Little Leaguer Refuses Promotion to Higher Level

Little League officials moved quickly to reaffirm their decision to order an emotionally troubled youngster to move up to a higher division or hand in his uniform.

“We’re asking him to turn in his uniform just like we would ask anyone else,” said Al Denis, a Little League board member. “He is eligible to play for other minor league teams, but his mother decided against that.”

The controversy started a few weeks ago when Gary Lamont, 11, tossed a no-hitter for the Marine Education White Sox, a lower-division club in the town’s American Little League.

That performance caught the attention of the first-place Astros of the major-league division, whose manager reportedly pulled Lamont aside and told him to show up for practice with his new team the next day.

But Lamont, who has been undergoing counseling to overcome low self-esteem, refused to leave his teammates and friends who made him feel happy.

League rules require, in such instances, that players be assigned to another minor league team, the Rangers, or simply not play--a regulation aimed at managers who want to hold back star players.

The league’s board of directors were to reconsider the boy’s case Monday night, based on a letter from Lamont’s counselor. But members reaffirmed their decision at a hastily called meeting late Friday behind a right-field fence after Gary’s team played.

Saturday, Gary showed up for a game but league officials wouldn’t let him play, and he couldn’t even coach third base.

Although Gary’s mother, Hannah Holford, was not immediately available for comment Sunday, a family member said she is considering legal action.

Pat Holden, who has a son on Gary’s team, said league treasurer David Fogarty told her last week that board members are angry at all the media attention.

“He told me if there was no more publicity, their ruling might be more favorable,” she said.

Denis denied publicity had anything to do with the board’s decision.

“It has nothing to do with revenge,” he said.