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I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand the kid is basically in a big fish in a small pond situation, no question he can blow everyone away. That being said, he won't face anyone that will test him and make him grow, at least as a pitcher. No press of his batting or fielding so those skills may be more age appropriate. Think about if this were an academic situation? Little Jonnie knows it all, so what to do? you move him up a grade, or two, or whatever it takes, for him to challenged. Or he goes to take a college course during the summer even though he is between 10 & 11 grades. But the class is in *pick a subject* because he excels in that subject.
Also, the kids he is facing will not get to grow into their batting skills, think about if you were 12 years old and facing a high school pitcher. (or taking classes with guys that were already in college?) So this is a detriment to them. This is a Youth League so I don't know the particulars for them age wise but Little League is 9,10,11,12 for the minors and majors. Pony is a bit different but close enough to being the same. This kid is 9 so he is playing with other 9 year olds. In Little League they would move him directly to Majors. He would be playing with older kids.
I'm *not* suggesting that we level the playing field and give everyone a trophy, I hated that when I coached and still think it's prejudicial too. Just like everyone can't surf, everyone can't be Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps or a host of other things (a fighter pilot, mathematician, and on and on). Try it, check it out, give it a go, and then figure out if that is something for you that you are capable of doing (maybe it will be a hobby rather than a profession for you?).
So can't they make an accomodation for both the pitcher and the batters? I suspect, having been there, that someone is more interested in having a winning team (at a very young age) and sticking to their guns and not looking to give the best situation to both that future Nolan Ryan and the others. There are limits in numbers of pitches, innings pitched, appearances per week depending upon age. Younger players pitching are restricted to less time to safeguard younger growing bodies. Perhaps change this players restrictions so that he has less pitching time per week. He gets his exposure, the other teams aren't playing against Danny Almonte Jr. (remember the 16yr in the LL World Series?) and as the league the kid plays in grows up and he grows up the differential will be less and yet he will have had playing time.
Too many parents are pinning their hopes on Little Jimmie playing in the majors and everyone living happily (and financially well off) ever after. It gets in the way at the lowest levels, and the numbers are near Lotto like...
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