Arizona Little Leaguer Killed After Pitch Hits Chest

[Bunnykid68]

This is horrible. I cannot even imagine.

Arizona Little Leaguer Killed After Pitch Hits Chest

 

[singlesix]

I remember another incident several years ago in Florida, that league bought chest protectors and made it required equipment. Words can't express my feelings for the grief the family must feel. I can't image what that poor kid (pitcher) is feeling right now.

 

[jd4320t]

I heard a similar story a few years ago that happened here in Indiana. A player squared to the pitcher to bunt and was hit in the chest. They said he started to take his base and dropped right at home plate. Luckily he was brought back to life.

 

[Fenway]

Very sorry to hear of this....

 

[Kirk Freeman]

Unsettling as all four of my nephews play baseball.

 

[NYFelon]

So unspeakably horrible.

 

[Benny]

What a tragedy.

I will certainly be making Xander wear a chest protector here in a year or two when the kids really start connecting with the ball.

Prayers sent to the family.

 

[Knife Lady]

What a freak accident. This is too painful to talk about. Prayers are all there is now.
Protective gear should be made mandatory in all little league sports nationwide.

 

[chocktaw2]

Blunt force trauma, from baseballs, fists, ejection from vehicles, can be life threatening . Also from falls. One has to be careful. Notice what I didn't mention.

 

[Mr. Habib]

Don't forget face masks. Most leagues require them for batting helmets, but most don't for infielders. After seeing the pitcher for my daughters 8U team take a line drive just below the eye last week, I think it foolish not to wear one. At least for pitchers, and at 1st and 3rd.

 

[SirRealism]

Very sad.

When something like this happens, I think about making a sarcastic comment about how we need to make baseball illegal... parodying the anti-gun way of thinking. And then I come to my senses and realize I shouldn't take advantage of such an event.

 

[adam]

It's sad and I send my condolences.

After reading all these stories I'm wondering how these kids were taught to bunt. I sincerely hope they are physically squaring their bodies and moving their back foot around to bunt. If so they are simply asking to get hit.

 

[sadclownwp]

Ummm isn't Bunting not allowed in that little league age group. When I was in Little League (a very long time ago), Bunting was not allowed till the senior leagues for 15-18 year olds. WTF was this boy doing trying to bunt?

 

[jd4320t]

Ummm isn't Bunting not allowed in that little league age group. When I was in Little League (a very long time ago), Bunting was not allowed till the senior leagues for 15-18 year olds. WTF was this boy doing trying to bunt?

Bunting was allowed in my little league here in Indiana.

 

[jd4320t]

It's sad and I send my condolences.

After reading all these stories I'm wondering how these kids were taught to bunt. I sincerely hope they are physically squaring their bodies and moving their back foot around to bunt. If so they are simply asking to get hit.

You have to pivot and turn your shoulders or you won't have leverage to use the bat properly.

 

[rmabrey]

First let me say that I feel bad for everyone involved. Now I dont have children, so maybe my view point is a little skewed, but this happens yearly. Now while I do not disagree with the use of protective gear, I have an issue with requiring it. All it does is coddle kids into growing up to be sissy professionals that make millions of dollars but cry when they bruise.

Part of the problem with the yearly deaths is the bats. Pony leagues (13+) around here are using composite bats. Bats similar to those used on the college level. Now I have played baseball/slow pitch softball every year for the last 20 years. I can barely react to a softball hit by a composite bat sometimes, yet a 13 year old is expected to react to a baseball on a slightly smaller field. There is your problem.

 

[adam]

You have to pivot and turn your shoulders or you won't have leverage to use the bat properly.

I sat in my living room and "bunted" about 10 times, and the my chest never squared up to the pitcher. I was at a 45 degree angle at most.

I bunt just like Ichiro here, except I rotate my hips a bit more and it ALWAYS worked for me. I've never had to square around, and never been taught to do so.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbUdAEEIhb4&feature=related[/ame]

 

[jd4320t]

I sat in my living room and "bunted" about 10 times, and the my chest never squared up to the pitcher. I was at a 45 degree angle at most.

I bunt just like Ichiro here, except I rotate my hips a bit more and it ALWAYS worked for me. I've never had to square around, and never been taught to do so.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbUdAEEIhb4&feature=related

Ok. When I say squared I mean turning some. Ive never seen anyone bunt without turning to the pitcher. If you look closely you can see Ichiro's left shoulder is closer to homeplate than his right. This would expose his chest also.

 

[adam]

Ok. When I say squared I mean turning some. Ive never seen anyone bunt without turning to the pitcher. If you look closely you can see Ichiro's left shoulder is closer to homeplate than his right. This would expose his chest also.

But a ball that strikes his chest at that angle is not direct and would not deliver enough force to kill him. That's what I'm saying.

 

[jd4320t]

But a ball that strikes his chest at that angle is not direct and would not deliver enough force to kill him. That's what I'm saying.

Do you know that for a fact? Maybe we can get CSI to go to the little league diamond and figured out the angles.

The point is kids will be bunting at some point. They will get the sign from their coach and their only focus will be to use the form they've been taught and bunt. All it takes is a high and inside pitch and they will be hit. These are kids and not pros, they will turn their bodies for leverage.