Youth baseball needs changeup

Have you heard about the Connecticut kid who was so good, he was banned from the pitching mound in his Youth Baseball League?

Nine-year-old Jericho Scott supposedly has a 40 mph fastball.

New Haven’s league officials told his coach that he throws so hard, he won’t be allowed to play in that league anymore.

Despite officials’ claims to the contrary, politics, egos and recriminations have infected the game, turning what is supposed to be a positive experience for youngsters into an ugly fight.

This sends a terrible message to kids and the community.

Here are some of the key accusations and counter-accusations.

His advocates think Jericho was banned because he had declined an invitation to join the defending championship team, which has connections to one of the league’s administrators. Instead, he joined a different team and helped take it to an 8-0 record, positioning that team to challenge the champions in the upcoming playoffs.

League officials say Jericho already pitches for a team made up of higher-level players, where his performance is average. They say he joined the other team partway through the season and overpowers the other players there.

Apparently, safety isn’t the reason for Jericho’s removal. His coach says he has great control, always on target.

The lawyer for the league agrees that Jericho has not beaned anybody. But he says parents had expressed concern, and that the prospect of facing the lightning-fast right-hander was intimidating.

“This is not a high-powered league. This is a developmental league whose main purpose is to promote the sport,” said Peter Noble.

Jericho should play another position, league officials say, or pitch against better players.

A goal of keeping a level playing field for all players in the co-ed league makes a sense.

But there should be rules establishing what that playing field should look like.

If a 40 mph throw is too hard and fast, what would be acceptable? How can a kid — or anyone, for that matter — know where the boundaries are if there are no established boundaries?

League organizers say their organization is not affiliated with any group and that they have the right to make up rules as they go along to deal with emerging situations.

Youth League ought to be teaching some good lessons about teamwork and fairness and civility and consistency.

Doesn’t sound like kids are getting that kind of a message at all in New Haven.