Just trying to help Buzz.:LOL::LOL::LOL:

Source: Hartford ( CT ) Courant:

Courant.com

Controversy Over 9-Year-Old Pitcher Divides League
By PAUL DOYLE
Courant Staff Writer
August 27, 2008
NEW HAVEN


— By Tuesday afternoon, Jericho Scott's story was an Internet sensation.

Bloggers were commenting, sports talk radio hosts were skewering the Youth Baseball League of New Haven, and Jericho was a 9-year-old cause célèbre. The story line was etched: A kid was kicked out of his league because he was too good.

So at 6 p.m., parents, coaches and kids gathered at New Haven's Criscuolo Park to tell their side of the story. With cameras from Connecticut's TV stations lining the infield, a procession of speakers defended the league's decision to bar Jericho from pitching.

It was the latest twist in a bizarre battle between adults concerning a kid with a 40 mph fastball.

"It's unfortunate that it's gotten to this point," said Peter Noble, the league's attorney. "This has escalated out of control."

First, some background. The Youth Baseball League of New Haven — otherwise known as Liga Juvenil de Baseball de New Haven — is a community league with no affiliation to Little League or any other sanctioning body. The league, in its third year, is made up of more than 100 boys and girls from New Haven neighborhoods, and has teams sponsored by local businesses.

There is a division for ages 8-10, another for ages 10-12. League officials say they make their own rules and bylaws based on the experience and skill of the players.

"Let's be real," said Abraham Hernandez, who sponsors a team. "We've got teens getting killed in the city and we've got the mayor concerned, not knowing what to do. And we've got a league that's taking these kids off the street. They're here in the park, playing ball."

Trouble began Aug. 9, nearly a month after the season started. As Will Power Fitness defeated Bomberos Hispanos 12-3, Jericho pitched five innings in his league debut.

According to league officials, parents expressed concern because Jericho threw so hard. He pitched three innings the next day and more parents conveyed their concern, according to the league.

When Jericho pitched five innings Aug. 13, coaches and league officials told Will Power Fitness coach Wilfred Vidro that parents were worried about the safety of their children and they suggested Jericho play another position. An argument ensued and Vidro — according to Noble — threatened to leave the league before agreeing to keep Jericho off the mound.

Over the next week, league officials say they spoke to Vidro and to Jericho's parents, Leroy and Nicole Scott. Noble says it was suggested that Jericho should move to the higher division, but Nicole Scott didn't like the idea.

Vidro sent Jericho to the mound Aug. 20 after a warning from an umpire. League officials say Nicole Scott came onto the field and threatened them. The game was called and members of Carlito's Barber Shop left to taunts from parents of the Will Power Fitness players.

"Thing escalated to a very, very ugly point," Noble said. "That particular day, it was a very hostile environment, a very unhealthy environment for the players."

The league says Vidro resigned. The team was disbanded, with players given the opportunity to shift to other teams. Vidro says he was fired by the league.

Parents of Will Power Fitness players went to the New Haven Register and the story picked up speed. Jericho's parents hired lawyer John Williams, who plans to meet with parents this week.

"I've had cases before involving both players and coaches in youth athletics, and it is invariably terrible what the adults do," Williams said. "I've never seen one before where excellence is being punished."

Williams said the dispute has nothing to do with safety concerns. Jericho was recruited by Carlito's Barber Shop, Williams said, and his parents' decision to join Will Power Fitness left coaches and parents from other teams envious.

"The concern was, we want him on our team," Williams said. "The problem is, it's not part of national Little League. It's a local league, run by small businessmen with small minds."

Williams said Jericho hasn't hit a batter all season. But Roberto Melendez, a coach for Carlito's, said the accuracy of a 9-year-old can vary from pitch to pitch.

"We don't want to punish Jericho," Melendez said. "He's good. This is just the wrong league for him. We've got kids here, they've never played before. What if one pitch got away and hit someone?"

Jericho's team was 8-0 and going to the playoffs, but the league's actions likely will prevent the team from competing.

"I expect that there will be litigation," Williams said. "It's not going to make things change because it's going to be too late, but we hope to send a message to these people and others like them."

Back at Criscuolo Park Tuesday night, parents were talking about the comments by ESPN bloggers and the chatter on the radio.

"We had to tell our side," Noble said. "We just need to work this out."

The Attorney handling the case was interviewed yesterday on WTIC AM Hartford," Mornings with Ray and Diane " , a 50,000 watt station. Within the state, raised the visibility of the issue.

Attorney John Williams- From the Offices of John R. Williams and Associates LLC. Located in New Haven. Re: Handling Young pitcher case who is being banned from playing in his league.

Then dress your kid up like the Michlin tire man! What a crock of $hit. I guess Melendez does not want any kid to play any sport.

Please, someone name one sport that kids play where they cannot be injured.

HOLY CRUP! I can't trust the news. I found the original article I read on this kid stating 90..... turns out ....

http://www.stevepinto.com/Baseball_R...gue/25968.html

I have been duped.

I read a couple of articles before I started this thread, and they all said the 9 year old's fastball is 40 MPH. I never saw anything about 90 MPH.

If a 9 year old was pitching a 90 MPH fastball from the 46 foot little league distance from the mound to home plate, even a major league player could not hit his pitch. And he would already be under contract to some major league team! :p :p

Chess? ;)

Please lengthen your message to 10 characters.
:JEKYLHYDE

Chess is a game, not a sport. And do not try to tell me that pocket pool is a sport, either. :JEKYLHYDE

So, the Carlito's team recruited him, and then he switched to a different team and now the Carlito's team does not want him to play as it is "Unsafe"? Uhhh.... they didn't think it was unsafe when they wanted him to play for them.

Not substantiated and probably falls into the category of hearsay , one or more of the other Team's business sponsors were also raising objections. More than likely with the exceptional pitching , the Will Power Fitness Team would win the league championship:

" Jericho's team was 8-0 and going to the playoffs, but the league's actions likely will prevent the team from competing. "

Sounds like league politics to me. Out of curiosity, I wonder what the average "normal" pitching speed for that age group is. Does anyone know what it is in the little league?

Gee thanks Freddie. You're a gentleman and a scholar.:D

:)

Buzz,

Every year I watch as many games of the Little League World series as I can and they are getting better every year. This year they had several pictures that threw fast balls that would have been in the 100 MPH range in the Big Leagues. One kid struck out every batter he faced. Talk about your perfect game. I believe some of the pitches actually reached around the 46 to 58 MPH range.

Ron :p

New Haven ( CT ) Register:

By Pamela McLoughlin, Register Staff

Baseball brouhaha goes into extra innings

NEW HAVEN — Adults continued Tuesday playing a little kids’ game.

Officials from an inner-city youth baseball league held a press conference to defend their honor before throngs of media waiting to grill them about why a player who turns 10 today was pulled from pitching because his throws are too fast and accurate.

But the media gathered at Criscuolo Park in Fair Haven couldn’t seem to get past the question: “How could you tell a kid he can’t pitch because he’s too good?”


http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2...s/20089039.txt

Kennon Fontenot from the Louisiana LLWS team just recently threw 84, which is the equivalent to 104 MLB mph

A lot of them were averaging in the 70's MPH range real speed, MLB equiv. of the 90's

Those Little League pitching speeds are for 13 year olds. The kid in question just turned 10. I really hope the kid comes out of all this mess with his head on straight. The parents responsible for this controversy should be banned from all future games.

"Back in the day " when I was playing LL,there was a pitcher on a opposing team that was something like the kid in this thread.

Not only did he have a wicked fast ball,he was the home run king of the League.The kid was amazing.

I played left field.I got a lot of exercise jumping the out field fence to catch down the balls he knocked out of the field.
I remember very clearly the 1 hit,a single to right field,I got off him.:)

I was very proud of that one hit for a long time.I think I still am.:)

Point being,everyone faces kids or adults of superior talent than everyone else.
The sooner you learn to accept it and deal with it ,the better you are.

That kid forced me to be a better hitter and fielder because of his superior talent than I would otherwise had been.

Fred,

When I was in Little League one team had a pitcher that was way above all the rest. Trouble was he didn't know any more than the hitter where the ball was going. I became very quick and agile when I had to bat against him.

Ron :)

Yes, bailing out of the batters box was always a self-preservation move. I played LL too, but it was always fun back then. The parents were not a$$holes like many are today.

But I really remember the day I played against a semi-pro softball team when I was about 18 years old. Holy crap. Trying to hit that softball was hard when you really wanted to hide your head in the sand. I was extremely proud that I got one foul tip off him in 3 at bats. :LOL: I think we lost something like 47 to 1. :JEKYLHYDE :eek: :LOL: