, 2008 | 3:49 AM

Am I missing some part of this story - ESPN just covered the little league world series where the pitcher from Louisiana was throwing 65 mph. I realize he was 12 and this kid is 9 but why is being 'punished' for throwing 40 mph. 'Dead red' kid and keep mowing them down.

Chip read my blog view my photos
Aug 26, 2008 | 5:26 AM

What everyone else has said...plus one VERY politically incorrect addition. "Second Place is the the First Place for losers...."

Let's compete again, folks.

Chopp143 read my blog view my photos
Aug 26, 2008 | 7:28 AM

Too many "soccer moms" and "helicopter parents"!! Let a kid compete, learn to lose and pick themselves up. Celebrate victories and learn that life is not always an even playing field.

Mami212713
Aug 26, 2008 | 7:35 AM

I always advised my children to do their best and they will get somewhere.
This child is here doing just that and some jealous, sore sport adult is trying to shut that on this child.
In life we have to learn how to lose to games. This coach is really not setting that example for his players. I say get rid of the coach.

Let the boy play!!!!

mommyto4
Aug 26, 2008 | 9:07 AM

My daughter (almost 11) has been playing soccer (competitive) since she was 8. The town team started the team but the indoor leagues for the winter didn't have that age group, so they had to play up at u9. They lost every single game for 2 sessions but it taught them some great things... they learned how to lose, they learned how to stick with it, and they learned how to work as a team and get better!!!
Last year they were u10 (and boy are they good now), and were far better than most in their age group so the 2nd winter indoor session they played up to u11-12... so here they were in 4th grade, playing against 5th and 6th graders (quite a size difference) and they finished 2nd, made playoffs and took the 2nd place trophy... it took them 3 years of playing to get there. Trust me, it was not easy having the girls upset after each game, but they stuck with it and they are better off for it.

NorthernObserver read my blog
Aug 26, 2008 | 9:31 AM

Bring the other kids up to this kid’s level, not the other way.
Since when do we criticize excellence in a person’s performance?

Chopp143 read my blog view my photos
Aug 26, 2008 | 10:21 AM

When my youngest son was a Freshman in High School the athletic dept. hired a new hard nosed lacrosse coach. The team had qualified for the State Tourney the previous year and had 14 returning seniors but the inmates were running the asylum so to speak. When the returning seniors refused to attend an early season practice they were dismissed from the team and my son's freshman class were thrust into varsity status where they lost every game in that season. Despite the losing, each year they showed improvement and by their senior year they had qualified for the State Tourney where they won a game before losing to the eventually finalists. It was a long and at times frustrating experience for all involved but they kept at it and were rewarded with success as a result of their collective hard work. A good "life" lesson which is what sports are supposed to be about.

Xantun read my blog view my photos
Aug 26, 2008 | 2:41 PM

Mami212713, I'm with you that they should be getting rid of the coach who just forfeited the game instead of facing "Master Jericho" on the mound. What's more, the parents who didn't say anything after the coach forfeited the game should be looked at too.

ANY sports team for kids is always going to have some players who are just better than the others, just the same as life itself. Kids should be learning the lessons of improving themselves while they're young, instead of waiting until they're adults. Like Chip said, let's start competing again!

TheEliteOne read my blog
Aug 26, 2008 | 3:31 PM

Ryan: Sorry, but we are talking about 9 year olds. Bob from the south shore makes a good point. At this age, one year makes a big difference. I am telling you that many of these kids will quit rather than face someone this fast. Coaching today is an art, the goal is to keep the kids interested for the long haul.

What's the problem with moving him up a level?
Eventually the hitting is going to catch up with his fastball. Then we'll see how he responds to his fast balls going over the fence.

TheEliteOne read my blog
Aug 26, 2008 | 4:20 PM

xantum: I have coached little league. Trust me the coach never has to ask for the parent's opinions. The opinions are there all the time.
When the opinions are not coming at the coach, the parents are off having coffee and using the coach as a baby sitting service.

The coach's decision was probably made from the input of the parents. I have seen kids get hit with fastballs, it is not pretty.

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Mark_Ockerbloom

I anchor the Fox 25 News at 5, 10 & 11pm and want to hear from you. Feel free to drop me a line anytime.

Member Since: 10/17/2006