Posted on 06/04/2011 9:01:58 PM PDT by Hunton Peck
Tragedy struck in Winslow, Ariz. on Wednesday morning when a 13-year-old Little Leaguer died hours after being struck by a pitch in the middle of a game.
According to the Associated Press as well as a variety of Arizona outlets including ABC 15 News, Hayden Walton was struck by a pitch in the chest when he turned to bunt during a game on Tuesday night. The pitch reportedly struck the middle schooler in the chest, directly over his heart. That stopped his heart entirely; a condition medically referred to as commotio cordis, according to ABC 15.
"He took an inside pitch right in the chest," Winslow Little League official Jamey Jones told the AP. "After that he took two steps to first base and collapsed."
Walton was almost immediately transported to the nearest hospital, but he never recovered and was pronounced dead on Wednesday morning. The Winslow Little League suspended all games until Friday as a result and the incident was kept under wraps while those closest with the Walton family grieved for the loss of a young member of the Winslow community. Understandably, the Walton parents -- who also have a young daughter -- have been unwilling to speak to the press because of their shock and grief.
That sense of tragedy has been shared by members of Little League's national branch, where Steve Keener, the president and CEO of Little League Baseball and Softball, released a statement offering up condolences for all those connected with the tragedy.
"Words cannot adequately express our sorrow on the passing of Hayden," Keener told the AP. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Hayden's family, all the players and volunteers of the Winslow Little League, his classmates, and his friends, at this difficult time.
"The loss of a child is incomprehensible."
(Excerpt) Read more at rivals.yahoo.com ...
Children die playing sports. Young riders die competing on horseback.
There is no way to protect our children from the sometime consequences of living life to its fullest.
Sad for his family and sad for the pitcher.
I think young boys who have not developed the thicker chests are at greater risk.
When my boys were playing Little League baseball, that was my greatest fear and that was a decade ago. I couldn’t find protective gear. Every year boys die from the pitched ball to the chest.
Oh, how very sad. May God rest his soul, and Bless his family.
Maybe they should wear chest protection.
Here is a hint where you can find such protectors: women who ride, particularly those involved in hunter class jumping, use chest protectors. These items can be small enough to be worn by young boys.
I have no children. For those whose boys are playing little league, it is worth looking into these days, for safety should be foremost in a parent’s mind.
From about fifty years ago I can still see the black eye and his running home crying of a neighborhood kid who got hit in the eye from a foul tip during a sandlot game. He was playing catcher, and none of us kids had any kind of protective equipment. Could have happened to any one us among other hazards that kids tried to avoid back in the days. The kid who got hit in the eye had a pretty good shiner for weeks. He survived though without losing his eyesight.
It’s called commotio cardis. The ball hits the chest at the exact time in the EKG cycle where it is most vulnerable to causing an arrest. Tragic.
No kidding. What a thing to have to live with.
My heart immediately went out to the pitcher, who did no wrong and will live with this the rest of his life.
Poor kid. Lord have mercy.
Thanks for the info. The medical term is included in the article, but not the further explanation.
“I couldn’t find protective gear.”
It’s out there now.
http://www.baseballsavings.com/customer/category/product.jsp/SUBCATEGORY_ID/2141/refScid/1075
http://www.baseballsavings.com/customer/category/product.jsp/SUBCATEGORY_ID/6484/refScid/1075
http://www.baseballsavings.com/customer/category/product.jsp/SUBCATEGORY_ID/7188/refScid/1075
My boys have all played baseball. I’ve never worried about this. If you want to worry, save it for riding in the car. It’s much more dangerous.
I read this before my son’s Babe Ruth league game today. I’ll think about this every time the coach wants him to bunt.
My prayers to the family. My God.
Portable AED’s are becoming more affordable, and more common. Worth considering even at the individual level.
http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Aed-Home-Defibrillator-Kit/dp/B003XYYZCO
Same thing happened to a local HS student who starred in lacrosse. Hit in the chest with lacrosse ball during game - went into cardiac arrest - died ...
Lord comfort Hayden’s family as they grieve a precious life cut short. Bless them abundantly with support from family and friends. Send your Holy Spirit to bring them peace when they most need it. In Christ’s name we ask these things. Amen.
My understanding is that even with defibrillators, there is still only about a 30% chance of survival, which is certainly better than not having one around, but even having one handy isn’t certain to help.
sadly true... the world ended for those parents...
something like this happened to my son when he was about 12... his team mate swung his bat in an area where he was not supposed to.. my son was bending down to pick up his bat, stood up and got whacked in the face... broke his nose... the doctors were most concerned with his eye... it was during practice, and we were at our younger son's game... got the phone call... rushed over to my son and about fainted when i saw his face... he recovered... but it wa awful...
something like this happened to my son when he was about 12... his team mate swung his bat in an area where he was not supposed to.. my son was bending down to pick up his bat, stood up and got whacked in the face... broke his nose... the doctors were most concerned with his eye... it was during practice, and we were at our younger son's game... got the phone call... rushed over to my son and about fainted when i saw his face... he recovered... but it wa awful...
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