A 12-year-old New Jersey boy is in critical condition after being struck in the head during warm-ups before a baseball game last week.
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Xavier Taylor was hospitalized following the incident on Tuesday night at Fellowship Columbia Bank Field near Maple Shade, New Jersey, NBC Philadelphia reported.
After being hit in the head with the ball and collapsing on the field, Xavier was airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in Camden, New Jersey, police told NBC Philadelphia.
The Maple Shade Youth Baseball Association said in a statement to NBC News on Monday that their focus is supporting Xavier and his family.
“Our primary goal now is to ensure we are there for them in prayer and faith, helping them every way we can,” the statement said. “We deeply appreciate the support shown by the community and those around the country; please keep all prayers coming.”
In video posted Sunday, Xavier’s father, Greg Taylor, told NBC Philadelphia that his son is still in “very critical condition” and on a ventilator.
“We’re pushing day by day to hope that the activity comes back,” Greg Taylor said.
“Our youngest son brought a pair of shoes for him the first day we got here and said these are for Xavier when he comes home, because he’s walking out of here,” he said.
On Thursday night, teammates and members of the community gathered for a vigil at the same field where the incident occurred. Some attendees wore his team number, 6.
At the vigil, Greg Taylor told the crowd: “My son Xavier loves this game; he will play this game again.”
In the days following the incident, the Maple Shade community supported Xavier by lighting up its Main Street with blue, his team’s color. The Maple Shade Youth Baseball Facebook page also asked community members to place bats on their porches.
“On Sunday evening, May 31, we ask that all baseball players place one baseball bat out on their porch as we rally together for Xavier while he battles to recover from a freak accident on the baseball field.”
Other teams in the community have shown their support, posting pictures for Xavier on their Facebook accounts.