Kaiser Carlile, 9-Year-Old Bat Boy, Dies After Being Hit in Head During National Baseball Congress World Series

UPDATE: The National Baseball Congress has suspended the use of bat boys and girls following Carlile's death, according to The Wichita Eagle.

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Bat boy Kaiser Carlile died after he was accidentally struck in the head by a batter in the on-deck circle during Saturday's National Baseball Congress World Series game between the Liberal Bee Jays and Haysville Aviators. The 9-year-old was rushed to the hospital, but his head injuries were much too severe.

Carlile passed away on Sunday evening, according to the Liberal Bee Jays' Facebook page.

The youngster was finishing up his first season as bat boy for the Bee Jays - an amateur baseball team of the National Baseball Congress - but it sadly ended in tragedy. Witnesses told CBS Wichita affiliate KWCH-TV that Carlile was running to pick up a bat near the on-deck circle when he was hit in the head by the on-deck batter who didn't notice he was nearby. Carlile was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident (a requirement) and was treated by home plate umpire Mark Goldfeder, a 25-year paramedic, until EMS crews arrived.

Carlile was taken from Lawrence Dumont Stadium in Wichita, Kan., to Via Christi-St. Francis hospital. He suffered severe head trauma from the incident and died from those injuries yesterday.

The National Baseball Congress released a statement following Carlile's death:

"The National Baseball Congress has experienced tragedy many times in 84 years, however, it's difficult to remember a day that is darker than this one. On Sunday, we lost a member of our family and it will hurt for a very long time. With heavy hearts, we send our thoughts, prayers and condolences to the Carlile family and Bee Jays organization. Sometimes life doesn't make sense and this accident certainly is a memorable example. Kaiser was simply doing something he loved. He was simply doing a job most kids across America dream of having for one night or multiple summers. That's the part that makes us all wonder "why" and while it may never be answered, now is the time to support the city of Liberal, the BJ's organization and Kaiser's family. The NBC and the NBC World Series looks forward to honoring Kaiser in the near future. During this tragic and emotional time, may God bless Kaiser and his baseball family. "

Here are some on social media that mourned the death of Carlile:

Check out this emotional column from Bob Lutz of The Wichita Eagle.

The Bee Jays created a Go Fund Me page to provide relief and assistance for the Carlile family's medical and funeral costs for Kaiser.

"This is a 9-year-old kid, small in stature, who just wanted to be one of the guys," Bee Jays' GM Mike Carlile, Kaiser's uncle, told Lutz. "Kaiser can't wait to get to the ballpark every day. Watching him interact with the guys on the team is comical. They kid each other, gig each other.... Kaiser and our head coach (Adam Anderson) were very tight. It was special. This is just a crappy deal."

The Bee Jays defeated the Aviators on Sunday and advanced to play the Seattle Studs on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Tags

World Series, Dies, Hit, Head