To start, why has it taken four days for media networks to identify the little league responsible for banning 9-year-old pitcher Jericho Scott from taking the mound as a Latino little league? Is it an aside? Good thing Machochip’s around…to provide the perennial smack to the face and say “what the hell, Latino little league?” Well, the leagues attorney spoke out yesterday during a press conference prepared to set the “record straight.” Meaning, it was the Liga Juvenil de Baseball de New Haven’s turn to point fingers. And fingers they pointed.

The league’s side of the story is that after each of the three games that Jericho pitched for the Will Power Fitness team, parents and opposing coaches complained that his throws were too fast and were frightening the batters. The league decided that Jericho could not pitch anymore but offered to let him play other positions. They reportedly also offered to move Jericho up to the older players’ league,but his mother declined.

Then, “on August 20th, things escalated to an ugly point,” said Noble. “It was a very hostile environment, very unhealthy for players.”

What happened, according to the league, was that the Will Power Fitness coach Wilfred Vidro defied orders and started Jericho on the mound. League officials called the game, declaring that Will Power Fitness had defaulted. Will Power Fitness players and parents reportedly started chanting “losers.” The other team’s members were escorted to Carlito’s Barber Shop, “to insure their safety.”

“There was an incredible amount of taunting and threats,” said Noble.

It’s absolutely no coincidence now that this is turning into a freakin’ telenovela. Jericho’s mom has now filed a civil lawsuit against the league, which means the season is probably over.

Frankly, isn’t this charade a bit too much? When a league justifies its own decision by specifying that “the Liga Juvenil is an independent league, with no overseeing body, and it can make whatever rules it wishes,” it makes us want to vomit a bit. Because it’s the same approach a sweatshop takes when speaking about its employees.

Oh, and it’s Jericho Scott’s birthday today. So, instead of practicing his two-seam fastball, and his mom congratulating him on his talents, and his team kicking butt, he has to endure the wrath of the grown-ups and their wise ways. Jericho, we apologize for what you’re going through. And we hope you have a good b-day, kid.

Latino Little League Strikes Back [New Haven Independent]
Image [NHI]