‘Too Good’ to Play Baseball? Game Over
A recent newspaper headline sounded more like a lesson in parenting: Why punish a kid for the crime of being too good?
The kid, in this case, was 9-year-old Jericho Scott, who played summer baseball on a youth team in New Haven, Connecticut.
Jericho’s “crime” is his talent. He’s a pitching sensation who throws an awesome 40 mile-an-hour fastball that’s never hit a batter and rarely misses the plate. But the prodigy pitcher himself was struck out—by adults.
Parents of opposing team members first objected that their kids were unable to hit any of Jericho’s pitches. Strike one.
Then youth league officials wanted to move Jericho up to an older team, but his parents refused. Strike two.
League officials asked Jericho to play any position other than pitcher, but his parents said no again. Strike three.
Game over.
The league disbanded Jericho’s entire undefeated team, and the second place team was declared the season’s winner.
But the post-game show of who’s responsible for the collective benching of so many kids continues to play out across the country, with headlines that sound like…well…more lessons in parenting, like this one from Jericho’s hometown newspaper: Sometimes parent involvement can be way off-base, experts say.
Other adults were criticized, too. “The league obviously felt batters would suffer irreversible shame and humiliation if they had to face Jericho again,” wrote an Ohio sports reporter. “Tell me, how does that prepare kids for the real world? Haven’t we all encountered someone more skilled in our field, and haven’t we all survived?”
Ironically, the only person who stepped up to the plate to accept responsibility was perhaps the least culpable of all: Jericho, now 10 years old. “I feel sad,” he said. “I feel like it’s all my fault that nobody could play.”
Tell us what you think: Can a child be “too good” to play a game, and if so, does he or she have the responsibility to step aside? In the case of Jericho Scott, who’s more responsible for baseball’s abrupt ending—parents…league officials…Jericho?
For information about creating positive sports experiences for kids, log on to ResponsibleSports.com. Sponsored by Liberty Mutual, the site offers parents and coaches tips, tools, and advice designed to help maximize their kids’ youth sports experience. Parents can also take part in online discussions, asking questions and sharing experiences about how best to help kids apply the life lessons of sports—on and off the field. Because, as The Home Run reminds us, there’s more to the game than winning.
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Common sense
Common sense dictates that if a child is way above the level of his peers in a league, that that child be advanced to a league that has equally as advanced players. This helps not only the children that are less advanced, but also the advanced child to develop his skills and further advance.
Daniel Sullivan | 9 months, 3 weeks ago
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It's a game folks!
All children deserve and should become involved in team sports to an extent. The fact that this child was out and exercising is outstanding to begin with as exercise improves the development of the brain. Children no matter what age need not be exploited and I feel this is what was going on here. The fact that this child excels in this area is great and will aid him in his well rounded development however, it would appear to me that the adults might learn a thing our two from him as. “ It’s just a game folks,” pure and simple. There will be wins and losses along life’s journey for this young man and it would appear to me he already has a beautiful soul as is reflected by his sadness for his team which of course puts him on very solid footing so to speak.. As I read this article I can’t help but wonder if they would all fight as hard for his education..
Marguerite Welch | 7 months ago
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What
Were are the recruiters, if this kid is that good, bump to bigger better things. It is too bad that all the envious parents only wish their kids were as good, but not respect the ones that are. I say dream big and never take no for a answer when you know its right for you.
Hello!! | 7 months ago
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He should have been indicited into the Hall of Fam
I think that the actions of the little league admin and the parents were unfounded. They represent bad sportsmanship. If this were MLB, any team would die for a pitcher that pitches lots of strikeouts. That’s whats makes a good pitcher! Pitching to the other team means the pitcher does not want the batter to hit the ball because they can score. If this were a championship game in little league I would want Jericho on my team and I would put him up for starting pitcher!
Stephen Hinkle | 6 months, 2 weeks ago
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that is mesed up
I think a kid that good is okay. It is a sport. Some are better than others. If everyone was as good as each other, there would be no fun at all. There are just some people that are better. Get over it.
anthony mooney | 5 months, 1 week ago
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I totally understand his
In most of our leagues, children are allowed to pitch a designated number of innings each game. I believe this is to protect the pitcher from injury as well as to give other children a chance to pitch. Everybody wants to play pitcher at some time in his life.
As a parent, I wouldn’t want my child to pitch all the time; I would rather the child play other positions or even sit on the bench like other children do. It’s good for them to learn they are not the best at every position and that sometimes they need to sit out so others can play too.
I totally understand his parents not wanting him to move to a more advanced league. He needs to interact with children his own age. Baseball is supposed to be fun. Did you ever have to go to an English or Math class where all the kids were 3 or 4 years older than you; it’s not fun.
I’ll look forward to seeing Jericho in the “bigs”. Good luck, kid.
And you jealous parents, “suck it up”. Help your own children improve or move them to a less advanced team where they can shine.
Sandy DeWitt | 4 months, 3 weeks ago
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Retired
Parents for the most part are more detrimental to Little League Sports than any other one thing I can think of. They want their kid to be the best player on the team, to play one of the skill positions, but heaven forbid that he/she have to participate against a kid like Jericho who in the parents mind is just to talented for their kid to compete against. In the end Jericho has to pay the price for being too good.
I have 2 boys who played Little League Sports many years ago and I have always held the opinion that on game day the game would be much more enjoyable for the kids if parents were not allowed to attend.
I’ve seen parents attacking umpires, opposing coaches even berating kids from the other team over things that amount to nothing.
The games are very important to the kids but parents should realize that it is only a game for youngsters and treat it as such.
D.M. Gambrell | 4 months, 1 week ago
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9yr old pitches 40mph
I have a 9 yr old that has been clocked constantly in the mid 50’s (53-57) and has a 34-36mph change up and it working on nice cutter he is 4’11” and is 92 lbs just wonder what the league would think of him. LOL!!!!!!!!!
Lance Gansky | 1 month, 4 weeks ago
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