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9-year-old is banned from mound for too-fast fastball
By Associated Press
Tuesday, August 26, 2008


NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Jericho Scott’s fastball - clocked at 40 mph - is so nasty the 9-year-old is banned from taking the mound.

The Youth Baseball League of New Haven told his coach that the boy could not pitch anymore. 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 3-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.

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.”

“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.”