Nine-year-old bat boy in critical condition after swing to head

A NINE-YEAR-OLD was hospitalised after being hit in the head during a baseball game in America on the weekend.

A NINE-YEAR-OLD bat boy was hospitalised after being hit in the head during a National Baseball Congress World Series game.

The Wichita Eagle reports the boy was struck by a follow-through swing near the on-deck circle on Saturday afternoon. A spokesman for the National Baseball Congress says the child was wearing a helmet, which is mandatory.

Home-plate umpire Mark Goldfeder, who is a longtime paramedic, treated the boy until an ambulance arrived. The boy, identified as Kaiser Carlile, was taken to a local hospital in critical condition.

Sunday, the team’s Facebook page posted: “Hey fans, the situation with Kaiser this morning is very much the same as it was last night: Still in critical condition, but hanging in there.

“Thank you everyone for all your kind words, thoughts and prayers!”

Prayers tonight to the bat boy for the @LiberalBeeJays, Kaiser. Stay strong little man. pic.twitter.com/yDRoDuxzFZ

— Jake Schreiber (@schreiber_18) August 2, 2015

“I didn’t see what happened,” said the team’s general manager, Mike Carlile. Kaiser is his cousin’s son. “I just heard something and immediately started running down to the field and I get down there and the home-plate umpire is throwing out medical jargon. The guy definitely knew what he was doing. He was a Godsend that we had him behind the plate today.”

In need of prayers for this little cutie. His names Kaiser and he's Gavin's teams bat boy this summer. #staystrong pic.twitter.com/BRiHSRpzy1

— Emily (@emilycarrere) August 1, 2015

The boy was a bat boy for the Liberal Bee Jays. “I’m just at a loss of words,” Liberal manager Adam Anderson told the Wichita Eagle. “This was just so unfortunate and tragic and it was an accident. It was a very emotional game for our guys and it was incredible how they were able to claw through to just stay in the game mentally. Now all we can do is hope and pray that everything works out OK.”

Liberal president Nathan McCaffrey issued a statement after the game.

“The Bee Jays would like to thank (Goldfeder) and emergency responders for their efforts,” McCaffrey wrote. “We also appreciate everyone’s love, support, thoughts and prayers during this time. Please continue to pray and keep Kaiser and his family in your thoughts.”

Bee Jays kneel to pray for Kaiser Carlile, 9-yr-old bat boy, who was critically injured after being struck by bat. pic.twitter.com/po1n2LP2rM

— Taylor Eldridge (@teldridge24) August 2, 2015