A beloved 9-year-old batboy for a summer collegiate baseball team died Sunday night, one day after he was struck in the head with a bat during a player's warmup swing.
Kaiser Carlile was in critical condition after being accidentally hit with a Liberal Bee Jays player's bat during the team's National Baseball Congress World Series game Saturday night in Kansas.
"With the permission of the family, and with much sorrow and a very broken heart, I regretfully inform everyone that Kaiser Carlile passed away earlier this evening," team president Nathan McCaffrey said in a statement Sunday night.
The team set up a fund to help with the heartbroken family's expenses.
Thank you, everyone! If you haven't heard, Kaiser passed away this evening, but the financial... http://t.co/ZrpufwV91z
— Liberal Bee Jays (@LiberalBeeJays) August 3, 2015
Kaiser was supposed to start the fourth grade at Sunflower Intermediate School this month, The Wichita Eagle columnist Bob Lutz wrote. And idolized the team he helped out.
The accident happened while Kaiser was retrieving a bat. McCaffrey said he heard the bat hit Kaiser, who was wearing a helmet, before he took a few steps back and fell.
"Just to see him fall, that's what crushes you," he said.
The Bee Jays continued their game against the San Diego Waves on Saturday night, winning 12-5 in 13 innings.
They went on to play against the Haysville Aviators on Sunday night.
"Liberal wins! Bee Jays defeat Haysville 8-0! That's for you KC!" the team tweeted.
R.I.P. little guy.
RIP Little one..may you rest in peace..
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