Bat boy, 9, dies after being struck in the head by a practice swing

WICHITA, Kan. -- A 9-year-old bat boy for the Liberal Bee Jays, a summer league team of college players, died after being struck in the head with a bat.

Kaiser Carlile was hit with a practice swing near the on-deck circle during Saturday’s game. The boy was wearing a mandatory helmet. Witnesses say he was knocked down, got back up, and fell back down, KSN.com reports.

Home plate umpire Mark Goldfeder, who is also a paramedic, performed CPR until emergency crews arrived. Carlile was transported to Christi St. Francis hospital, where he died Sunday evening.

The National Baseball Congress World Series President Nathan McCaffrey confirmed Carlile’s death in a statement.

“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,” the statement said.

Carlile was a Bee Jay superfan who was loved by the players.

Kaiser, you were a little brother I never had. You took the field with us every game this summer. You were, and always will be a Bee Jay. No person or team could ask for a better bat boy. It is terrible to see you leave in such a way, but knowing your last moments were on the baseball field makes it easier through this whole process, because you were doing what you loved. It hurts to see someone so young and with so much heart pass like you did, but you are now in God’s hands, and being the bat boy for the angels up above. We all love you, and you will be greatly missed. R.I.P. Kaiser Carlile

A photo posted by Kadon Simmons (@iybkadon) on Aug 2, 2015 at 9:47pm PDT

The Liberal Bee Jays kneel in prayer after discovering the tragic news of Kaiser Carlile’s passing after the game. pic.twitter.com/OEMrHXiQrU

— Taylor Eldridge (@teldridge24) August 3, 2015

Carlile’s parents wanted to Bee Jays to continue playing, and they have advanced to the semifinals of the winner’s bracket, Kansas.com reports. The National Baseball Congress has suspended the use of bat boys or girls during the remainder of the World Series games.