Little Leaguer dies after he's hit by pitch

[vikesfan]

PHOENIX -- A 13-year-old Arizona boy was killed in a freak accident after a baseball hit him over the heart as he tried to bunt, officials in his Little League said Friday.

Hayden Walton went for the bunt during a game Tuesday night in the close-knit northern Arizona city of Winslow, said Jamey Jones, a Winslow Little League official.

"He took an inside pitch right in the chest," Jones said. "After that he took two steps to first base and collapsed."

He died the next morning at a local hospital.

The boy's parents, who were at the game, are heartbroken, shocked and unable to speak to members of the media, league president and family spokesman Dale Thomas said.

"It's a hard thing to handle for everyone," Thomas said. "When you're touched by something of this magnitude, it sends shock waves throughout the community."

Thomas said he grew up around the boy's family and described Hayden as "the epitome of what every little boy ought to be." Besides participating in Little League, Hayden was a Boy Scout, loved to work on cars and helped neighborhood widows by mowing their lawns and doing odd jobs for them, Thomas said.

He said Hayden had a younger sister.

The league suspended games until Friday and has counselors available for players or parents who need them.

Stephen Keener, president and CEO of Little League Baseball and Softball, said in a statement that "the loss of a child is incomprehensible."

"Words cannot adequately express our sorrow on the passing of Hayden," he said. "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."

[revnecro1273]

man that is fricking horrible...very sad

[Mendoza Line]

Originally Posted by vikesfan

He died the next morning at a local hospital.

Does this bother anyone else?

I worked in news/sports forever, and this always rubbed me the wrong way in stories -- "local" hospital.

Of course it's local.

I want to be there when this conversation takes place:

Medivac/Lifeflight/Ambulance driver to family members of victim: "We're going to take him to a local hospital."

Family members reply: "Wait. Isn't there anything further away?"

[LordCC]

That is really upsetting to hear, my condolences to the family.

[tinwork]

RIP, to someone with a bright future ahead of them.

[bill2266]

very sad news

[SPARK]

Awful story to read ... so sad

[ksturg]

Wow, as a father that breaks my heart for him and his family.

[ParrotHead]

Very sad story. Sucks to hear shit like this

Mendoza. I have a local hospital about 5 minutes from my house, and one about an hour, and trust me in a life or death situation Id rather be taken to the one an hour away

[Morphius]

very sad

[grzftbl]

Gut-Wrenching.

[Quiksilver]

Wow...I'm not a father but I couldn't begin to understand what it's like to see your biy literally killed in front of your eyes playing a game.

really feel for the parents...

[truegrinder]

wow thats terrible. what an unfortunate ending for such a young boy. Damn thats too bad

[Cali Roots]

very sad!

[Steel]

RIP way to young