It was August 2008 when nine-year old Jericho Scott was the talk of New Haven youth baseball, and soon, unwittingly, part of a national controversy. Scott had been banned from pitching in Liga Juvenil de Baseball de New Haven, a developmental league because some parents thought his 40-mph fastball posed a risk to their sons.

Recently, Jericho was named in another kind of headline. He was the victim of a drive-by fatal shooting on April 19th at the age of 16.

Scott was a junior at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven and a member of the varsity baseball team. He had been projected as a future Division II college player. The tragedy happened while he was talking to friends close to his home on Exchange Street, in the Fair Haven section of the city.

So far no motive has been offered and no arrest has been made.

A celebrity at nine

The summer before entering the fifth grade at Bishop Woods School, he had already pitched five no-hitters in eight games for the Will Power Fitness team. Jericho, who had been in the Dom Aitro League since he was 6, was playing for Will Power while his regular league was on a break.